Overview

In addition to nutrients and organic matter, heavy metals and organic pollutants can also be introduced into the soil during fertilization and lime application. In order to keep these risks to health and the environment as low as possible, the heavy metal content of fertilizers and lime fertilizers is subject to regular official controls. Comparable controls are based on validated analytical methods. With the entry into force of Regulation (EC) No. 463/2013, quality standards also apply to lime products that are marketed in Europe as EC fertilizers. This resulted in the need to extend the existing standards for the determination of heavy metals in mineral fertilizers to lime fertilizers. The analytical method specified in European Standard EN 16320 for the determination of mercury using the evaporation technique coupled with an atomic absorption spectrometer or atomic emission spectrometer with inductively coupled plasma after aqua regia dissolution was validated for dolomitic limestone. For burnt lime and converter lime, the interlaboratory comparison did not yield any usable results, as the mercury contents in these products are extremely low. The European standard has been prepared in CEN/TC 260 "Fertilizers and liming materials" (Secretariat: DIN, Germany) under German project and interlaboratory comparison management. The national mirror committee is Working Committee NA 057-03-02 AA "Düngemittel" ("Fertilizers") at DIN Standards Committee Food and Agricultural Products (NAL).

Responsible national committee

NA 057-03-02 AA - Fertilizers  

Responsible european committee

CEN/TC 260/WG 3 - Liming materials