General Organics is our new product line of nutrients and supplements. Our blog has recently focused on introducing each product, and the questions have been pouring in. Today I want to explain as much as I can about regulations, the definition of organics, and the General Organics (GO) line.

Regulations that govern fertilizer products are very complex. Each country, and each US state has its own requirements for fertilizer labeling. These rules govern what information must be printed, including guaranteed analysis, ingredients, or warnings. They also govern what cannot be printed, including any statements that cannot be completely proven with scientific facts.

Instead of printing 50 different labels for 50 different states, with an extra one for Canada, General Hydroponics adheres to the most strict of all the rules, some of the most strict rules happen to be in our home state, California. We always desire to provide the state and our customers with the most accurate data. And we are glad to participate in the safeguards to consumers and the environment.

Compliance is not effortless though. It requires diligence and the process is long and involved. We often print new labels with new data, to stay current with the law and sometimes the label compliance holds up the release of new formulas. We have also seen products in this industry pulled from shelves, or production stopped because companies are in violation. Compliance is difficult and expensive and time consuming, and we pride ourselves in our adherence.

So, enter organics into this equation. 

In California, products labeled organic have been independently certified by a third party. In the case of fertilizers, one of those parties is OMRI- Organic Materials Review Institute. General Hydroponics is partners with OMRI listed products, including AzaMax. But, presently, the General Organics line of products are not OMRI listed. Because of that, we cannot say that our products are %100 Certified Organic, even if every single ingredient is able to be certified.

General Hydroponics has not listed the products in the GO line for many reasons. OMRI requires our exact recipes. We are not willing at this time to release our exact formulas to anyone, beyond what we already share with the state officals. Also, the process would have delayed the release of these nutrients and supplements for an indefinite amount of time. Additionally, we have seen other players in the industry go on and off the list, and provide false information that undermines the entire system. Eventually we do intend to begin the process, we do want their stamp of approval. Hopefully in the next few years we will achieve this.

Any product in California that is %50 organic is legally allowed to be called “organic based.” Some voices here that are deeply involved with the organic movement consider the phrase organic based to be almost a slur against true organics. Ultimately, we believe that our line will be met with success, that it will help gardens thrive, and that the market will tell us what it wants. So, in the absence of an OMRI certification, and not wanting to use the phrase “organic based” to classify the products as less than completely organic, the decision was made to release the General Organics line with no claims beyond our listed ingredients. The ingredients reflect the contents of the bottles, and those contents reflect our breakthrough in the organic fertilizer market.

I am very happy with the responses to our new line, and I am interested in answering any questions you have about these products. Please leave us your feedback! The nutes and supplements are truly amazing, and I will be providing you with more and more information in the future. Cheers.