Certified Biostimulant Program

Application Process

Step 1: Prepare Required Documents

Efficacy Testing Methods:

Option A - Peer-reviewed literature: Published Research Table (Attachment 2)

- Published literature must demonstrate randomized and replicated trials with appropriate controls and proper statistical analysis per U.S. Standard
- Missing information requires additional submission

Option B - Original/internal research: Written Research Report (Attachment 3)

- Must include materials, methods, results, and discussion details
- Include data tables and figures

Composition:

Beneficial Substances Label (Attachments 4 & 6)

Conformance Testing Report (Attachment 5)

Methods for identification of guaranteed substance (must be recognized method)

Identify and list all beneficial substances with ingredient source

Support product composition with guaranteed substances, minimum amounts, and identification methods

Demonstrate absence of contaminants (heavy metals, microbial pathogens, other microbial contaminants)

Safety:

Safety Data Sheet

Statement for the Presumption of Safety (Attachments 7 & 8)

Certificate of Analysis documenting absence of harmful contaminants

Report safety risks for extracts, acids, minerals, substances, or living microorganisms

Step 2: Complete Online Application

1. Fill out personalized application request form (name, email, company, product name)
2. Receive personalized link for Certified Biostimulant application
3. Follow application prompts and upload prepared documents from Step 1
4. Application contains five sections:
- General Information
- Efficacy Testing Methods
- Composition
- Safety
- Confidential Statement and Attestation
5. Review application questions (Attachment 9)
6. Online application ensures all necessary elements and documents included

Step 3: Submit Payment

• Submit application fee to accompany application
• Application considered "submitted" when both application and payment received
• Application fee payment available online

Step 4: Conformance Review

• Application reviewed by independent experts

Step 5: Certification Award

• Certification approval and issuance

Ongoing Requirements:

Biennial attestations on product claims and formulation changes (every 2 years)

Modifications to product active ingredients constitute formulation change

Product changes require new application and full application fee (not renewal fee)

Reported changes suspend current certification until new application approved

Resources Provided:

United States Biostimulant Industry Recommended Guidelines

Published Research Table template

Guidelines for Written Research Report

Example of Beneficial Substances Label

Sample Conformance Testing Report

Safety Assessment Decision Tree

Sample Statement of Rationale for Presumption of Safety

Copy of Online Application Questionnaire

Application Overview video

FAQ document