CA AB856

Includes organic input material within the definition of fertilizing material, requiring compliance with National Organic Program standards under 7 CFR Part 205.

Increases manufacturer and distributor license fees from $200 to $300 and establishes a separate registration fee of up to $500 per product for organic input materials, with funds deposited into a new Organic Input Materials Account.

Requires the Department of Food and Agriculture to review organic input material oversight issues by January 1, 2012, and post findings on its website; mandates annual inspections of organic input material manufacturers.

Increases penalties for violations from $500 to $1,000 for first violations and from $500 to $1,000 minimum for subsequent violations; establishes civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation and increases quarantine violation penalties to $5,000 first offense and $10,000 minimum for subsequent offenses.

Creates new misdemeanor offense for adulterating, misbranding, or altering fertilizing materials inconsistent with label claims, punishable by fines up to $5,000 to $15,000 depending on violation type; allows Department to prohibit violators from obtaining organic input material licenses for 3 years.