FprEN 17766
(Main)Organic and organo-mineral fertilizers - Extraction by water for subsequent determination of elements
- Abstract
This document specifies the procedure for extraction of different organic and organo-mineral fertilizers with water to enable a subsequent determination of boron (B), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), phosphorous (P) and zinc (Zn).
NOTE Extracts prepared by the procedure given in this document can also be applied for determination of other elements.
This document is applicable to the fertilizing products blends where a blend is a mix of at least two of the following components: fertilizers, liming materials, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors, plant biostimulants, and where the following category: organic fertilizers, organo-mineral fertilizers is the highest % in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. If the organic fertilizer or the organo-mineral fertilizer is not the highest % in the blend, the European Standard for the highest % of the blend applies. In case a fertilizing product blend is composed of components in equal quantity, the user decides which standard to apply. Variations in analytical methods for fertilizing product blends can lead to differing results as some components or matrix interactions can affect the outcome. Validation procedures have shown that developed standard methods are robust and reliable across diverse product compositions, but possible interferences and unexpected results when analysing fertilizing product blends are possible.
- Status
- Not Published
- Publication Date
- 17-Feb-2027
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 260 - Fertilizers and liming materials
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 260/WG 8 - Organic and organo-mineral fertilizers
- Current Stage
- 4599 - Dispatch of FV draft to CMC - Finalization for Vote
- Start Date
- 27-Aug-2026
- Due Date
- 14-Mar-2027
- Completion Date
- 27-Aug-2026
FprEN 17766 is a CEN European Standard for extracting water-soluble elements from organic and organo-mineral fertilizers. It specifies a water extraction step for later determination of boron, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorus and zinc, mainly for laboratory use with the linked ICP-AES determination method. The same procedure can also be used for certain fertilizing product blends when the organic or organo-mineral fertilizer fraction is the main component.
What does FprEN 17766 specify?
FprEN 17766 specifies the water extraction procedure, the sample handling needed before extraction, the reagents and apparatus to use, the extraction steps, and the contents of the test report. It is organized into clauses 1 to 9: scope, normative references, terms and definitions, principle, sampling and sample preparation, reagents, apparatus, procedure, and test report.
The scope is focused on organic and organo-mineral fertilizers, but it also covers blends made from at least two fertilizing components when the organic or organo-mineral fertilizer category is the highest share in the blend. If another component is dominant, the standard for that dominant category applies instead. If the components are equal, the user chooses which standard to apply.
What are the key requirements of FprEN 17766?
- Clause 4, Principle: FprEN 17766 uses extraction with water under defined shaking conditions. The extract is then analysed according to prEN 17774, so the extraction and measurement steps are linked.
- Clause 5, Sampling and sample preparation: Sampling is not part of the method, but the laboratory needs a representative sample that has not been damaged or changed in transport or storage. Sample preparation follows EN 1482-2, which matters because poor preparation can shift the reported element content.
- Clause 6, Reagents: The extraction water must have very low conductivity and must be free from the elements being determined. Nitric acid is also specified for cases where extracts must be stored longer, which helps prevent changes before analysis.
- Clause 7, Apparatus: The method calls for a rotary or horizontal eccentric shaker, suitable extraction vessels, ash-free filter paper, and clean glassware or plastic ware. For boron, the document warns to minimize contact with borosilicate glass, because that can affect the result.
- Clause 8, Extraction step: The prepared sample is extracted with water at controlled temperature while being shaken for 60 minutes. In practice, this means the laboratory must control time, temperature, mixing intensity, and filtration so the extract remains comparable from sample to sample.
- Clause 8, Handling of extracts: The extract should be measured the same day. If it must be kept, the document allows short refrigerated storage in tightly closed vessels, and longer storage only after acidification. This is important for labs that batch analyses.
- Clause 9, Test report: The report must identify the sample, state the method and its year, record sampling information when known, note when extraction finished, and list any optional details or incidents that could influence the result.
What terms does FprEN 17766 define?
- Organic fertilizers: A fertilizer category covered by the method when it is the main component of a blend or the sample type under test.
- Organo-mineral fertilizers: A fertilizer category covered by the method that combines organic and mineral characteristics.
- Fertilizing product blends: Mixtures of at least two listed component types, including fertilizers, liming materials, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors and plant biostimulants.
- Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES): The analytical technique named for measuring the extract after water extraction.
- Blank test solution: A solution prepared by the same procedure as the sample, but without sample, used to check background contamination.
- Specific conductivity: A water-quality criterion used to define suitable extraction water.
Who uses FprEN 17766?
FprEN 17766 is used by testing laboratories, quality control teams, fertilizer manufacturers, and regulatory or conformity assessment bodies working with organic and organo-mineral fertilizers. It is relevant whenever a lab needs a repeatable extraction step before measuring micronutrients or phosphorus in these products. It also helps buyers and quality managers compare results from different product batches or blend formulations.
What changed in FprEN 17766 from the previous edition?
FprEN 17766 supersedes CEN/TS 17766:2022. Compared with that edition, the main changes are:
- the Technical Specification has been adopted as a European Standard;
- an Introduction has been added;
- the Scope has been updated, including clarification for fertilizing product blends and the analytical method to be used;
- Reagents now include nitric acid;
- Apparatus details have been expanded, including a remark on laboratory glassware quality;
- the Procedure has been expanded and adjusted;
- the Bibliography has been updated.
Which standards are used with FprEN 17766?
| Standard | Contribution |
|---|---|
| EN 12944-1 | General fertilizer and liming materials vocabulary used for terms and definitions. |
| EN 12944-2 | Fertilizer-specific vocabulary used for terms and definitions. |
| EN 1482-2 | Sample preparation rules used before extraction. |
| EN 1482-1 | Recommended general sampling provisions cited for sampling practice. |
| EN 1482-3 | Recommended sampling of static heaps cited for sampling practice. |
| prEN 17774 | Determines the specific elements in the extract by ICP-AES. |
| EN 16962 | Related water-extraction method for water-soluble micronutrients and removal of organic compounds. |
What does the FprEN 17766 document contain?
FprEN 17766 contains the laboratory extraction procedure, the required reagent quality, the equipment list, and the handling steps for the extract and blank. It also contains practical controls that matter in routine testing, such as temperature control, filtration practice, storage limits, and precautions for boron analysis.
The document also includes the front matter, the European foreword, an introduction explaining the purpose of the water extract, and a test report section that tells laboratories what to record for traceability.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 11-Jun-2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
FprEN 17766 is a draft published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Organic and organo-mineral fertilizers - Extraction by water for subsequent determination of elements". This standard covers: This document specifies the procedure for extraction of different organic and organo-mineral fertilizers with water to enable a subsequent determination of boron (B), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), phosphorous (P) and zinc (Zn). NOTE Extracts prepared by the procedure given in this document can also be applied for determination of other elements. This document is applicable to the fertilizing products blends where a blend is a mix of at least two of the following components: fertilizers, liming materials, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors, plant biostimulants, and where the following category: organic fertilizers, organo-mineral fertilizers is the highest % in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. If the organic fertilizer or the organo-mineral fertilizer is not the highest % in the blend, the European Standard for the highest % of the blend applies. In case a fertilizing product blend is composed of components in equal quantity, the user decides which standard to apply. Variations in analytical methods for fertilizing product blends can lead to differing results as some components or matrix interactions can affect the outcome. Validation procedures have shown that developed standard methods are robust and reliable across diverse product compositions, but possible interferences and unexpected results when analysing fertilizing product blends are possible.
This document specifies the procedure for extraction of different organic and organo-mineral fertilizers with water to enable a subsequent determination of boron (B), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), phosphorous (P) and zinc (Zn). NOTE Extracts prepared by the procedure given in this document can also be applied for determination of other elements. This document is applicable to the fertilizing products blends where a blend is a mix of at least two of the following components: fertilizers, liming materials, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors, plant biostimulants, and where the following category: organic fertilizers, organo-mineral fertilizers is the highest % in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. If the organic fertilizer or the organo-mineral fertilizer is not the highest % in the blend, the European Standard for the highest % of the blend applies. In case a fertilizing product blend is composed of components in equal quantity, the user decides which standard to apply. Variations in analytical methods for fertilizing product blends can lead to differing results as some components or matrix interactions can affect the outcome. Validation procedures have shown that developed standard methods are robust and reliable across diverse product compositions, but possible interferences and unexpected results when analysing fertilizing product blends are possible.
FprEN 17766 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 17766 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to CEN/TS 17766:2022. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
FprEN 17766 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 17766 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-februar-2026
Organska in organsko-mineralna gnojila - Ekstrakcija z vodo za določanje
elementov
Organic and organo-mineral fertilizers - Extraction by water for subsequent determination
of elements
Organische und organisch-mineralische Düngemittel - Extraktion durch Wasser zur
anschließenden Bestimmung der Elemente
Engrais organiques et organo-minéraux - Extraction à l’eau pour le dosage ultérieur des
éléments
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 17766
ICS:
65.080 Gnojila Fertilizers
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 17766
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
December 2025
ICS 65.080 Will supersede CEN/TS 17766:2022
English Version
Organic and organo-mineral fertilizers - Extraction by
water for subsequent determination of elements
Engrais organiques et organo-minéraux - Extraction à Organische und organisch-mineralische Düngemittel -
l'eau pour le dosage ultérieur des éléments Extraktion durch Wasser zur anschließenden
Bestimmung der Elemente
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
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 17766:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
prEN 17766:2025 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Principle . 5
5 Sampling and sample preparation . 6
6 Reagents . 6
7 Apparatus . 6
8 Procedure. 6
9 Test Report . 7
Bibliography . 8
prEN 17766:2025 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 17766:2025) 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 the CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede CEN/TS 17766:2022.
Compared to the previous edition, prEN 17766:2025 includes the following significant technical changes:
— the CEN Technical Specification has been adopted as a European Standard;
— Introduction added;
— Scope (Clause 1) updated including the clarification on fertilizing product blends and the analytical
method to be used;
— Reagents (Clause 6) updated with the addition of nitric acid;
— Apparatus (Clause 7) updated specifying more details and adding a remark regarding the quality of
the laboratory glassware;
— Procedure (Clause 8) updated describing more details on the procedure and making specific
adaptations to procedural changes;
— Bibliography updated.
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.
prEN 17766:2025 (E)
Introduction
Water is applied to extract available fraction of micronutrients from different matrices for their
subsequent determination by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). A
similar procedure was applied for extraction of micronutrients from mineral fertilizers [2].
WARNING — Persons using this document should be familiar with usual laboratory practice. This
document does not purport to address all of the safety issues, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user to establish appropriate health and safety practices and to ensure compliance
with any national regulatory conditions.
IMPORTANT — It is absolutely essential that tests condu
...