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What is the Certified Biostimulant Program?
Certification for biostimulant products in the US market is a fully voluntary program for companies wishing to obtain conformity for their biostimulant products. The program verifies compliance with the U.S. Industry Guidelines on Efficacy, Safety and Composition for this type of product.
The program certifies that appropriate experimental protocols have been used to test the efficacy and safety of the biostimulant product. These elements are explained in detail in the Guidelines developed by the Biostimulant Industry Task Force and published by the Biological Products Industry Alliance (BPIA) and The Fertilizer Institute (TFI).
The task force that developed the program included participation from various industry stakeholders, including major representatives and manufacturers of biostimulant products, small retailers, laboratories and researchers.
What exactly does TFI certify?
TFI does not certify product efficacy; rather, the certification ensures that efficacy is demonstrated using clear and appropriate agronomic research methods. The criteria and assessments are based on adequate documentation supporting different methods as proof of efficacy, analytics, composition and safety.
Companies that obtain approval will be able to use the certification seal on the biostimulant product label, which will translate into positive results for the brand, as well as trust from customers and small agricultural retailers.
Benefits of being TFI certified
The Certified Biostimulant Program provides various benefits for small retailers, growers and manufacturers.
- Manufacturers: enables manufacturers to build trust through validation and compliance with safety and efficacy standards, demonstrating meaningful attributes through the biostimulant product’s composition.
- Retailers or small farms: certification is an added value for small farms, providing guidance when evaluating products with greater confidence, enabling proper product selection for further field testing and for receiving recommendations from growers.
- Growers: allows farmers to make better decisions based on a program recognized by the industry and other growers.
Step-by-step certification process
Steps to obtain certification through the Fertilizer Institute (TFI):
- Application. Complete the application and provide the information requested for conformity testing. Pay the fee, which will depend on whether the applicant is a member or not. Renewal fees apply every two years.
- Review. TFI’s review of the application to verify the certification process will be carried out by TFI’s in-house experts and, where necessary, by external reviewers with experience in agronomic or soil research.
- Obtaining the certification seal.
How Kaeltia can help you with biostimulant certification
Kaeltia Consulting provides specialized support on scientific and regulatory matters to meet the regulatory compliance needs of biostimulant products in the USA, in line with the criteria set by the institutions and the new regulatory frameworks.
We can help you prepare the necessary documentation, design field trials that meet the protocols required by TFI, and manage the entire certification process. Check out our fertilizers and biostimulants service.
For more information about our services, contact us at info@kaeltia.com. We will be happy to help you.
