Act on the Quality Control of Fertilizer.

This Act on the Quality Control of Fertilizer establishes a comprehensive legal framework for regulating fertilizer production, importation, distribution, and use to ensure fertilizer quality, fair trade practices, and safe application. The Act aims to support agricultural productivity while protecting public health. It defines key terms such as fertilizer, special fertilizer, and ordinary fertilizer, and delineates the roles of producers, importers, and vendors within this regulatory context. The Act emphasizes the establishment of public standards for different fertilizer types, with procedures for setting, amending, and abolishing these standards, including public notices and consultation processes involving relevant authorities. The Act assigns regulatory authority to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and prefectural governments for supervision, enforcement, standards setting, and procedural adjustments.
Key measures include mandatory registration and provisional registration of fertilizers, with detailed application procedures, documentation requirements, and the issuance of registration certificates. The Act specifies the obligations of registrants to report changes, maintain records, and affix guarantee labels on fertilizer containers, ensuring traceability and accountability. It also prescribes strict rules against falsification, unauthorized transfer, mixing foreign substances, and false advertising, with associated penalties.