2003/2003 - Regulation (EC) N° 2003/2003 of the European Parlament and of the council of 13 October 2003 relating to fertilisers

This European Standard specifies a method for determination of total and water extractable molybdenum in mineral fertilizers containing less than or equal to 10 % molybdenum.
This method is applicable to water and aqua regia fertilizer extracts obtained according to EN 16962 and/or EN 16964.

This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of total and water extractable boron in mineral fertilizers containing more than 10 % boron.
This method is applicable to water and aqua regia fertilizer extracts obtained according to EN 16962 and/or EN 16964.
NOTE   A method used for the determination of boron in mineral fertilizers containing less than or equal to 10 % of boron (spectrophotometric determination by azomethine-H) can be also used for the scope of this method after appropriate dilution of the extracts.

This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of total and water extractable boron in mineral fertilizers containing less than or equal to 10 % boron. The method is not suitable for fertilizers with Fe concentrations more than twenty times higher than the concentration of boron.
This method is applicable to water and aqua regia fertilizer extracts obtained according to EN 16962 and/or EN 16964.
The method can also be used for the determination of boron in mineral fertilizers containing more than 10 % boron after appropriate dilution of the extracts.

This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of boron, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum and zinc in fertilizer extracts using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES).
This method is applicable to water and aqua regia fertilizer extracts prepared according to EN 16962 and/or EN 16964.
NOTE   In most cases, the presence of small quantities of organic matter will not affect determinations by ICP-AES and it is not necessary to apply organic matter removal.

This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of cobalt, copper, iron, manganese and zinc in fertilizer extracts using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS).
This method is applicable to water and aqua regia fertilizer extracts obtained according to EN 16962 and/or EN 16964.
NOTE   In most cases, the presence of small quantities of organic matter will not affect determinations by FAAS and it is not necessary to apply organic matter removal.

This European Standard specifies a method for the total extraction of boron, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum and zinc with aqua regia from mineral fertilizers containing one or more micro-nutrients.
The extracts can be analysed according to EN 16963, EN 16965, prEN 17041, prEN 17042 and prEN 17043.
This method is also suitable for the extraction of cadmium, chromium, nickel and lead to be determined according to EN 16319; the extraction of mercury to be determined according to EN 16320 and the extraction of arsenic to be determined according to EN 16317.

This European Standard specifies a method for the extraction of water soluble forms of boron, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum and zinc from mineral fertilizers containing one or more micro-nutrients and the procedure for removal of organic compounds from the water extracts.
The extracts can be analysed according to EN 16963, EN 16965, prEN 17041, prEN 17042, prEN 17043 and CEN/TS 17060.

This European Standard specifies a method for the chromatographic determination of the chelating agent [S,S]-EDDS in fertilizers. The method allows the identification and the determination of the total concentration of the water-soluble fraction of this chelating agent. It does not allow distinguishing between the free form and the metal bound form of the chelating agent.
This method is applicable to EC fertilizers containing chelates of one or more of the following micro-nutrients: cobalt, copper, iron, manganese and zinc, covered by Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 [4]. It is applicable to a mass fraction of the metal chelated of at least 0,35 %.
NOTE 1   The substance EDDS (ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid) exists as several different stereo isomeric forms. [S,S] (with CAS Number 20846–91–7), [R,R] and [R,S] optical isomers are possible. [S,S] and [R,R] are mirror images with equal chemical characteristics. However only the [S,S] isomer is biodegradable. When both are present, they form the racemic mixture. The [R,S] isomer (the meso isomer) is only slowly biodegradable.
Only the [S,S]-EDDS isomer is allowed by the Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003. Since the Cu chelate of the [R,R]-EDDS isomer presents the same stability than the [S,S]-EDDS, both should coelute. The absence of [R,S]-EDDS indicates that only a pure isomer ([S,S] or [R,R]) exist. An additional test based on polarimetry can be used to ascertain the isomeric characteristic of the sample, or the standard.

This European Standard specifies a method for the chromatographic determination of the iron chelated by each individual ortho(hydroxy)-ortho(hydroxy) isomer of the chelating agents [o,o] EDDHA, [o,o] EDDHMA and by HBED in fertilizers containing one or more of these substances, except for [o,o] EDDHMA and HBED mixes. The method allows the identification and the determination of the total concentration of water soluble iron chelates of these chelating agents. Also, after derivatization with Fe, the soluble amount of the chelating agents can be determined when other micro-nutrients, beside Fe are present in fertilizers containing [o,o] EDDHA, [o,o] EDDHMA or HBED.
This method is applicable to EC fertilizers covered by Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 [4]. It is applicable to a mass fraction of the metal chelated of at least 0,625 %.
NOTE 1   The substances EDDHA (ethylenediamine-N,N'-di[(hydroxyphenyl)acetic acid] and EDDHMA (ethylenediamine-N,N'-di[(hydroxymethylphenyl)acetic acid] exist as several different isomeric forms. Positional isomers for the hydroxyl or methyl groups (in ortho, meta, and para positions) as well as stereo isomers (meso and dl-racemic forms) are known. Both meso and dl-racemic forms of the [ortho,ortho] EDDHA and [ortho,ortho] EDDHMA are positional isomers for the hydroxyl groups allowed by the Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003. Since para, meta and ortho methyl positional isomers of the EDDHMA present quite similar stability, they could be grouped: in the method here described the para, meta and ortho methyl positional isomers of the [o,o] EDDHMA are considered together. HBED (N,N'-bis(2-hydroxybenzyl)-ethylenediamine-N,N'-diacetic acid) does not present isomeric forms.
NOTE 2   At present, analytically pure standards only exist for [ortho,ortho] EDDHA, [ortho,ortho] EDDHMA and HBED. All other substances being unavailable as a standard, the influence of their eventual presence in the samples (with respect to the sensitivity and the selectivity of this method) has not been studied.
NOTE 3   The meso and the dl-racemic forms of [o,o] EDDHA and [o,o] EDDHMA can be determined separately by this method.

This Technical Specification specifies the procedure for determination of total and water extractable molybdenum in mineral fertilizers containing more than 10 % molybdenum. This method is applicable to water and aqua regia fertilizer extracts obtained according to EN 260172 and/or EN 260176.

This European Standard specifies a method for the extraction of water-soluble calcium, magnesium, sodium and sulfur (in the form of sulfates), so that the same extract can be used for the determination of each nutrient required.
The method is solely applicable to fertilizers listed in Regulation (EC) 2003/2003, Annex I [2]), for which a declaration of the water-soluble calcium, magnesium, sodium, and sulfur (in the form of sulfates) is provided for in this Regulation.

This European Standard specifies two methods for the determination of the neutralizing value (NV) of liming materials.
Method A is applicable to all liming materials except silicate liming materials.
Method B is applicable to all liming materials.
Both methods do not correctly take into account the potential neutralizing value of material containing more than 3 % P2O5. For a more accurate agronomic assessment of products containing more than 3 % P2O5 determine the liming efficiency according to EN 14984.
NOTE   The methods described in ISO 6598 [1] and ISO 7497 [2] can be used for the determination of P2O5 content. Further information on P analyses is given in [3] and [4].

This European Standard is applicable to the sampling of mineral fertilizers and liming materials supplied or ready for supply to third parties, as a lot or in smaller lots, where such supply or readiness for supply is subject to legal requirements.
This European Standard specifies plans and methods of sampling of a lot of solid fertilizer or liming material, if sampling in motion is not possible, to obtain samples from static bulk heaps in order to ascertain compliance with legal requirements, in particular in relation to the accuracy of compulsory or permitted statutory declarations. The methods specified in this document are not applicable to obtain samples for physical analysis or for the chemical analysis which may be altered by particle granulometric segregation.
This European Standard is applicable to single nutrient fertilizers, to uniform complex fertilizers and to milled or granulated liming materials.
The methods described in this document are not suitable for sampling other types of fertilizer, for example blended fertilizers.
NOTE   The term 'fertilizer' is used throughout the body of this European Standard and includes liming materials unless otherwise indicated.

This European Standard specifies a chromatographic method which allows the identification of heptagluconic acid (HGA) in fertilizers containing heptagluconic acid metal complexes.
This method is applicable to EC fertilizers containing complexed micro-nutrients, which are covered by Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 [1].

This European Standard specifies a method for the quantitative determination of the urease inhibitors N-(n-Butyl)thiophosphoric acid triamide (NBPT, CAS-No. 94317-64-3) and N-(n-Propyl)thiophosphoric acid triamide (NPPT, CAS-No. 916809-14-8) content in urea based fertilizers using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of 3,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole phosphate (DMPP, CAS-No: 202842-98-6) in mineral N containing fertilizers using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of chlorides in the absence of organic material. The method is applicable to all fertilizers which are free from organic material.

This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of magnesium in fertilizer extracts by complexometry.
The method is applicable to the following EC fertilizer extracts for which the determination of total magnesium and/or water-soluble magnesium is provided for according to the Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003, Annex I [3]:
- fertilizers listed in [3], Annex I: straight nitrogenous fertilizers, type 1b + 1c (calcium magnesium nitrate), type 7 (magnesium sulfonitrate), type 8 (nitrogenous fertilizers with magnesium) and straight potassic fertilizers, type 2 (enriched kainite), type 4 (potassium chloride containing magnesium), type 6 (potassium sulfate containing magnesium salt);
- fertilizers listed in [3], Annex I D relating to secondary nutrients.

This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of the magnesium content in fertilizer extracts using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS).
This method is applicable to EC fertilizer extracts obtained according to EN 15960 and EN 15961, for which a declaration of the total magnesium and/or water soluble magnesium content is required, with the exceptions of the following fertilizers according to [4], Annex I D relating to secondary nutrients:
- type 4 (kieserite);
- type 5 (magnesium sulfate) and type 5.1 (magnesium sulfate solution);
- type 7 (kieserite with potassium sulfate)
to which [4], method 8.8, applies.
NOTE   Method 8.8 is covered by CEN/TS 16198 [2].
The method applies to all fertilizer extracts containing elements in quantities that might interfere with the complexometric determination of magnesium.

This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of the sodium content in fertilizer extracts by flame-emission spectrometry.
The method is applicable to EC fertilizers for which a declaration of the sodium content is provided for in Regulation (EC) Nr 2003/2003, Annex I [3].

This European Standard specifies a manganimetric method for the determination of the calcium content in fertilizer extracts.
This method is applicable to EC fertilizers for which a declaration of the total and/or water-soluble calcium content is provided for in Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003, Annex I [3].

This European Standard specifies a method for extraction and determination of the elemental sulfur contained in fertilizers.
The method is applicable to EC fertilizers for which a declaration of the total sulfur in elemental form is provided for in Regulation (EC) Nr 2003/2003, Annex I [1].

This European Standard specifies a method for the extraction of total calcium, total magnesium and total sodium and for the extraction of total sulfur present in the form of sulfates, so that the same extract may be used for the determination of each nutrient required.
The method is applicable to fertilizers listed in Regulation (EC) 2003/2003, Annex I [2], for which a declaration of total calcium, total magnesium, total sodium, and total sulfur in the form of sulfates is provided for in this Regulation.

This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of phosphorus in fertilizer extracts.
The method is applicable to all extracts of fertilizers for the determination of the different forms of phosphorus as phosphorus soluble in mineral acids, water soluble phosphorus, phosphorus soluble in solutions of ammonium citrate, phosphorus soluble in 2 % citric acid and phosphorus soluble in 2 % formic acid.

This European Standard specifies a method for the extraction of water soluble phosphorus.
The method is applicable to all fertilizers, including compound fertilizers, where water soluble phosphorus is to be determined.

This document specifies two complementary methods (method A and method B) that allow lignosulfonates to be indentified as soluble complexing agents in fertilizers.
NOTE   Lignosulfonate, as a complexing agent, is a natural polymer produced as a by-product of the sulfite method for manufacturing paper from wood pulp in the paper industry. As a natural polymer, it presents a poorly defined and variable chemical structure. It is an intricate mixture of small- to moderate-sized polymeric compounds with sulfonate groups attached to the molecule, and diverse complexing capacity.
The methods are applicable to EC fertilizers covered by Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 [1].

This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of N-(2-nitrophenyl)phosphoric triamide (2-NPT) in urea or in fertilizers containing urea using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

This document specifies a method for the determination of the fineness of grinding of soft natural phosphates by wet sieving.

This document specifies a method for the extraction of phosphorus soluble in neutral ammonium citrate.
The method is applicable to all fertilizers in respect of which solubility in neutral ammonium citrate is laid down in Regulation (EC) 2003/2003, Annex I (see [2]).

This document specifies a method for the extraction of water-soluble sulfur contained in fertilizers in various forms.
The method is applicable to EC-fertilizers for which a declaration of the water-soluble sulfur trioxide is provided for.

This document specifies a method for the extraction of the total sulfur contained in fertilizers in elemental form and/or in other chemical combinations.
The method is applicable to EC fertilizers for which a declaration of the total sulfur present in various forms (elemental, thiosulfate, sulfite, sulfate) is provided.

This document specifies a method for the determination of phosphorus soluble in mineral acids.
The method is applicable exclusively to phosphate fertilizers listed in Regulation (EC) 2003/2003, Annex I (see [2]).

This document specifies the procedure for the determination of soluble phosphorus in alkaline ammonium citrate.
The method is applicable exclusively to precipitated dehydrated dicalcium phosphate (CaHPO4 . 2H2O).

This European Standard specifies the procedure for the determination of phosphorus soluble in 2 % citric acid (20 g/l).
The method is applicable only to types of basic slag (see [1], Annex I A).

This document specifies the procedure for the determination of phosphorus soluble in 2 % formic acid (20 g per litre). The method is applicable to soft natural phosphates exclusively.

This document specifies the procedure for the extraction of phosphorus soluble in cold alkaline ammonium citrate.
The method is applicable for disintegrated phosphates exclusively.

This document specifies the procedure for the extraction of phosphorus soluble in Joulie’s alkaline ammonium citrate.
The method is applicable to all the straight and compound phosphate fertilizers, in which the phosphate occurs in an alumino-calcic form.

This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of triazole (TZ) in urea or in fertilizers containing urea in the presence of dicyandiamide or methylpyrazole respectively using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

This European Standard specifies a general method for the determination of the micronutrients complexed by complexing agents in fertilizers. The method allows the determination of the total concentration of each complexed micronutrient in complexes after subtraction of the chelated micro-nutrients content, but it does not identify the individual complexing agents.
This procedure concerns EC-fertilizers which contain complexed micro-nutrients covered by Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 [1]. The method is applicable to a mass fraction of the metal complexed of at least 0,07 %, 0,006 % and 0,035 % of Fe, Mn and Zn respectively (see [2]). A lower limit of quantification has not been established for Cu and Co.

This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of N-(1,2-dicarboxyethyl)-D,L-aspartic acid (Iminodisuccinic acid (IDHA)) in fertilizers.
The method is applicable to all fertilizers containing IDHA as chelating agent for contents > 0,5 % (g/100 g).

This European Standard specifies the dry procedure for the determination of the fineness of grinding, which is applicable to all EC type fertilizers in which requirements are given of fineness of grinding using 0,630 mm and 0,160 mm.

This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of the content of calcium and formate in calcium foliar fertilizers in the presence of calcium chloride. This is determined and calculated by individual analytical determination of the following components:
-   Calcium (Ca2+),
-   Chloride (Cl-),
-   Formate (HCOO-).
The method is applicable to calcium foliar fertilizers with a calcium content of approximately 30 %.

This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of the 3-methylpyrazole (MP) content in fertilizers, in particular in urea and materials containing urea using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

This document specifies a method for the determination of the cold and hot water insoluble nitrogen content in solid urea formaldehyde and methylene urea slow-release fertilizers and for the determination of the solubility of nutrient polymers in a phosphate buffer solution with a pH of 7,5 at 100 °C.

This European Standard specifies a method for the chromatographic determination of the amount of iron chelated by each of the individual isomers of the chelating agent ortho para EDDHA (o,p-EDDHA) in fertilizers. The method allows the identification of this chelating agent and the determination of the water soluble fraction of iron chelated by this chelating agent. The method is not applicable for the determination of the amount of free chelating agent.
NOTE 1   This method has been shown to be also suitable for the determination of the amount of iron chelated by each of the individual isomers of the chelating agent ortho ortho EDDHA (o,o-EDDHA) in fertilizers.
NOTE 2   o,o-EDDHA and o,p-EDDHA are abbreviations used in this European Standard for the sake of simplicity. For complete names see Annex C.
NOTE 3   The substances o,o-EDDHA and o,p-EDDHA both exist as different stereoisomers. For o,o-EDDHA a meso form and a d/l pair (the racemic isomers) exist, for o,p-EDDHA two different d/l pairs exist. All four stereoisomers are observed separately in this method.
NOTE 4   Currently, an analytically pure standard only exists for o,o-EDDHA. The method for o,p-EDDHA has been developed with an o,p-EDDHA standard containing an uncertain concentration of o,p-EDDHA.

This European Standard specifies methods for the reduction and preparation of samples of fertilizers and liming materials and sets out the requirements for sample preparation reports. It also specifies methods for the preparation of test samples and test portions from laboratory samples of fertilizer for subsequent chemical or physical analysis. It does not cover the preparation of samples for certain physical tests which require test portions of more than 2 kg. It is applicable to all fertilizers.
NOTE   The term fertilizer is used throughout the body of this European Standard and should be taken to include liming materials unless otherwise indicated.

This document specifies three different methods (Methods A, B and C) for the determination of sulfur present in fertilizers extracts in the form of sulfates. Method A specifies the gravimetric method. Method B specifies the method using inductively coupled plasma optical spectrometry (ICP-OES). Method C specifies the method using ion chromatography (IC).

This document specifies three different methods (Methods A, B and C) for the determination of sulfur present in fertilizers extracts in the form of sulfates. Method A specifies the gravimetric method. Method B specifies the method using inductively coupled plasma optical spectrometry (ICP-OES). Method C specifies the method using ion chromatography (IC).

This document specifies a method for the determination of water-soluble potassium, which is applicable to all potassium fertilizers listed in Annex I of the Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 [3].

This document specifies two methods for the determination of the neutralizing value (NV) of liming materials. Method A is applicable to all liming materials except silicate liming materials. Method B is applicable to all liming materials. Both methods do not correctly take into account the potential neutralizing value of material containing more than 3 % P2O5. Fore a more accurate agronomic assessment of products containing more than 3 % P2O5 the liming efficiency is determined according to EN 14984.