CEN/TC 455/WG 4 - Other safety parameters

This document specifies a method for the extraction and determination of phosphonates (P-PO3) in plant biostimulants using ion chromatography and conductivity detection (IC-CD).
This document is applicable to the blends of fertilizing products where a blend is a mix of at least two of the following component EU fertilising products categories: Fertilizers, Liming Materials, Soil Improvers, Growing Media, Inhibitors, Plant Biostimulants, and where the following category Plant Biostimulants is the highest percentage in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. If Plant Biostimulants is not the highest percentage in the blend, the European Standard for the highest percentage of the blend applies. In case a blend of fertilizing products is composed of components in equal quantity or in case the component EU fertilising products used for the blend have identical formulations , the user decides which standard to apply.

This document specifies a method for verifying that hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is not present in plant biostimulants.
This document is applicable to all types of plant biostimulants (solid and liquid) used in agriculture.
The method specified is suitable to quantify the chromium(VI) content in plant biostimulants down to 2 mg/kg.
The results obtained from this method are strictly dependent on the extraction conditions. Results obtained by using other extraction procedures (extraction solution, pH, extraction time, etc.) are not comparable with the results produced by the procedure specified in this document.
This document is applicable to the blends of fertilizing products where a blend is a mix of at least two of the following component EU fertilising products: Fertilizers, Liming Materials, Soil Improvers, Growing Media, Inhibitors, Plant Biostimulants and where the following category Plant Biostimulants is the highest percentage in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. If Plant Biostimulants is not the highest percentage in the blend, the European Standard for the highest percentage of the blend applies. In case a blend of fertilizing products is composed of components in equal quantity or in case the component EU fertilising products used for the blend have identical formulations , the user decides which standard to apply.

This document specifies a method for extraction, separation, and determination of inorganic arsenic (iAs) in plant biostimulants using anion-exchange high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or ion chromatography (IC) coupled to ICP-MS.
This document is applicable to the blends of fertilizing products where a blend is a mix of at least two of the following component EU fertilising products categories: Fertilizers, Liming Materials, Soil Improvers, Growing Media, Inhibitors, Plant Biostimulants, and where the following category Plant Biostimulants is the highest percentage in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. If Plant Biostimulants is not the highest percentage in the blend, the European Standard for the highest percentage of the blend applies. In case a blend of fertilizing products is composed of components in equal quantity or in case the component EU fertilising products used for the blend have identical formulations , the user decides which standard to apply.

This document specifies the method for the digestion of different plant biostimulants with aqua regia to enable a subsequent determination of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn). The method can be also applied for determination of other elements. The method is applicable for all solid and/or liquid plant biostimulants.
This document is applicable to the blends of fertilizing products where a blend is a mix of at least two of the following component EU fertilising products categories: Fertilizers, Liming Materials, Soil Improvers, Growing Media, Inhibitors, Plant Biostimulants, and where the following category Plant Biostimulants is the highest % in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. If Plant Biostimulants is not the highest % in the blend, the European Standard for the highest % of the blend applies. In case a blend of fertilizing products is composed of components in equal quantity or in case the component EU fertilising products used for the blend have identical formulations , the user decides which standard to apply.
The digests are suitable for analysis using EN 17701-2:2024 (ICP-AES) and EN 17701-3:2024 (Hg analysis).
NOTE   Alternatively, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) can be used for the determination of the elements in the aqua regia digests if the user proves that the method gives the same results.

This document specifies a method for determination of the content of mercury (Hg) in plant biostimulants using (cold) vapour generation apparatus coupled to an atomic absorption spectrophotometer and a method using a direct amalgamation technique. It is applicable to aqua regia digests prepared according to EN 17701-1:2024.
NOTE   It is also possible to use other suitable methods for the determination of mercury described in Annex A if users prove that the method gives the same results as the methods described in this document.
This document is applicable to the blends of fertilizing products where a blend is a mix of at least two of the following component EU fertilising products categories: Fertilizers, Liming Materials, Soil Improvers, Growing Media, Inhibitors, Plant Biostimulants, and where the following category Plant Biostimulants is the highest % in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. If Plant Biostimulants is not the highest % in the blend, the European Standard for the highest % of the blend applies. In case a blend of fertilizing products is composed of components in equal quantity or in case the component EU fertilising products used for the blend have identical formulations , the user decides which standard to apply.

This document specifies a method for the determination of total contents of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) in aqua regia plant biostimulant digests using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES).
This document is applicable to the blends of fertilizing products where a blend is a mix of at least two of the following component EU fertilising products categories: Fertilizers, Liming Materials, Soil Improvers, Growing Media, Inhibitors, Plant Biostimulants, and where the following category Plant Biostimulants is the highest % in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. If Plant Biostimulants is not the highest % in the blend, the European Standard for the highest % of the blend applies. In case a blend of fertilizing products is composed of components in equal quantity or in case the component EU fertilising products used for the blend have identical formulations , the user decides which standard to apply.
This method is applicable to aqua regia digests prepared according to EN 17701-1:2024. The method can be used for the determination of other elements, provided the user has verified the applicability.
NOTE   Alternatively, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) can be used for the determination of the elements in the aqua regia digests if the user proves that the method gives the same results.

This document specifies the procedure for the determination of dry residue and calculation of the dry matter fraction of plant biostimulants for which the results of performed analysis are to be calculated to the dry matter basis.
This document is applicable to the blends of fertilizing products where a blend is a mix of at least two of the following component EU fertilising products categories: Fertilizers, Liming Materials, Soil Improvers, Growing Media, Inhibitors, Plant Biostimulants, and where the following category Plant Biostimulants is the highest percentage in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. If Plant Biostimulants is not the highest percentage in the blend, the European Standard for the highest percentage of the blend applies. In case a blend of fertilizing products is composed of components in equal quantity or in case the component EU fertilising products used for the blend have identical formulations , the user decides which standard to apply.

This document specifies a method for determination of the content of mercury (Hg) in plant biostimulants using (cold) vapour generation apparatus coupled to an atomic absorption spectrophotometer and a method using a direct amalgamation technique. It is applicable to aqua regia digests prepared according to CEN/TS 17701-1.
NOTE    It is also possible to use other suitable methods for the determination of mercury described in Annex A if users prove that the method gives the same results as the methods described in this document.
This document is also applicable to the blends of fertilizing products where plant biostimulants are the main part of the blend. Otherwise, the Technical Specification for the main part of the blend applies.

This document specifies a method for the determination of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) in plant biostimulant digests using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES).
This document is also applicable to the blends of fertilizing products where plant biostimulants are the main part of the blend. Otherwise, the Technical Specification for the main part of the blend applies.
This method is applicable to aqua regia digests prepared according to CEN/TS 17701-1. The method can be used for the determination of other elements, provided the user has verified the applicability.

This document specifies the procedure for the determination and calculation of the dry matter fraction of plant biostimulants for which the results of performed analysis are to be calculated to the dry matter basis.
This document is also applicable to the blends of fertilizing products where plant biostimulants are the main part of the blend. Otherwise, the Technical Specification for the main part of the blend applies.

This document specifies a method for extraction, separation, and determination of inorganic arsenic (iAs) in plant biostimulants using anion-exchange high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or ion chromatography (IC) coupled to ICP-MS.
This document is also applicable to the blends of fertilizing products where plant biostimulants are the main part of the blend. Otherwise, the Technical Specification for the main part of the blend applies.

This document specifies the method for the digestion of different plant biostimulants with aqua regia to enable a subsequent determination of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn). The method can be also applied for determination of other elements. The method is applicable for all solid and/or liquid plant biostimulants.
This document is also applicable to the blends of fertilizing products where plant biostimulants are the main part of the blend. Otherwise, the Technical Specification for the main part of the blend applies.
The extracts are suitable for analysis using CEN/TS 17701-2 (ICP-AES) and CEN/TS 17701-3 (Hg analysis).
NOTE   Alternatively, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) can be used for the measurement if the user proves that the method gives the same results.

This document specifies a method for the extraction and determination of phosphonates (P–PO3) in plant biostimulants using ion chromatography and conductivity detection (IC-CD).
This document is also applicable to the blends of fertilizing products where plant biostimulants are the main part of the blend. Otherwise, the Technical Specification for the main part of the blend applies.

This document was developed to provide a method for verifying that hexavalent chromium (CrVI) is not present in plant biostimulants in a concentration that exceeds the respective limits outlined in the EU Regulation on Fertilising Products [1].
This document is applicable to all types of plant biostimulants (solid and liquid ) used in agriculture.
The method described is suitable to quantify the chromium(VI) content in plant biostimulants down to 2 mg/kg.
The results obtained from this method are strictly dependent on the extraction conditions. Results obtained by using other extraction procedures (extraction solution, pH, extraction time, etc.) are not comparable with the results produced by the procedure described in this document.