Fertilisers Working Group – 29.02.2016 Reference to analytical methods in the revised Fertilisers Regulation Fertilisers Working Group – 29.02.2016

Why do we need analytical methods? For conformity assessment For market surveillance

Which tools will be available? Harmonised standards (HSs): the preferred route Common specifications: the fall back position

How do we provide legal recognition? A. Via Harmonised standards (HSs) Compliance with a HS provides presumption of conformity with the corresponding requirements The relevant requirement aimed to be covered is indicated in a separate informative Annex to a harmonised standard (Annex Z)

How HSs will be developed ? Development of HSs is mandated by COM, based on an opinion of the Member States Committee MSs participate in CEN through national standardisation bodies COM checks standard against mandate before publishing its reference in the EU OJ National standardisation bodies translates HSs and withdraw any conflicting national standards MSs can submit formal objections against a HS, triggering a COM decision

How do we provide legal recognition? B. in the absence of HSs via 'common specifications' Compliance with a common specification provides legal certainty that the product complies with the corresponding requirement

How common specifications are developed ? COM will identify available and relevant analytical methods with the support of MS and industry experts COM will consult the Fertiliser Committee through the examination procedure applicable to implementing acts In case of positive vote, COM will adopt the specs in the form of 'common specifications'

Which materials/products are covered? Product function categories - Organic fertilisers - Organo-mineral fertilisers - Inorganic fertilisers - Liming materials - Soil improvers - Growing medium - Agronomic additives - Plant biostimulants

Which materials/products are covered? Certain Component Material Categories - Compost - Digestate - Nutrient polymers (UF condensates) In the future…biochar, struvite, ash-products Additional safety and quality parameters. Processing requirements

who will use the standards? The producers The notified bodies (where relevant) The market surveillance authorities To verify the conformity of products to the future requirements

Where do we get the harmonsied standard from? CEN Engage rapidly in a scoping study - 2016 Prepare a standardisation mandate based on the scoping survey – 2017 Implementation of the mandate Where do we get the 'common specifications' from? Member States authorities Industry

What needs to be developed? Methods are mainly missing for - Plant biostimulants Existing methods could probably be extended to - Organic fertilisers - Organo-mineral fertilisers

Lists of EN and national standards Annex Lists of EN and national standards

How the results are presented? - Organisation of the comments in the form of lists of technical specifications - Green box: methods are available and fit for purpose for a specific product group - Red box: methods are not available or are not validated for a specific product group - Blue box: uncertainty remains on the availabiity of methods

Results of the consultation: inorganic fertilisers - EN standards listed in Annex IV are largely used - Some improvements are requested: implementation of additional instrumental methods - The list includes inhibitors and chelating and compexing agents EN standards National Stds Industry Stds List EN Stds IF List national Stds IF

Results of the consultation: organic fertilisers - National methods are used - Uses of US methods are reported - When EN standards applying to inorganic fertilisers are used: some doubt about their suitability for organic fertilisers - EN stds developed by CEN/TC 223 and 400 could work EN standards National standards Industry standards List EN Stds OF List national Stds OF

Organo-mineral fertilisers - Some MS rely on the EN standards for inorganic fertilisers while others argued that such methods have not been validated for the control of OM fertilisers EN standards National stds Industry stds List EN Stds OM List national Stds OM

Results of the consultation: organic soil improver and growing media - The EN standards developed by TC 223/ TC 400 are well accepted - National standards still enforced mainly in some EU 10. Better acceptance of EN stds in EU 15 - Industry experience is needed for specific criteria - Sampling is an issue EN standards National stds Industry stds List EN Stds SI List EN Stds GM List national Stds SI List national Stds GM Mainly on stability criteria for digestate

Results of the consultation: liming materials - The EN standards developed by CEN/TC 260 are well accepted and enforced. - Still a few national standards are proposed (mainly instrumental methods to replace gravimetic or complexometric methods) - Industry does not propose any additional norms EN standards National stds Industry stds List EN Stds Lime List national Stds Liming

Plant biostimulants - No EN standards available - No information on the availability of national standards for such products - Industry's experience is important to keep pace with innovation in the sector EN standards National stds Industry stds List EN Stds PB Verification of claims Verification of the microorganisms content

Specific product: biodegradable polymer coating - Intend to include biodegradability criteria - Discussion with the co-legislators about The legal requirement When this will come into force - HSs to be developed or common specifications