FprEN 18318
(Main)Organo-mineral fertilizers - Determination of specific inhibiting compounds
General Information
- Abstract
This document specifies references to the methods for the determination of urease inhibiting compounds in organo-mineral fertilizers.
This document is applicable to fertilizing product blends where the blend is a mix of at least two of the following components: organic fertilizers and inorganic fertilizers to which urease inhibitors have been added.
This document is not applicable to fertilizing product blends containing liming materials, soil conditioners, growing media or biostimulants.
- Status
- Not Published
- Publication Date
- 03-Feb-2027
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 260 - Fertilizers and liming materials
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 260/WG 7 - Chemical analysis
- Current Stage
- 4599 - Dispatch of FV draft to CMC - Finalization for Vote
- Start Date
- 20-Aug-2026
- Due Date
- 12-Jul-2027
- Completion Date
- 20-Aug-2026
Overview
FprEN 18318: Organo-mineral fertilizers - Determination of specific inhibiting compounds is a European standard developed by CEN/TC 260 to specify reference methods for determining urease inhibiting compounds in organo-mineral fertilizers. Organo-mineral fertilizers are blends of organic and inorganic fertilizers, often enhanced with urease inhibitors to reduce nitrogen losses and improve nutrient efficiency. Accurate analysis and quantification of these inhibitors are essential for compliance with EU safety and market regulations, notably Regulation (EU) 2019/1009.
This standard applies only to products that are blends of at least two of the following: organic fertilizers and inorganic fertilizers to which urease inhibitors have been added. It explicitly excludes blends containing liming materials, soil conditioners, growing media, or biostimulants.
Key Topics
- Urease Inhibiting Compounds: The standard addresses the determination of commonly used urease inhibitors, including:
- N-(n-butyl)thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT)
- N-(2-nitrophenyl)phosphoric triamide (2-NPT)
- Applicable Fertilizer Blends: The document is relevant for organo-mineral fertilizer blends, ensuring they meet the defined quality and safety criteria by quantifying active inhibitor content.
- Sampling and Sample Preparation: While sampling procedures themselves are not described in detail, the standard refers to harmonized methods to ensure representative and uncontaminated samples are analyzed.
- Compliance with EU Legislation: Conformance with FprEN 18318 supports market access in the EU by helping manufacturers demonstrate compliance with Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 regarding the use and content of specified urease inhibitors.
Applications
FprEN 18318 is valuable for multiple stakeholders in the fertilizer sector:
- Manufacturers: Enables accurate determination of urease inhibiting compounds in organo-mineral fertilizer products, supporting claims of performance and regulatory compliance.
- Testing Laboratories: Provides standardized references for analytical methods, facilitating reliable and reproducible results for the content of NBPT and 2-NPT in fertilizer blends.
- Regulatory Authorities: Supports regulatory checks and quality control by offering harmonized procedures for assessing compliance with EU market requirements for fertilizers.
- Quality Assurance: Ensures that fertilizer blends contain effective levels of urease inhibitors, contributing to environmental protection and agricultural efficiency by minimizing nitrogen loss.
Typical practical uses of this standard include:
- Routine quality control during fertilizer production
- Compliance checks for EU market release
- Analytical support for product development and claims validation
Related Standards
Several standards are referenced or related to FprEN 18318, including:
- EN 1482-2:2024: Fertilizers, liming materials and inhibitors - Sampling and sample preparation - Part 2: General sample preparation provisions
- EN 1482-1: Fertilizers, liming materials and inhibitors - Sampling and sample preparation - Part 1: General sampling provisions
- prEN 18317:2026: Organo-mineral fertilizers - Determination of the N-(n-butyl)thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) urease inhibitor content
- EN 16075:2011: Fertilizers - Determination of N-(2-nitrophenyl)phosphoric triamide (2-NPT) in urea and fertilizers containing urea - Method using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
- prEN 12944-1:2026 and prEN 12944-2:2026: Vocabulary for fertilizers, liming materials and inhibitors
By referencing these standards, users ensure alignment with current best practices for sampling, terminology, and analytical methods.
Conclusion
FprEN 18318 provides fertilizer producers, laboratories, and regulators a clear and reliable framework for the determination of specific urease inhibiting compounds in organo-mineral fertilizers. Adoption of this standard helps ensure regulatory compliance, product safety, and consistent fertilizer performance within the European market.
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Frequently Asked Questions
FprEN 18318 is a draft published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Organo-mineral fertilizers - Determination of specific inhibiting compounds". This standard covers: This document specifies references to the methods for the determination of urease inhibiting compounds in organo-mineral fertilizers. This document is applicable to fertilizing product blends where the blend is a mix of at least two of the following components: organic fertilizers and inorganic fertilizers to which urease inhibitors have been added. This document is not applicable to fertilizing product blends containing liming materials, soil conditioners, growing media or biostimulants.
This document specifies references to the methods for the determination of urease inhibiting compounds in organo-mineral fertilizers. This document is applicable to fertilizing product blends where the blend is a mix of at least two of the following components: organic fertilizers and inorganic fertilizers to which urease inhibitors have been added. This document is not applicable to fertilizing product blends containing liming materials, soil conditioners, growing media or biostimulants.
FprEN 18318 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 65.080 - Fertilizers. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
FprEN 18318 is associated with the following European legislation: EU Directives/Regulations: 2019/1009; Standardization Mandates: M/564, M/564 Amd 1, M/564 Amd 2. When a standard is cited in the Official Journal of the European Union, products manufactured in conformity with it benefit from a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the corresponding EU directive or regulation.
FprEN 18318 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-april-2026
Organsko-mineralna gnojila - Določanje specifičnih inhibitorjev
Organo-mineral fertilizers - Determination of specific inhibiting compounds
Organisch-mineralische Düngemittel - Bestimmung spezifischer Hemmstoffe
Engrais organo-minéraux - Détermination des composés inhibiteurs spécifiques
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 18318
ICS:
65.080 Gnojila Fertilizers
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 18318
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
February 2026
ICS 65.080
English Version
Organo-mineral fertilizers - Determination of specific
inhibiting compounds
Engrais organo-minéraux - Détermination des Organisch-mineralische Düngemittel - Bestimmung
composés inhibiteurs spécifiques spezifischer Hemmstoffe
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 260.
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 18318:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
prEN 18318:2026 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Sampling and sample preparation . 5
4.1 Sampling . 5
4.2 Sample preparation . 5
5 Determination of the urease inhibiting compound content . 6
5.1 Determination of N-(n-butyl)thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT). 6
5.2 Determination of N-(2-nitrophenyl)phosphoric triamide (2-NPT) . 6
Annex ZA (informative) Relationship of this European Standard and the essential requirements
of Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 making available on the market of EU fertilising products
aimed to be covered . 7
Bibliography . 8
prEN 18318:2026 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 18318:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 260 “Fertilizers
and liming materials”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN.
This document is currently submitted to CEN Enquiry.
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 18318:2026 (E)
Introduction
Different product functions warrant different product safety and quality requirements adapted to their
...