FprEN 18300
(Main)Soil improvers and growing media - Methods for the determination of cadmium, lead, nickel, hexavalent chromium (Cr VI), mercury, inorganic arsenic, phosphonates, total chromium and bioavailable nickel content
General Information
- Abstract
This document specifies references to methods to be used for the determination of specific parameters in soil improvers and growing media, but does not contain the methods themselves. The specific parameters in this document are:
— the cadmium content;
— the lead content;
— the nickel content;
— the hexavalent chromium (Cr VI) content;
— the mercury content;
— the inorganic arsenic content;
— the phosphonates content;
— the total chromium content;
— the bioavailable nickel content.
This document is applicable to the fertilizing product blends where a blend is a mix of two or more fertilizing 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 fertilizing 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
- 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
Overview
FprEN 18300, developed by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), defines references to standardized methods for determining specific contaminants and compounds in soil improvers and growing media. This standard underpins quality, safety, and regulatory compliance for fertilizing product blends. It is designed to support the implementation of essential safety and quality requirements, notably under Regulation (EU) 2019/1009, relating to the marketing of EU fertilizing products.
The standard covers references for determination of:
- Cadmium content
- Lead content
- Nickel content
- Hexavalent chromium (Cr VI) content
- Mercury content
- Inorganic arsenic content
- Phosphonates content
- Total chromium content
- Bioavailable nickel content
FprEN 18300 applies primarily to blends where soil improvers and/or growing media constitute the highest content by mass, volume, or, in the case of liquid products, by dry mass. If another category dominates, the relevant European Standard should be used.
Key Topics
Referenced Analytical Methods:
The standard itself does not include testing methods but specifies references to harmonized EN and prEN methods. These assure consistent sampling, sample preparation, and chemical determination for each parameter, supporting traceability and comparability.
Scope of Materials:
- Bulk and liquid fertilizing blends where soil improvers or growing media are the main components.
- Applicable to common constituents such as peat, wood fibres, coconut coir, compost, and perlite.
Parameters Assessed:
Focuses on heavy metals and hazardous substances (cadmium, lead, nickel, mercury, chromium VI, arsenic), total chromium, bioavailable nickel, and phosphonates, which are critical for product safety and regulatory compliance.
Regulatory Alignment:
The standard ensures that products meet essential European regulatory requirements, particularly under the EU Fertilising Products Regulation (EU) 2019/1009, for both safety and environmental protection.
Applications
Product Quality Control:
- Manufacturers and quality assurance laboratories use this standard to ensure soil improvers and growing media meet regulatory thresholds for hazardous elements.
- Supports reliable reporting and safety declarations for product batches entering the European market.
Regulatory Compliance:
- Provides a harmonized approach for demonstrating conformity with EU safety requirements, facilitating CE marking for fertilizing products.
Market Access:
- Enables manufacturers to demonstrate compliance easily, supporting access to EU member state markets and reducing the risk of non-compliance penalties.
Environmental Protection and Safety:
- Assists environmental agencies and agricultural professionals in verifying contaminant levels, thus supporting safer use of fertilizing products.
Related Standards
FprEN 18300 makes direct reference to the following key standards for procedures and guidance:
- prEN 17732: Terminology for soil improvers and growing media
- EN 12579: Sampling methods for soil improvers and growing media
- prEN 13040-1: Sample preparation for chemical and physical tests
- prEN 13650 / prEN 13651: Extraction and preparation of samples for elemental analysis
- prEN 18251: Determination of phosphonates content
- prEN 18254: Determination of inorganic arsenic content
- prEN 18257: Determination of hexavalent chromium (Cr VI)
- prEN 18258: Determination of mercury content
- prEN 18259: Determination of aqua regia soluble elements
Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 is central for legislative context, defining product function categories and safety requirements for fertilizing products.
Employing FprEN 18300 and its referenced analytical standards ensures consistency, reliability, and legal compliance in the assessment of soil improvers and growing media across Europe, supporting both product safety and sustainable agricultural practices.
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Frequently Asked Questions
FprEN 18300 is a draft published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Soil improvers and growing media - Methods for the determination of cadmium, lead, nickel, hexavalent chromium (Cr VI), mercury, inorganic arsenic, phosphonates, total chromium and bioavailable nickel content". This standard covers: This document specifies references to methods to be used for the determination of specific parameters in soil improvers and growing media, but does not contain the methods themselves. The specific parameters in this document are: — the cadmium content; — the lead content; — the nickel content; — the hexavalent chromium (Cr VI) content; — the mercury content; — the inorganic arsenic content; — the phosphonates content; — the total chromium content; — the bioavailable nickel content. This document is applicable to the fertilizing product blends where a blend is a mix of two or more fertilizing 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 fertilizing 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).
This document specifies references to methods to be used for the determination of specific parameters in soil improvers and growing media, but does not contain the methods themselves. The specific parameters in this document are: — the cadmium content; — the lead content; — the nickel content; — the hexavalent chromium (Cr VI) content; — the mercury content; — the inorganic arsenic content; — the phosphonates content; — the total chromium content; — the bioavailable nickel content. This document is applicable to the fertilizing product blends where a blend is a mix of two or more fertilizing 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 fertilizing 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).
FprEN 18300 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 18300 is associated with the following European legislation: EU Directives/Regulations: 2003/2003, 2019/1009; Standardization Mandates: M/564, M/564 Amd 1, M/564 Amd 2, M/xxx. 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 18300 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-marec-2026
Izboljševalci tal in rastni substrati - Metode določanja kadmija, svinca, niklja,
šestvalentnega kroma, živega srebra, anorganskega arzena, fosfonatov, celotnega
kroma in biološko razpoložljivega niklja
Soil improvers and growing media - Methods for the determination of cadmium, lead,
nickel, hexavalent chromium, mercury, inorganic arsenic, phosphonates, total chromium
and bioavailable nickel content
Bodenverbesserungsmittel und Kultursubstrate - Bestimmung spezifischer
Kontaminanten
Amendements du sol et supports de culture - Méthodes pour la détermination de la
teneur en cadmium, en plomb, en nickel, en chrome hexavalent, en mercure, en arsenic
inorganique, en phosphonates, en chrome total et en nickel biodisponible
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 18300
ICS:
65.080 Gnojila Fertilizers
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 18300
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
January 2026
ICS 65.080
English Version
Soil improvers and growing media - Methods for the
determination of cadmium, lead, nickel, hexavalent
chromium, mercury, inorganic arsenic, phosphonates, total
chromium and bioavailable nickel content
Amendements du sol et supports de culture - Méthodes Bodenverbesserungsmittel und Kultursubstrate -
pour la détermination de la teneur en cadmium, en Verfahren zur Bestimmung des Gehalts an Cadmium,
plomb, en nickel, en chrome hexavalent, en mercure, en Blei, Nickel, sechswertigem Chrom, Quecksilber,
arsenic inorganique, en phosphonates, en chrome total anorganischem Arsen, Phosphonaten, Gesamtchrom
et en nickel biodisponible und bioverfügbarem Nickel
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 18300:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
prEN 18300:2026 (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
5 Determination . 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 . 8
Bibliography . 11
prEN 18300:2026 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 18300:2026) 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 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 18300:2026 (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].
Soil improvers have been classified as PFC 3, growing media have been classified as PFC 4. 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 compliance with the related
requirement.
prEN 18300:2026 (E)
1 Scope
This document refers to methods to be used for the determination of specific parameters in soil
improvers and growing media, but does not contain the methods themselves. The specific parameters in
this document include:
— the cadmium content;
— the lead content;
— the nickel content;
— the chromium (VI) content;
— the mercury content;
— the inorganic arsenic content;
— the phosphonates content;
— the total chromium content;
— the bioavailable nickel content.
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).
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
prEN 17732:2025, Soil improvers and growing media — Terminology
EN 12579:2024, Soil improvers and growing media — Sampling
prEN 13040-1:2025, So
...