ANNEX III
Labelling requirements
This Annex sets out the labelling requirements for EU fertilising products. The requirements laid down in Part II and Part III of this Annex for a given PFC, as specified in Annex I, apply to EU fertilising products in all subcategories of that PFC.
PART I
GENERAL LABELLING REQUIREMENTS
1. | The following information shall be provided: for EU fertilising products in PFC 1 to PFC 6, the designation as indicated in Part I of Annex I of the PFC corresponding to the product’s claimed function; for EU fertilising products in PFC 7, the designations as indicated in Part I of Annex I of all the PFCs corresponding to the claimed functions of the component EU fertilising products; the quantity of the EU fertilising product, indicated by mass or volume; instructions for intended use, including application rates, timing and frequency, and target plants or mushrooms; recommended storage conditions; for products containing a polymer belonging to CMC 9 in Part II of Annex II, the time period following use during which the nutrient release is being controlled or the water retention capacity is being increased (the ‘functionality period’), which shall not be longer than the period between two applications in accordance with the use instructions referred to in point (d); any relevant information on measures recommended to manage risks to human, animal or plant health, to safety or to the environment; and a list of all ingredients above 5 % by product weight in descending order of magnitude by dry weight, including the designations of the relevant CMCs as referred to in Part I of Annex II to this Regulation; where the ingredient is a substance or a mixture, it shall be identified as specified in Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008. |
2. | Where the EU fertilising product has functions described in two or more of the PFCs laid down in Annex I, only those functions for which the EU fertilising product has been subject to a successful conformity assessment in accordance with this Regulation may be claimed by using the corresponding PFC designations as indicated in Part I of Annex I. |
3. | Where the EU fertilising product contains a substance for which maximum residue limits for food and feed have been established in accordance with Regulation (EEC) No 315/93, Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, Regulation (EC) No 470/2009 or Directive 2002/32/EC, the instructions referred to in point 1(d) shall ensure that the intended use of the EU fertilising product does not lead to the exceedance of those limits in food or feed. |
4. | Where the EU fertilising product contains derived products within the meaning of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 other than manure, the following instruction shall be provided on the label: ‘Farmed animals shall not be fed, either directly or by grazing, with herbage from land to which the product has been applied unless the cutting or grazing takes place after the expiry of a waiting period of at least 21 days.’. |
5. | Where the EU fertilising product contains ricin, the following instruction shall be provided on the label: ‘Hazardous to animals in case of ingestion’. |
6. | Where the EU fertilising product contains unprocessed or processed cocoa shells, the following instruction shall be provided on the label: ‘Toxic to dogs and cats’. |
7. | Where the EU fertilising product contains a polymer with the purpose of binding material in the product, as referred to in point 1(c) of CMC 9 in Part II of Annex II, the user shall be instructed not to use the product in contact with soil, and in collaboration with the manufacturer, make sure of a sound disposal of the products after end of use. |
8. | Information other than the information required under points 1 to 6: shall not mislead the user, for example by attributing to the product properties that it does not possess, or by suggesting that the product possesses unique characteristics which similar products also have; shall relate to verifiable factors; shall not make claims such as ‘sustainable’ or ‘environmentally friendly’ unless such claims refer to legislation, or clearly identified guidelines, standards or schemes, with which the EU fertilising product complies; and shall not make claims by means of statements or visual representations that the EU fertilising product prevents or treats plant diseases or protects plants against harmful organisms. |
9. | The phrase ‘poor in chloride’ or similar may only be used if the chloride (Cl-) content is below 30 g/kg of dry matter. |
10. | Where the nutrient content information requirements in this Annex are expressed in oxidised form, the nutrient content may be expressed in elemental form instead or in addition to the oxidised form in accordance with the following conversion factors: phosphorus (P)= phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) × 0,436; potassium (K)= potassium oxide (K2O) × 0,830; calcium (Ca)= calcium oxide (CaO) × 0,715; magnesium (Mg)= magnesium oxide (MgO) × 0,603; sodium (Na)= sodium oxide (Na2O) × 0,742; sulphur (S)= sulphur trioxide (SO3) × 0,400. |
11. | Where the information requirements in this Annex refer to organic carbon (Corg), the information may refer to organic matter instead of or in addition to organic carbon (Corg), in accordance with the following conversion factor: organic carbon (Corg) = organic matter × 0,56. |
PART II
PRODUCT-SPECIFIC LABELLING REQUIREMENTS
PFC 1: FERTILISER
1. | The content of nutrients may be declared only where they are present in the EU fertilising product in the minimum quantity specified in Annex I for the relevant PFC. |
2. | If nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) are not declared nutrients, the content of nitrogen (N) or phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) shall nevertheless be indicated if above 0,5 % by mass. That indication shall be separate from the nutrient declaration. |
3. | The following rules apply to fertilisers containing inhibitors, as specified in CMC 1 in Part II of Annex II: the label shall state the words ‘nitrification inhibitor’, ‘denitrification inhibitor’ or ‘urease inhibitor’, as relevant; the nitrification inhibitor content shall be expressed as a % by mass of the total nitrogen (N) present as ammonium nitrogen (NH4+) and urea nitrogen (CH4N2O); the denitrification inhibitor content shall be expressed as a % by mass of the nitrate (NO3-) present; the urease inhibitor content shall be expressed as a % by mass of the total nitrogen (N) present as urea nitrogen (CH4N2O). |
4. | The term ‘mineral fertiliser’ may be used only if the fertiliser belongs to PFC 1(C) and fulfils the following additional conditions: the mineral fertiliser must not contain more than 1 % by mass of organic carbon (Corg), other than organic carbon from: chelating or complexing agents referred to in point 3 of CMC 1 in Part II of Annex II, nitrification inhibitors, denitrification inhibitors or urease inhibitors referred to in point 4 of CMC 1 in Part II of Annex II, coating agents referred to in point 1(a) of CMC 9 in Part II of Annex II, urea (CH4N2O), or calcium cyanamide (CaCN2); where phosphorus (P) is a declared nutrient, the declared phosphorus content shall consist only of phosphorus in the phosphatic form, and the mineral fertiliser shall fulfil at least one of the following solubility criteria: water solubility: minimum level 40 % of total phosphorus (P), solubility in neutral ammonium citrate: minimum level 75 % of total phosphorus (P), or solubility in formic acid (only for soft rock phosphate): minimum level 55 % of total phosphorus (P); where nitrogen (N) is a declared nutrient, the declared nitrogen content shall consist only of the sum of nitric nitrogen, ammoniacal nitrogen, ureic nitrogen, and nitrogen from methylene-urea, from isobutylidenediurea, and from crotonylidenediurea. |
PFC 1(A): ORGANIC FERTILISER
The following information shall be provided:
(a) | the declared primary nutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) or potassium (K), by their chemical symbols in the order N-P-K; |
(b) | the declared secondary nutrients calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), or sulphur (S) by their chemical symbols in the order Ca-Mg-Na-S; |
(c) | numbers indicating the content of the declared nutrients total nitrogen (N), total phosphorus in the form of phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) or total potassium in the form of potassium oxide (K2O), followed by numbers in brackets indicating the total content of calcium oxide (CaO), magnesium oxide (MgO), sodium oxide (Na2O) or sulphur trioxide (SO3); |
(d) | the content of the following declared nutrients and other parameters, in the following order and as % by mass: nitrogen (N): total nitrogen (N); minimum amount of organic nitrogen (Norg), followed by a description of the origin of the organic matter used; nitrogen in the form of ammoniacal nitrogen; total phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5); total potassium oxide (K2O); calcium oxide (CaO), magnesium oxide (MgO), sodium oxide (Na2O) and sulphur trioxide (SO3), expressed: where those nutrients are totally soluble in water, only as the content soluble in water; where the soluble content of those nutrients is at least a quarter of the total content of those nutrients, as the total content and as the content soluble in water; in other cases, as the total content; organic carbon (Corg); dry matter; |
(e) | the ratio of organic carbon to total nitrogen (Corg/N); |
(f) | production date; |
(g) | the form of the physical unit of the product, such as powder or pellets, if applicable. |
PFC 1(B): ORGANO-MINERAL FERTILISER
1. | The following information shall be provided: the declared primary nutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) or potassium (K), by their chemical symbols in the order N-P-K; where applicable, the declared secondary nutrients calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na) or sulphur (S) by their chemical symbols in the order Ca-Mg-Na-S; numbers indicating the content of the declared nutrients total nitrogen (N), total phosphorus in the form of phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) or total potassium in the form of potassium oxide (K2O), followed by numbers in brackets indicating the total content of calcium oxide (CaO), magnesium oxide (MgO), sodium oxide (Na2O) or sulphur trioxide (SO3); the content of the following declared nutrients and other parameters, in the following order and as % by mass: nitrogen (N): total nitrogen (N); minimum amount of organic nitrogen (Norg), followed by a description of the origin of the organic matter used; nitrogen in the form of nitric nitrogen; nitrogen in the form of ammoniacal nitrogen; nitrogen in the form of urea nitrogen; phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5): total phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5); water-soluble phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5); phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) soluble in neutral ammonium citrate; where soft ground phosphate is present, phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) soluble in formic acid; potassium oxide (K2O): total potassium oxide (K2O); water soluble potassium oxide (K2O); calcium oxide (CaO), magnesium oxide (MgO), sodium oxide (Na2O) and sulphur trioxide (SO3), expressed: where those nutrients are totally soluble in water, only as the content soluble in water; where the soluble content of those nutrients is at least a quarter of the total content of those nutrients, as the total content and as the content soluble in water; in other cases, as the total content; organic carbon (Corg); dry matter, where urea (CH4N2O) is present, information about the possible air quality impacts of the release of ammonia from the fertiliser use, and an invitation to users to apply appropriate remediation measures. |
2. | Where one or more of the micronutrients boron (B), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and molybdenum (Mo) are present in the minimum content indicated as % by mass in the following table, they: shall be declared if they are intentionally added to an organo-mineral fertiliser, and may be declared in other cases:
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3. | Where one or both of the micronutrients copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are present, without being intentionally added, in the minimum content indicated as % by mass in the following table, they may be declared:
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4. | Where copper (Cu) or zinc (Zn) is intentionally added to the organo-mineral fertiliser, the total content of copper (Cu) or zinc (Zn) shall be declared. |
5. | The micronutrients referred to in points 2, 3 and 4 shall be declared after the information on macronutrients. The following information shall be provided: indication of the names and chemical symbols of the declared micronutrients, listed in the following order: boron (B), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo) and zinc (Zn), followed by the names of their counter-ions; the total micronutrient content expressed as % by mass: where those micronutrients are totally soluble in water, only as the content soluble in water; where the soluble content of those micronutrients is at least a quarter of the total content of those micronutrients, as the total content and as the content soluble in water; in other cases, as the total content; where the declared micronutrients are chelated by chelating agents, the following qualifier after the name and the chemical identifier of the micronutrient: ‘chelated by ... (name of the chelating agent or its abbreviation)’, and the amount of chelated micronutrient as % by mass; where the organo-mineral fertiliser contains micronutrients complexed by complexing agents the following qualifier after the name and the chemical identifier of the micronutrient: ‘complexed by ... (name of the complexing agent or its abbreviation)’, and the amount of complexed micronutrient as % by mass; where micronutrients are intentionally added, the following statement: ‘To be used only where there is a recognised need. Do not exceed the application rate’. |
6. | Where an organo-mineral fertiliser has a cadmium (Cd) content equal to or lower than 20 mg/kg phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5), the statement ‘Low cadmium (Cd) content’ or similar, or a visual representation to that effect, may be added. |
PFC 1(C): INORGANIC FERTILISER
PFC 1(C)(I): INORGANIC MACRONUTRIENT FERTILISER
1. | The following information shall be provided: where applicable, the declared primary nutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) or potassium (K), by their chemical symbols in the order N-P-K; where applicable, the declared secondary nutrients calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na) or sulphur (S) by their chemical symbols in the order Ca-Mg-Na-S; numbers indicating the content of the declared nutrients total nitrogen (N), total phosphorus in the form of phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) or total potassium in the form of potassium oxide (K2O), followed by numbers in brackets indicating the total content of calcium oxide (CaO), magnesium oxide (MgO), sodium oxide (Na2O) or sulphur trioxide (SO3); the content of the following declared nutrients, in the following order and as % by mass: nitrogen (N): total nitrogen (N); nitrogen in the form of nitric nitrogen; nitrogen in the form of ammoniacal nitrogen; nitrogen in the form of urea nitrogen; nitrogen from urea formaldehyde, isobutylidenediurea, crotonylidenediurea; nitrogen from cyanamide nitrogen; phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5): total phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5); water-soluble phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5); phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) soluble in neutral ammonium citrate; where soft ground phosphate is present, phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) soluble in formic acid; water soluble potassium oxide (K2O); calcium oxide (CaO), magnesium oxide (MgO), sodium oxide (Na2O) and sulphur trioxide (SO3), expressed: where those nutrients are totally soluble in water, only as the content soluble in water; where the soluble content of those nutrients is at least a quarter of the total content of those nutrients, as the total content and as the content soluble in water; in other cases, as the total content; where urea (CH4N2O) is present, information about the possible air quality impacts of the release of ammonia from the fertiliser use, and an invitation to users to apply appropriate remediation measures. |
2. | Where an inorganic macronutrient fertiliser has a cadmium (Cd) content equal to or lower than 20 mg/kg phosphorous pentoxide (P2O5), the statement ‘Low cadmium (Cd) content’ or similar, or a visual representation to that effect, may be added. |
PFC 1(C)(I)(a): SOLID INORGANIC MACRONUTRIENT FERTILISER
1. | A solid inorganic macronutrient fertiliser may be labelled ‘complex’ only if each physical unit contains all the declared nutrients in their declared content. |
2. | The granulometry of a solid inorganic macronutrient fertiliser shall be indicated, expressed as % by mass of the product passing through a determined sieve. |
3. | The form of the physical unit of the product shall be indicated with one of the following mentions: granules, pellets, powder, where at least 90 % by mass of the product can pass through a sieve with a mesh of 1 mm, or prills. |
4. | For coated solid inorganic macronutrient fertilisers, the name of the coating agents and the percentage of fertiliser coated by each coating agent shall be indicated and followed by: for polymer coated solid inorganic macronutrient fertilisers, the following marking: ‘The rate of nutrient releases can vary according to the temperature of the substrate. An adjustment of fertilisation may be necessary’; and for sulphur (S) coated solid inorganic macronutrient fertilisers and sulphur (S)/polymer coated solid inorganic macronutrient fertilisers, the following marking: ‘The rate of nutrient release can vary according to the temperature of the substrate and the biological activity. An adjustment of fertilisation may be necessary’. |
5. | Where one or more of the micronutrients boron (B), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and molybdenum (Mo) are present in the minimum content indicated in the following table as % by mass, they: shall be declared if they are intentionally added to the solid inorganic macronutrient fertiliser, and may be declared in other cases:
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6. | Where one or both of the micronutrients copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are present, without being intentionally added, in the minimum content indicated as % by mass in the following table, they may be declared:
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7. | Where copper (Cu) or zinc (Zn) is intentionally added to the solid inorganic macronutrient fertiliser the total content of copper (Cu) or zinc (Zn) shall be declared. |
8. | The micronutrients referred to in points 5, 6 and 7 shall be declared after the information on macronutrients. The following information shall be provided: indication of the names and chemical symbols of the declared micronutrients, listed in the following order: boron (B), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo) and zinc (Zn), followed by the names of their counter-ions; the total micronutrient content expressed as % by mass: where those micronutrients are totally soluble in water, only as the content soluble in water; where the soluble content of those micronutrients is at least a quarter of the total content of those micronutrients, as the total content and as the content soluble in water; in other cases, as the total content; where the declared micronutrients are chelated by chelating agents, the following qualifier after the name and the chemical identifier of the micronutrient: ‘chelated by ... (name of the chelating agent or its abbreviation)’, and the amount of chelated micronutrient as % by mass; where the solid inorganic macronutrient fertiliser contains micronutrients complexed by complexing agents the following qualifier after the name and the chemical identifier of the micronutrient: ‘complexed by ... (name of the complexing agent or its abbreviation)’, and the amount of complexed micronutrient as % by mass; where micronutrients are intentionally added, the following statement: ‘To be used only where there is a recognised need. Do not exceed the application rate’. |
PFC 1(C)(I)(b): LIQUID INORGANIC MACRONUTRIENT FERTILISER
1. | The label shall indicate whether the liquid inorganic macronutrient fertiliser is in suspension or in solution. |
2. | The nutrient content may be indicated as % by mass or volume. |
3. | Where one or more of the micronutrients boron (B), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and molybdenum (Mo) are present in the minimum content indicated in the following table as % by mass, they: shall be declared if they are intentionally added to the liquid inorganic macronutrient fertiliser, and may be declared in other cases:
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4. | Where one or both of the micronutrients copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are present, without being intentionally added, by at least 0,002 % by mass, they may be declared. |
5. | Where copper (Cu) or zinc (Zn) is intentionally added to the liquid inorganic macronutrient fertiliser the total content of copper (Cu) or zinc (Zn) shall be declared. |
6. | The micronutrients referred to in points 3, 4 and 5 shall be declared after the information on macronutrients. The following information shall be provided: indication of the names and chemical symbols of the declared micronutrients, listed in the following order: boron (B), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo) and zinc (Zn), followed by the names of their counter-ions; the total micronutrient content expressed as % by mass or volume: where those micronutrients are totally soluble in water, only as the content soluble in water; where the soluble content of those micronutrients is at least a quarter of the total content of those micronutrients, as the total content and as the content soluble in water; in other cases, as the total content; where the declared micronutrients are chelated by chelating agents, the following qualifier after the name and the chemical identifier of the micronutrient: ‘chelated by ... (name of the chelating agent or its abbreviation)’, and the amount of chelated micronutrient as % by mass; where the liquid inorganic macronutrient fertiliser contains micronutrients complexed by complexing agents the following qualifier after the name and the chemical identifier of the micronutrient: ‘complexed by ... (name of the complexing agent or its abbreviation)’, and the amount of complexed micronutrient as % by mass; where micronutrients are intentionally added, the following statement: ‘To be used only where there is a recognised need. Do not exceed the application rate’. |
PFC 1(C)(II): INORGANIC MICRONUTRIENT FERTILISER
1. | The declared micronutrients in the inorganic micronutrient fertiliser shall be listed by their names and chemical symbols in the following order: boron (B), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo) and zinc (Zn), followed by the names of their counter-ions. |
2. | Where the declared micronutrients are chelated by chelating agents, and each chelating agent can be identified and quantified and chelates at least 1 % water-soluble micronutrient, the following qualifier shall be added after the name and the chemical identifier of the micronutrient: ‘chelated by ... (name of the chelating agent or its abbreviation)’, and the amount of chelated micronutrient as % by mass. |
3. | Where the declared micronutrients are complexed by complexing agents, the following qualifier shall be added after the name and the chemical identifier of the micronutrient: ‘complexed by ... (name of the complexing agent or its abbreviation)’, and the amount of complexed micronutrient as % by mass. |
4. | The following statement shall appear: ‘To be used only where there is a recognised need. Do not exceed the application rate’. |
PFC 1(C)(II)(a): STRAIGHT INORGANIC MICRONUTRIENT FERTILISER
1. | The label shall indicate the relevant typology, as referred to in the table under PFC 1(C)(II)(a) in Part II of Annex I. |
2. | The total micronutrient content shall be expressed as % by mass: where the micronutrient is totally soluble in water, only as the content soluble in water; where the soluble content of the micronutrient is at least a quarter of the total content of that micronutrient, as the total content and as the content soluble in water; in other cases, as the total content. |
PFC 1(C)(II)(b): COMPOUND INORGANIC MICRONUTRIENT FERTILISER
1. | Micronutrients may be declared only if they are present in the minimum content indicated in the following table as % by mass:
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2. | If the compound inorganic micronutrient fertiliser is in suspension or in solution, the label shall indicate ‘in suspension’ or ‘in solution’, as relevant. |
3. | The total micronutrient content shall be expressed as % by mass: where the micronutrients are totally soluble in water, only as the content soluble in water; where the soluble content of the micronutrients is at least half of the total content of those micronutrients, as the total content and as the content soluble in water; in other cases, as the total content. |
PFC 2: LIMING MATERIAL
The following parameters shall be declared in the following order:
— | neutralising value; |
— | granulometry, expressed as % by mass of product passing through a sieve of 1,0 mm; |
— | total calcium oxide (CaO), expressed as % by mass; |
— | total magnesium oxide (MgO), expressed as % by mass; |
— | reactivity and method of determination of reactivity, except for oxide and hydroxide limes. |
PFC 3: SOIL IMPROVER
1. | The dry matter content expressed as % by mass shall be declared. |
2. | The following nutrients expressed as % by mass shall be declared, if exceeding 0,5 % by mass: nitrogen (N), phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) and potassium oxide (K2O). |
PFC 3(A): ORGANIC SOIL IMPROVER
The following parameters shall be declared:
— | pH; |
— | electrical conductivity, given as mS/m; |
— | organic carbon (Corg) content, expressed as % by mass; |
— | minimum amount of organic nitrogen (Norg), expressed as % by mass, followed by a description of the origin of the organic matter used; |
— | the ratio of organic carbon to total nitrogen (Corg/N). |
PFC 4: GROWING MEDIUM
The following parameters shall be declared in the following order:
— | electrical conductivity given as mS/m, except for mineral wool; |
— | pH; |
— | quantity: for mineral wool, expressed as number of pieces and the three dimensions length, height, and width; for other pre-shaped growing media, expressed as size in at least two dimensions; for other growing media, expressed as total volume; except for pre-shaped growing media, quantity expressed as volume of materials with a particle size greater than 60 mm, when present; |
— | nitrogen (N) extractable by CaCl2/DTPA (calcium chloride/ diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid; ‘CAT-soluble’), if above 150 mg/l; |
— | phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) extractable by CaCl2/DTPA (calcium chloride/ diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid; ‘CAT-soluble’), if above 20 mg/l; |
— | potassium oxide (K2O) extractable by CaCl2/DTPA (calcium chloride/ diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid; ‘CAT-soluble’), if above 150 mg/l; |
— | production date. |
PFC 5: INHIBITOR
All ingredients shall be declared by product weight or volume in descending order of magnitude.
PFC 6: PLANT BIOSTIMULANT
The following information shall be provided:
(a) | physical form; |
(b) | production and expiry date; |
(c) | application method(s); |
(d) | effect claimed for each target plant; and |
(e) | any relevant instructions related to the efficacy of the product, including soil management practices, chemical fertilisation, incompatibility with plant protection products, recommended spraying nozzles size, sprayer pressure and other anti-drift measures. |
PFC 6(A): MICROBIAL PLANT BIOSTIMULANT
All intentionally added micro-organisms shall be indicated. Where the micro-organism has several strains, the intentionally added strains shall be indicated. Their concentration shall be expressed as the number of active units per volume or weight, or in any other manner that is relevant to the micro-organism, e.g. colony forming units per gram (cfu/g).
The label shall contain the following phrase: ‘Micro-organisms may have the potential to provoke sensitising reactions’.
PFC 7: FERTILISING PRODUCT BLEND
All the labelling requirements applicable to all component EU fertilising products apply to the fertilising product blend, and shall be expressed in relation to the final fertilising product blend.
Where the fertilising product blend contains one or more plant biostimulants belonging to PFC 6, the concentration of each plant biostimulant in the blend shall be indicated in g/kg or g/l at 20 °C.
PART III
TOLERANCE RULES
1. | The declared nutrient content or physico-chemical characteristics of an EU fertilising product may deviate from the actual value only in accordance with the tolerances established in this Part for the relevant PFC. The tolerances are intended to allow for deviations in manufacture, in the distribution chain, and during sampling and analysis. |
2. | The tolerances allowed in respect of the declared parameters indicated in this Part are negative and positive values. |
3. | By derogation from point 1, the actual content of a component, in an EU fertilising product, for which a minimum or a maximum content is specified in Annex I or Annex II may never be lower than the minimum content or exceed the maximum content. |
PFC 1: FERTILISER
The following tolerance rules apply to fertilisers containing nitrification inhibitors, denitrification inhibitors or urease inhibitors, as specified in CMC 1 in Part II of Annex II:
Inhibitors | Permissible tolerance for the declared content of inhibitors |
Concentration below or equal to 2 % | ± 20 % of the declared value |
Concentration of more than 2 % | ± 0,3 percentage points in absolute terms |
PFC 1(A): ORGANIC FERTILISER
Forms of the declared nutrient and other declared parameters | Permissible tolerance for the declared nutrient content and other declared parameters |
Organic carbon (Corg) | ± 20 % relative deviation of the declared value up to a maximum of 2,0 percentage points in absolute terms |
Dry matter content | ± 5,0 percentage points in absolute terms |
Total nitrogen (N) | ± 50 % relative deviation of the declared value up to a maximum of 1,0 percentage point in absolute terms |
Organic nitrogen (Norg) | ± 50 % relative deviation of the declared value up to a maximum of 1,0 percentage point in absolute terms |
Total phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) | ± 50 % relative deviation of the declared value up to a maximum of 1,0 percentage point in absolute terms |
Total potassium oxide (K2O) | ± 50 % relative deviation of the declared value up to a maximum of 1,0 percentage point in absolute terms |
Total and water-soluble magnesium oxide (MgO), calcium oxide (CaO), sulphur trioxide(SO3) or sodium oxide (Na2O) | ± 25 % of the declared content of those nutrients up to a maximum of 1,5 percentage points in absolute terms |
Organic carbon (Corg)/total nitrogen (N) | ± 20 % relative deviation of the declared value up to a maximum of 2,0 percentage points in absolute terms |
Quantity | ± 1,5 % relative deviation of the declared value |
PFC 1(B): ORGANO-MINERAL FERTILISER
Forms of the declared nutrient and other declared parameters | Permissible tolerance for the declared macronutrient content and other declared parameters |
Organic carbon (Corg) | ± 20 % relative deviation of the declared value up to a maximum of 2,0 percentage points in absolute terms |
Dry matter content | ± 5,0 percentage points in absolute terms |
Declared forms of inorganic nitrogen (N) | ± 25 % relative deviation of the declared value up to a maximum of 2,0 percentage points in absolute terms |
Organic nitrogen (Norg) | ± 50 % relative deviation of the declared value up to a maximum of 1,0 percentage point in absolute terms |
Declared forms of phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) | ± 25 % relative deviation of the declared value up to a maximum of 1,5 percentage points in absolute terms |
Declared forms of potassium oxide (K2O) | ± 25 % relative deviation of the declared value up to a maximum of 1,5 percentage points in absolute terms |
Total and water-soluble magnesium oxide (MgO), calcium oxide (CaO), sulphur trioxide (SO3) | ± 25 % of the declared content of those nutrients up to a maximum of 1,0 percentage point in absolute terms |
Total and water-soluble sodium oxide (Na2O) | ± 25 % of the declared content up to a maximum of 0,9 percentage point in absolute terms |
Quantity | ± 1,5 % relative deviation of the declared value |
Micronutrient | Permissible tolerance for the declared content of forms of micronutrient |
Concentration below or equal to 2 % | ± 20 % of the declared value |
Concentration of more than 2 % and below or equal to 10 % | ± 20 % of the declared value up to a maximum of 1,0 percentage point in absolute terms |
Concentration of more than 10 % | ± 1,0 percentage point in absolute terms |
PFC 1(C): INORGANIC FERTILISER
Forms of the declared nutrient and other declared parameters | Permissible tolerance for the declared macronutrient content and other declared parameters |
Declared forms of nitrogen (N) | ± 20 % relative deviation of the declared value up to a maximum of 1,5 percentage points in absolute terms |
Declared forms of phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) | ± 20 % relative deviation of the declared value up to a maximum of 1,5 percentage points in absolute terms |
Declared forms of potassium oxide (K2O) | ± 20 % relative deviation of the declared value up to a maximum of 1,5 percentage points in absolute terms |
Declared forms of nitrogen (N), phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) or potassium oxide (K2O) in binary fertilisers | ± 1,5 percentage points in absolute terms |
Declared forms of nitrogen (N), phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) or potassium oxide (K2O) in tertiary fertilisers | ± 1,9 percentage points in absolute terms |
Total and water-soluble magnesium oxide (MgO), calcium oxide (CaO), sulphur trioxide (SO3) | ± 25 % of the declared content of those nutrients up to a maximum of 1,0 percentage point in absolute terms |
Total and water soluble sodium oxide (Na2O) | – 25 % of the declared content up to a maximum of 0,9 percentage point in absolute terms + 50 % of the declared content up to a maximum of 1,8 percentage points in absolute terms |
Granulometry | ± 10 % relative deviation of the declared percentage of material passing a specific sieve |
Quantity | ± 1 % relative deviation of the declared value |
Micronutrient | Permissible tolerance for the declared content of forms of micronutrient |
Concentration below or equal to 2 % | ± 20 % of the declared value |
Concentration of more than 2 % and below or equal to 10 % | ± 20 % of the declared value up to a maximum of 1,0 percentage point in absolute terms |
Concentration of more than 10 % | ± 1,0 percentage point in absolute terms |
Quantity: ± 5 % relative deviation of the declared value
PFC 2: LIMING MATERIAL
Forms of the declared nutrient and other declared parameters | Permissible tolerances for the declared parameter |
Neutralising value | ± 3 |
Granulometry | ± 10 % relative deviation of the declared percentage of material passing a specific sieve. |
Total calcium oxide (CaO) | ± 3,0 percentage points in absolute terms |
Total magnesium oxide (MgO) | |
Concentration below 8 % | ± 1,0 percentage point in absolute terms |
Concentration between 8 to 16 % | ± 2,0 percentage points in absolute terms |
Concentration above or equal to 16 % | ± 3,0 percentage points in absolute terms |
Reactivities (hydrochloric acid test and incubation test) | ± 5,0 percentage points in absolute terms |
Quantity | ± 1 % relative deviation of the declared value |
PFC 3: SOIL IMPROVER
Forms of the declared nutrient and other declared parameters | Permissible tolerances for the declared parameter |
pH | ± 1,0 of the declared value |
Organic carbon (Corg) | ± 10 % relative deviation of the declared value up to a maximum of 1,0 percentage point in absolute terms |
Organic nitrogen (Norg) | ± 50 % relative deviation of the declared value up to a maximum of 1,0 percentage point in absolute terms |
Total nitrogen (N) | ± 20 % relative deviation up to a maximum of 1,0 percentage point in absolute terms |
Total phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) | ± 20 % relative deviation up to a maximum of 1,0 percentage point in absolute terms |
Total potassium oxide (K2O) | ± 20 % relative deviation up to a maximum of 1,0 percentage point in absolute terms |
Dry matter content | ± 10 % relative deviation of the declared value |
Quantity | ± 5 % relative deviation of the declared value |
Electrical conductivity | ± 75 % relative deviation of the declared value |
PFC 4: GROWING MEDIUM
Forms for the declared nutrient and other declared parameters | Permissible tolerances for the declared parameter |
Electrical conductivity | ± 75 % relative deviation of the declared value |
pH | ± 1,0 of the declared value |
Quantity by volume (litres or m3) | ± 5 % relative deviation of the declared value |
Quantity (volume) determination of materials with particle size greater than 60 mm | ± 5 % relative deviation of the declared value |
Quantity (volume) determination of pre-shaped growing medium | ± 5 % relative deviation of the declared value |
Nitrogen (N) extractable by CaCl2/DTPA (calcium chloride/ diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid; ‘CAT-soluble’) | ± 75 % relative deviation of the declared value |
Phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) extractable by CaCl2/DTPA (calcium chloride/ diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid; ‘CAT-soluble’) | ± 75 % relative deviation of the declared value |
Potassium oxide (K2O) extractable by CaCl2/DTPA (calcium chloride/ diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid; ‘CAT-soluble’) | ± 75 % relative deviation of the declared value |
PFC 5: INHIBITOR
Inhibiting compound | Permissible tolerance for the declared content of inhibiting compound |
Concentration below or equal to 2 % | ± 20 % of the declared value |
Concentration of more than 2 % | ± 0,3 percentage point in absolute terms |
Quantity: ± 5 % relative deviation of the declared value
PFC 6(A): MICROBIAL PLANT BIOSTIMULANT
The actual concentration(s) of micro-organisms may deviate by no more than 15 % from the declared value(s).
PFC 7: FERTILISING PRODUCT BLEND
Where the fertilising product blend contains one or more plant biostimulants belonging to PFC 6, the following tolerances shall apply for the declared concentration of each plant biostimulant:
Declared concentration in g/kg or g/l at 20 °C | Permissible tolerance |
Up to 25 | ± 15 % relative deviation |
More than 25 up to 100 | ± 10 % relative deviation |
More than 100 up to 250 | ± 6 % relative deviation |
More than 250 up to 500 | ± 5 % relative deviation |
More than 500 | ± 25 g/kg or ± 25 g/l |