Legislation aims to prevent organic fertilizer fraud

Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has been sent Assembly Bill 856 that would allow the Calif. Dept. of Food and Ag Fertilizer Inspection Division to regulate fertilizer materials used in certified organic production. The bill also increases the penalties for violations of organic fertilizer standards and establishes a fee structure for fertilizer manufacturers that would raise as much as $416,000 annually for implementation and operation of the program. The bill, which was authored by Assemblywoman Anna Caballero, D-Salinas, is sponsored by the state Dept. of Food and Ag. It was also supported by organic farming and organic certification groups and the fertilizer industry. The Sacramento Bee reports a number of cases of fertilizer fraud have been uncovered by federal and state inspectors.