Fertilizer products according to VO EU 2019/1009 and their conformity assessment
The new EU Fertilizer Products Regulation (FPR) has created a common legal framework for fertilizer products in the form of a "conformity assessment mechanism" that fundamentally changes product labeling requirements and the way fertilizers are CE marked. As of July 16, 2022, manufacturers, importers, agents and distributors can market CE-marked fertilizer products such as organic fertilizers, organic-inorganic fertilizers, growing media or biostimulants in the EU, provided they comply with the requirements of the new legislation. The conformity assessment procedure must be followed by manufacturers, whether they are based in an EU country or in a third country, if their products are made available on the market in the EU. The regulation provides four possible procedures for assessing the conformity of an EU fertilizer, each of which can be applied to specific products based on product function categories (PFCs) and material categories (CMCs). Three of the four conformity assessment procedures require the involvement of a designated certification body.
Innovations
- Inclusion of organic fertilizers, soil conditioners, growing media, biostimulants, and fertilizer product mixtures
- Introduction of production function categories (PFC)
- Strengthening the circular economy by allowing various (animal and industrial) by-products as for the production of fertilizer products
- Introduction of component material categories (CMC)
- Introduction of pollutant limits
- Proof of conformity including preparation of technical documentation is a prerequisite for placing an EU fertilizer product with CE marking on the market
AGES as conformity assessment body
We have a comprehensive accreditation according to ISO 17065 for carrying out conformity assessment procedures according to Module B of fertiliser products (with the exception of inhibitors) in the European Union.
Clicking on the button will take you to our online form for the conformity assessment of your fertiliser product. This allows you to place an order directly with us. Please complete the order form for conformity assessment in advance. You will find this in the download area. There you will also find further information on the costs and the procedure.
Attention: It is not possible to save the form temporarily. Please prepare all necessary documents (technical documents and order letter) in advance.
Note: The certification body for products "Österreichische Agentur für Gesundheit und Ernährungssicherheit GmbH" is accredited according to ISO/IEC 17065 as a certification body for products with the identification number 0716 by Akkreditierung Austria / Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Wirtschaft (BMAW) for conformity assessment activities. The current scope of accreditation is available under Lists of accredited conformity assessment bodies.
Requirements for the marketability of an EU fertilizer product
- Product must meet the requirements for a product function category
- Starting materials must meet the requirements for a component material category,
- Product must meet the labeling requirements in Annex III; and
- Fertilizer product compliance must be determined by one of the assessment modules depending on the PFC and CMC used.
Assessment modules
| Module | Module description |
|---|---|
| A | Internal production control is a conformity assessment procedure whereby the manufacturer declares on his own responsibility that the EU fertilizer products concerned satisfy the requirements of this Regulation that apply to them (notified body not involved) |
| A1 | Production control with product testing by a notified body |
| B+C | The assessment of the technical design of the EU fertilizer product is carried out on the basis of an examination of the technical documentation (type examination -Module B) by a notified body. During the subsequent internal production control (module C), the manufacturer declares on his own responsibility that the fertilizer product complies with the certificate of the previous type test. The manufacturer draws up the EU declaration of conformity and affixes the CE marking to the fertilizer product concerned. |
| D1 | The manufacturer operates a quality system for production (manufacturing area and final inspection) to ensure conformity with legal requirements (not an EU type, used as D without module B). The notified body assesses the quality system for production (manufacturing area and final inspection). |
Component material category
| Category | Component material category |
|---|---|
| CMC 1 | Substances and mixtures from unprocessed raw materials |
| CMC 2 | Plants, plant parts or plant extracts |
| CMC 3 | Compost |
| CMC 4 | Fermentation residues from "fresh" plants |
| CMC 5 | Digestate other than digestate from energy crops |
| CMC 6 | By-products of the food industry |
| CMC 7 | Microorganisms for plant biostimulants |
| CMC 8 | Nutrient polymers |
| CMC 9 | Other polymers with the exception of nutrient polymers |
| CMC 10 | Certain animal by-products |
| CMC 11 | By-products as defined in Directive 2008/98/EC |
| CMC 12 | Precipitated phosphate salts (struvite) Biochar, ashes |
| CMC 13 | Product obtained by thermal oxidation (ashes) |
| CMC 14 | Products obtained by pyrolysis (biochar) |
| CMC 15 | High purity materials recovered |
In order to establish conformity, Module B shall in any case be applied to an EU fertiliser product consisting exclusively of one or more of the following component materials (CMC):
(a) nitrification inhibitors, denitrification inhibitors or urease inhibitors listed in Part II of Annex II CMC 1.
(b) plants, parts of plants or extracts of plants, Annex II, Part II, in accordance with CMC 2
(c) other polymers with the exception of nutrient polymers listed in Part II of Annex II CMC 9
d) derived products within the meaning of Regulation (EC) No. 1069/2009 according to CMC 10 in Part II of Annex II.
Module B shall in any case also be applied in the following cases:
(a) to an inhibitor as defined in PFC 5
(b) to a plant biostimulant according to PFC 6.
Module B may also be applied in the following cases:
(a) substances or mixtures of unprocessed raw materials listed in Part II of Annex II CMC 1, with the exception of nitrification inhibitors, denitrification inhibitors or urease inhibitors
(b) fresh crop digestates listed in Part II of Annex II CMC 4
(c) by-products of the food industry listed in Part II of Annex II CMC 6
(d) micro-organisms listed in Part II of Annex II CMC 7 Part II of Annex II
(e) nutrient polymers referred to in Part II of Annex II CMC 8
(f) by-products as defined in Directive 2008/98/EC in accordance with Part II of Annex II CMC 11.
g) to a fertiliser product mixture according to PFC 7.
Checking the validity of issued certificates
To check the validity of the certificates issued by the AGES GmbH certification body for products, please send a request with the attached certificate to konformitaet-duengeprodukte@ages.at
Contact
AGES GmbH Zertifizierungsstelle für Produkte
- konformitaet-duengeprodukte@ages.at
- +43 5 0555 34112
-
Spargelfeldstraße 191
1220 Wien
Last updated: 18.11.2024
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