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

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

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

4. 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)

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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'

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Where do we get the harmonsied standard from?
CEN
Engage rapidly in a scoping study
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

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

13. Lists of EN and national standards
Annex
Lists of EN and national standards

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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