FprEN 17730

• Abstract:

  This document specifies references to methods to be used for the determination of specific parameters in compost, fresh crop digestate and digestate other than fresh crop digestate when used as components of fertilizing products, but does not contain the methods themselves. The specific parameters in this document are:; — the determination of the PAH16 content;; — macroscopic impurities above 2 mm;; — the determination of temperature-time profiles during composting and digestion;; — oxygen uptake rate;; — self-heating factor;; — the determination of the residual biogas potential in digestate.; This document is applicable to the fertilizing product blends where a blend is a mix of two or more fertilising products belonging to the categories of fertilizers, liming material, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors and plant biostimulants, and where soil improvers and/or growing media are the components with the highest percentage in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of products in liquid form by dry mass. If the soil improvers and/or growing media are not the components with the highest percentage in the blend, the European Standard relevant to the component with the highest percentage in the blend applies. In case a blend is composed of fertilising products mixed in equal quantities, the user of the standard decides which standard to apply.; NOTE A soil improver or a growing medium consists of a single bulky (volume-building) component or a mix of bulky (volume-building) components (for example peat, wood fibres, coconut coir, compost, expanded perlite).

• Status: Not Published
• Publication Date: 31-Jan-2027
• ICS: 65.080 - Fertilizers
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 223 - Soil improvers and growing media
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 223/WG 6 - Harmonization
• Current Stage: 4599 - Dispatch of FV draft to CMC - Finalization for Vote
• Start Date: 19-Aug-2026
• Due Date: 26-Aug-2026
• Completion Date: 19-Aug-2026
• Directive: Not Harmonized2003/2003 - Regulation (EC) N° 2003/2003 of the European Parlament and of the council of 13 October 2003 relating to fertilisers
• Directive:

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  Harmonized Standard2019/1009 - Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 laying down rules on the making available on the market of EU fertilising products and amending Regulations (EC) No 1069/2009 and (EC) No 1107/2009 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 (Text with EEA relevance)
• Mandate: M/564 - Fertilising products in support of Regulation (EU) 2019/1009
• Mandate: M/564 Amd 1 - amending Implementing Decision C(2020) 612 as regards certain harmonised standards and standardisation deliverables, deadlines for their adoption and the duration of the validity of the standardisation request
• Mandate: M/564 Amd 2 - Commission Implementing decision amending Implementing Decision C(2020)612 as regards harmonised standards, the deadlines for the adoption of those standards and the duration of the validity of the standardisation request to the European Committee for Standardisation as regards the EU fertilising products in support of Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council
• Mandate: M/xxx - COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION of XXX on a standardisation request to the European Committee for Standardisation, the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute in support of the implementation of Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/2052 laying down ecodesign requirements for external power supplies, wireless chargers, wireless charging pads, battery chargers for portable batteries of general use and USB Type-C cables, pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/1782
• Ref Project: oSIST prEN 17730:2026 - Soil improvers and growing media - Methods for the determination of PAH16, macroscopic impurities above 2mm, the temperature-time profiles, oxygen uptake rate, self-heating factor and residual biogas potential in compost and digestate when used in fertilizing products

• Revises: CEN/TS 17730:2022 - Compost and digestate properties when used in fertilizing products
• Effective Date: 20-Nov-2024

Overview

FprEN 17730: Soil improvers and growing media - Methods for the determination of PAH16, macroscopic impurities above 2 mm, the temperature-time profiles, oxygen uptake rate, self-heating factor and residual biogas potential in compost and digestate when used in fertilizing products is a European draft standard developed by CEN. This standard provides references to validated methods for the determination of critical quality and safety parameters in compost, fresh crop digestate, and other types of digestate, particularly when these materials are used as components in fertilizing product blends. The parameters addressed in this document play an essential role in delivering safe, high-quality soil improvers and growing media aligned with EU fertilizing product legislation (Regulation (EU) 2019/1009).

Key Topics

FprEN 17730 covers the following primary parameters for compost and digestate in fertilizing products:

• PAH16 content: Ensuring limits of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, a key environmental quality criterion for organic materials used in fertilization.
• Macroscopic impurities (>2 mm): Detection of visible contaminants such as glass, metals, or plastics to help certify product cleanliness and environmental safety.
• Temperature-time profiles: Monitoring composting and digestion processes by tracking temperature evolution, crucial for pathogen reduction and process validation.
• Oxygen uptake rate (OUR): Assessing the aerobic biological activity in organic amendments, indicating maturity and stability of compost and digestate.
• Self-heating factor: Evaluating the propensity for self-heating in stored materials, relevant to storage safety and composting effectiveness.
• Residual biogas potential: Quantifying the remaining biodegradable organic material, which supports sustainability and waste minimization in biogas and fertilizer production.

These parameters support compliance with safety, quality, and environmental regulations for soil improvers and growing media.

Applications

The referenced methods in FprEN 17730 are essential for:

• Quality control of fertilizing product blends: Especially for products where soil improvers and/or growing media are the predominant component by mass or volume.
• Conformity to EU Regulation (EU) 2019/1009: Following this standard enables manufacturers and laboratories to demonstrate compliance with relevant legal requirements and product function categories (PFCs).
• Environmental protection: By controlling contaminants and ensuring safe organic material recycling, this standard contributes to minimizing environmental and health risks.
• Product development: Supports formulation work for compost-based or digestate-based fertilizers, soil improvers, plant biostimulants, and growing media.
• Market access: Aligning with harmonized test methods referenced by FprEN 17730 is increasingly important for manufacturers accessing the European fertilizing products market.

This standard is especially relevant for soil improvers and growing media containing compost, digestate, peat, wood fibres, coco coir, or other bulky organic components used in agriculture, horticulture, and landscaping.

Related Standards

The application of FprEN 17730 relies on several key harmonized European Standards, including:

• EN 12579:2024: Sampling procedures for soil improvers and growing media
• prEN 13040-1:2025: Sample preparation protocols for chemical and physical analyses
• prEN 16087-1:2025: Methods for the aerobic biological degradation rate - Oxygen uptake rate
• prEN 16087-2:2025: Self-heating test for compost
• prEN 16202:2025: Determination of macroscopic impurities and stones
• EN 17925:2024: Determination of temperature-time profiles during composting and digestion
• prEN 18261:2025: Measurement of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH16)
• prEN 18256:2025: Digestate residual biogas potential assessment

By ensuring the reference to these standards, FprEN 17730 helps fertilizer producers, laboratories, and regulatory authorities maintain consistent, high-quality practices across the industry.

For full compliance and implementation, users must consult the latest editions of the referenced standards, as well as any applicable EU or national regulations.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-april-2026
Izboljševalci tal in rastni substrati - Metode za določanje PAH16, makroskopskih
nečistoč, večjih od 2 mm, temperaturno-časovnih profilov, stopnje porabe kisika,
faktorja samoogrevanja in preostalega potenciala bioplina v kompostu in
digestatu pri njuni uporabi v gnojilih
Soil improvers and growing media - Methods for the determination of PAH16,
macroscopic impurities above 2mm, the temperature-time profiles, oxygen uptake rate,
self-heating factor and residual biogas potential in compost and digestate when used in
fertilizing products
Eigenschaften von Kompost und Gärrückständen bei Verwendung in Düngeprodukten
Amendements du sol et supports de culture - Vue d'ensemble des méthodes pour la
détermination du PAH16, des impuretés macroscopiques supérieures à 2mm, des profils
de température et de temps, du taux d'absorption de l'oxygène, du facteur d'auto-
échauffement, et du potentiel résiduel du biogaz dans le compost et les digestats lors de
leur utilisation dans les matières fertilisantes
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 17730
ICS:
65.080 Gnojila Fertilizers
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 17730
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
January 2026
ICS 65.080 Will supersede CEN/TS 17730:2022
English Version
Soil improvers and growing media - Methods for the
determination of PAH16, macroscopic impurities above
2mm, the temperature-time profiles, oxygen uptake rate,
self-heating factor and residual biogas potential in
compost and digestate when used in fertilizing products
Amendements du sol et supports de culture - Méthodes Bodenverbesserungsmittel und Kultursubstrate -
de détermination des HAP16, des impuretés Verfahren zur Bestimmung von PAK16,
macroscopiques supérieures à 2 mm, des profils makroskopischen Verunreinigungen über 2 mm,
température-temps, de la cinétique d'absorption de Temperatur-Zeit-Profilen, Sauerstoffaufnahmerate,
l'oxygène, du facteur d'auto-échauffement et du Selbsterhitzungsfaktor und Restbiogaspotenzial in
potentiel de production de biogaz résiduel dans le Kompost und Gärgut bei Verwendung in
compost et le digestat lorsqu'ils sont utilisés dans les Düngeprodukten
fertilisants
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 223.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.

This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 17730:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

prEN 17730:2026 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Sampling and sample preparation . 6
4.1 Sampling . 6
4.2 Sample preparation . 6
5 Determination . 6
5.1 Determination of PAH . 6
5.2 Determination of the content of macroscopic impurities (glass, metal, plastics) above
2 mm . 6
5.3 Determination of the temperature-time profile . 6
5.4 Determination of the oxygen uptake rate . 6
5.5 Determination of the self-heating factor . 6
5.6 Determination of the residual biogas potential. 6
Bibliography . 9

prEN 17730:2026 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 17730:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 223 “Soil
improvers and growing media”, the secretariat of which is held by NEN.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede CEN/TS 17730:2022.
prEN 17730:2026 includes the following significant technical changes with respect to
CEN/TS 17730:2022:
— The title has been revised;
— The determination of the PAH content and the determination of temperature-time profiles during
composting and digestion have been included in the Scope;
— An applicability statement has been included in the Scope;
— Clause 2, Normative references, has been updated;
— The following has been added:
— Clause 5.1, Determination of PAH
— Clause 5.3, Determination of the temperature-time profile
— Clause 5.6, Determination of the residual biogas potential
— Annex ZA has been added.
This document has been prepared under a standardization request addressed to CEN by the European
Commission. The Standing Committee of the EFTA States subsequently approves these requests for its
Member States.
For the relationship with EU Legislation, see informative Annex ZA, which is an integral part of this
document.
prEN 17730:2026 (E)
Introduction
Different product functions warrant different product safety, quality and quantity requirements adapted
to their different intended uses. EU fertilizing products have therefore been divided into different product
function categories (PFCs), which are subject to specific safety, quality and quantity requirements, as
specified in the Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 [1]. EU fertilizing products consist of component materials
complying with the requirements for one or more of the component material categories (CMCs), as
specified in the Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 [1].
Compost has been classified as CMC 3, fresh crop digestate as CMC 4, and digestate other than fresh crop
digestate as CMC 5. The specific safety and quality requirements in relation to specific parameters are
specified in this document, as well as normative references of the test methods to be used to assess the
com
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