(a)  It is the duty of the director, who may act through his or her authorized agent, to sample, inspect, make analysis of, and test commercial fertilizers distributed within this state at any time and place and to the extent the director deems necessary to determine whether commercial fertilizers are in compliance with the provisions of this chapter. The director, individually or through his or her agent, is authorized to enter upon any public or private premises or carriers during regular business hours in order to have access to commercial fertilizers subject to the provisions of this chapter and the rules and regulations pertaining to this chapter, and to the records relating to their distribution.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 2-7-7

  • Commercial fertilizer: means any substance containing one or more recognized plant nutrient(s) that is used for its plant nutrient content and that is designed for use or claimed to have value in promoting plant growth, except unmanipulated animal and vegetable manures, marl, lime, limestone, wood ashes and gypsum, and other products exempted by regulation of the director. See Rhode Island General Laws 2-7-3
  • Director: means director of the department of environmental management or his or her authorized agent. See Rhode Island General Laws 2-7-3
  • Official sample: means any sample of commercial fertilizer taken by the director or his or her agent and designated as "official" by the director. See Rhode Island General Laws 2-7-3

(b)  The methods of analysis and sampling are those adopted by the fertilizer quality testing laboratory in consultation with the director from sources such as the journal of the association of official analytical chemists.

(c)  The director, in determining for administrative purposes whether any commercial fertilizer is deficient in plant food, shall be guided solely by the official sample as defined in § 2-7-3(13) and obtained and analyzed as provided for in subsection (a).

(d)  The results of official analysis of commercial fertilizers and portions of official samples shall be distributed upon request by the dean of the college of resource development at the University of Rhode Island as provided in the regulations.

History of Section.
P.L. 1977, ch. 168, § 2; P.L. 1989, ch. 349, § 1.