FprEN 17733

• Abstract:

  This document specifies references to methods for sampling of soil improvers and growing media and sample preparation of soil improvers and growing media for subsequent determination of quality and quantity.; 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: 06-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: 30-Jul-2026
• Due Date: 26-Aug-2026
• Completion Date: 30-Jul-2026
• Directive: 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 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
• Ref Project: oSIST prEN 17733:2026 - Soil improvers and growing media - Methods for sampling and sample preparation

• Revises: CEN/TS 17733:2022 - Soil improvers and growing media - Sampling and sample preparation
• Effective Date: 20-Nov-2024
• Revises: EN 12579:2013 - Soil improvers and growing media - Sampling
• Effective Date: 19-Jan-2023

Overview

FprEN 17733: Soil improvers and growing media - Methods for sampling and sample preparation is a draft European Standard developed by CEN Technical Committee CEN/TC 223. This standard establishes clear and consistent methods for sampling soil improvers and growing media, as well as for preparing samples for subsequent quality and quantity determination. The standard is essential for manufacturers, laboratories, and regulatory bodies involved in the analysis, classification, and control of fertilizing product blends, particularly those where soil improvers and growing media are the predominant components by mass or volume.

The application of FprEN 17733 ensures that all relevant stakeholders follow harmonized procedures when handling soil improvers and growing media, facilitating compliance with EU fertilizer regulations and supporting accurate testing for product quality and safety.

Key Topics

• Scope of Application
  The standard applies to blends of fertilizers, liming materials, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors, and plant biostimulants, focusing on products where soil improvers and/or growing media are the highest-percentage components by mass, volume, or dry mass.

• Sampling Methods
  FprEN 17733 references EN 12579 for detailed sampling procedures. This includes guidance for obtaining representative samples from both solid and liquid materials and specific requirements for microbiological sampling.

• Sample Preparation
  Different standardized procedures are provided for preparing samples depending on the intended analysis:

  • Chemical and physical tests (including dry matter, moisture content, and bulk density) should follow prEN 13040-1.
  • Microbiological examinations require preparation according to prEN 13040-2.

• Product Categorization
  The standard clarifies when to use this or other applicable standards based on the composition of the product blend, supporting accurate product classification according to EU Regulation (EU) 2019/1009.

Applications

FprEN 17733 is highly practical for a range of industry stakeholders, offering the following benefits:

• Manufacturers of Soil Improvers and Growing Media
  Enables robust quality control and supports conformity assessment for marketed products.

• Testing Laboratories
  Provides standardized protocols for sampling and preparing materials, ensuring results are reliable and comparable across the EU.

• Regulatory Authorities
  Aids in market surveillance and enforcement of EU regulations for soil improvers, growing media, and blended fertilizing products.

• Product Blending and Formulation
  Facilitates decision-making on applicable standards in the case of multi-component blends, enhancing regulatory compliance.

• Research and Development
  Supports the scientific study of soil improvers and growing media by providing harmonized methodologies for sample handling and testing.

Related Standards

When implementing FprEN 17733, the following standards and references should be considered for comprehensive compliance and understanding:

• EN 12579:2024
  Soil improvers and growing media - Sampling. Specifies detailed sampling procedures, referenced directly in FprEN 17733.

• prEN 13040-1:2025
  Soil improvers and growing media - Sample preparation for chemical and physical tests.

• prEN 13040-2:2025
  Soil improvers and growing media - Sample preparation for microbiological examination.

• prEN 17732:2025
  Soil improvers and growing media - Terminology. Provides definitive terms and definitions related to this sector.

• Regulation (EU) 2019/1009
  Lays out the overarching rules for placing EU fertilizing products on the market, critical for ensuring regulatory alignment.

Keywords: soil improvers, growing media, sampling methods, sample preparation, fertilizing products, product blends, quality control, EN 12579, prEN 13040, EU fertilizer regulation, CEN standards

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-januar-2026
Izboljševalci tal in rastni substrati - Metode za vzorčenje in pripravo vzorcev
Soil improvers and growing media - Methods for sampling and sample preparation
Bodenverbesserungsmittel und Kultursubstrate - Probenahme
Amendements organiques et supports de culture - Echantillonnage
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 17733
ICS:
65.080 Gnojila Fertilizers
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 17733
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
December 2025
ICS 65.080 Will supersede CEN/TS 17733:2022
English Version
Soil improvers and growing media - Methods for sampling
and sample preparation
Amendements du sol et supports de culture - Méthodes Bodenverbesserungsmittel und Kultursubstrate -
d'échantillonnage et de préparation de l'échantillon Methoden für Probenahme und Probenvorbereitung
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
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 17733:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

prEN 17733:2025 (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
Bibliography . 7

prEN 17733:2025 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 17733:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 223 “Soil
improvers and growing media”, the secretariat of which is held by NEN.
This document will supersede CEN/TS 17733:2022.
prEN 17733:2025 includes the following significant technical changes with respect to
CEN/TS 17733:2022:
— The title has been revised;
— Redundant information has been removed from the Introduction;
— An applicability statement has been included in the Scope;
— Clause 2, Normative references, has been updated;
— The ISO and IEC terminology databases have been removed from Clause 3, Terms and definitions;
— Requirements for sampling and sample preparation
...