G/SPS/N/UGA/232  
 
20 January 2023  
(23-0477) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member:  UGANDA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Uganda National Bureau of Standards  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Animal or vegetable fertilizers, whether or not mixed together or 
chemically treated; fertilizers produced by the mixing or chemical treatment of animal or 
vegetable products (excl. those in pellet or similar forms, or in packages with a gross 
weight of <= 10 kg) (HS code(s): 3101); Fertilizers (ICS code(s): 65.080)  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All tr ading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  DUS 1584:2023, Organic Fertilizer — Specification, 
Second edition . Language(s):  English . Number of pages:  24 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2023/SPS/UGA/23_0517_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  This Draft Uganda Standard specifies requirements, sampling 
and test methods for organic fertilizers.  
Organic fertilizers are naturally available mineral sources that contain moderate amount of 
plant essential nutrients. They are capable of mitigating prob lems associated with 
synthetic fertilizers. They reduce the necessity of repeated application of synthetic 
fertilizers to maintain soil fertility.  
Organic fertilizers comprise a variety of plant -derived materials that range from fresh or 
dried plant materi al to animal manures and litters to agricultural by -products. The nutrient 
content of organic fertilizers varies greatly among source materials, and readily 
biodegradable materials make better nutrient sources. Nitrogen and phosphorus content is 
lower, oft en substantially lower, in organic fertilizers compared to chemical fertilizers.  
Commonly used organic fertilizers include composted animal manure, compost, sewage 
sludge, food processing wastes, and municipal biosolids. They improve soil health and 
releas e nutrients to soils gradually. Examples of naturally occurring organic fertilizers 
include manure, slurry, worm castings, peat, seaweed and guano. Green manure crops are 
also grown to add nutrients to the soil. Naturally, occurring minerals such as mine r ock 
phosphate, sulfate of potash and limestone are also considered as Organic Fertilizers. 
Examples of manufactured organic fertilizers include compost, blood meal, bone meal and 
seaweed extracts. Other examples are natural enzyme digested proteins, fishme al, and 
feather meal.  
Organic fertilizers are considered an excellent source of nutrients, providing plants with 
vital vitamins, and soil acts as a medium between crops and fertilizers. Fertilizers can be 
divided into several types, depending on their comp onents, shape, and various other 
properties.  G/SPS/N/UGA/232  
 
- 2 - 
 
  Meat and bone meal is an industrial by -product obtained by treating animal carcasses with 
heat, removing the fat, and finally drying and mincing them. Due to the high levels of total 
nitrogen (8%), phosphorus (5 %), and calcium (10%) in meat and bone meal, these 
organic matters can be considered as useful fertilizers for soil improvement.  
Manure is an organic fertilizer used for soil fertilization after animal waste decomposes due 
to bacteria and fungi. Composting  manure takes a relatively long time. This decomposed 
manure is later used in agriculture to increase and promote soil productivity. 
Well-decomposed manure contains N (0.5%), P2O5 (0.3%), and K2O (0.5%). Manure is 
used as a fertilizer, improves soil produc tivity by providing practically all the elements 
needed by plants, but not always in the right amounts, and proportions. Slurry and solid 
manure are traditionally spread directly on the soil surface as fertilizers.  
Organic fertilizers are an alternative to  minimize the environmental pollution that may be 
due to excessive use of inorganic fertilizers.  
Liquid fertiliser contains nutrient compounds that could be applied as plant enhancer and 
are used in foliar application, as it does not require soil medium an d environmentally 
friendly. An organic liquid fertilizer can be produced from bio -wastes composting as 
it contains more organic nutrients that are essential to promote healthy plant growth.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [  ] animal health, [ X] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how  and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:   
− Uganda Gazette  
− AOAC 2006.03, Arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, lead, molybdenum, nickel, and 
selenium in fertilizers — Microwave digestion and inductively coupled plasma -optical 
emission spectrometry  
− US ISO 4831, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Horizontal method for 
the detection and enumeration of coliforms — Most probable number technique  
− ISO 5318, Fertilizers — Determination of potassium content — Potassium 
tetraphenylborate gravimetric method (Reference method)  
− US ISO 6598, Fertilizers — Determination of phosphorus content — Quinoline 
phosphomolybdate gravimetric method  
− US ISO 7251, Microb iology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Horizontal method for 
the detection and enumeration of presumptive Escherichia coli — Most probable 
number technique  
− US ISO 7899 -2, Water quality — Detection and enumeration of intestinal enterococci 
— Part 2: Mem brane filtration method  
− US ISO 8157, Fertilizers and soil conditioners — Vocabulary  
− US ISO 8633, Solid fertilizers — Simple sampling method for small lots  
− US ISO 8634, Solid fertilizers — sampling plan for the evaluation of a large delivery  
− US ISO 10390, S oil quality — Determination of pH  G/SPS/N/UGA/232  
 
- 3 - 
 
  − US ISO 10694, Soil quality — Determination of organic and total carbon after dry 
combustion (elementary analysis)  
− US ISO 11047, Soil quality — Determination of cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, 
lead, manganese, nickel and zinc — Flame and electro thermal atomic absorption 
spectrometric methods  
− US ISO 11261, Soil quality — Determination of total nitrogen — Modified Kj eldahl 
method  
− US ISO 11265, Soil quality — Determination of the specific electrical conductivity  
− US ISO 11465, Soil quality — Determination of dry matter and water content on a 
mass basis — Gravimetric method  
− ISO 14255, Soil quality — Determination of nitr ate nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen and 
total soluble nitrogen in air -dry soils using calcium chloride solution as extractant  
− ISO 14820 -1, Fertilizers and liming materials — sampling and sample preparation — 
Part 1: Sampling  
− ISO 14820 -2, Fertilizers and liming  materials — sampling and sample preparation — 
Part 2: Sample preparation  
− US ISO 17318, Fertilizers and soil conditioners — Determination of arsenic, cadmium, 
chromium, lead and mercury contents  
− US ISO 17319, Fertilizers and soil conditioners —Determination  of water -soluble 
potassium content — Potassium tetraphenylborate gravimetric method Complimentary  
− PNS/BAFPS 40: 2013, Organic Fertilizer  
− PNS 85:1984/AMD 01:1992 — Fertilizers — Solid Fertilizer — Method of Sampling  
− PNS 95:1987 — Packaging — Bags for Solid  Fertilizers — Specification  
− PNS 1033:1993 — Fertilizers — Marking — Presentation and Declaration  
− ARS 1490 -2020 (E), Organic fertilizer – Specification  
− KS 2290: 2011, Organic fertilizer -Specification  
− Guidelines and Standards for Compost in Zanzibar, Sonia Devi Henam and Swati Singh 
Sambyal  
− TBS/AFDC 10 (5440) P3, Organic fertilizer — Specification  
− Sri Lanka Standard 1704: 2021, Specification for Sterilized Solid Organic Fertilizer  
− TAS 9503 -2005, Compost  
− Composting Of Faecal Sludge as a Soil Conditioner, Yvon ne Lugali, January 2019  
− Published in The Gazette Of India, Extraordinary, Part Ii, Section 3, Sub -Section (ii)] 
Government of India, Ministry of Agriculture, (Department of Agriculture and 
Cooperation) Order, New Delhi, 15 February 2013  
− Agricultural Chemic als (Control) Act, 2006 (Act No.  1 of 2007)  
− The Fertilizer Control Regulations, 2010  
− Russell, S and L. Best. 2006. Setting the standards for compost. BioCycle. Journal of 
Composting and Organics Recycling. United Kingdom  
− Fertilizer Regulatory Policies and Implementing Guidelines or "Bluebook"  
− FFTC International Workshop. 1997. Quality Control of Organic Fertilizers (Compost). 
Suweon, Korea. June23 -28, 1997  
− Lazcano C, M. Gomez -Brandon, J. Dominguez. Comparison of the effectiveness of 
composting and vermicomposting for the biological stabilization of cattle manure. 
Chemosphere 72 (2008) 1013 — 1019 
− Lemunier, M, C. Francou, S. Rousseaux, S. Houot, P. Dantigny, P. Piveteau, and 
J. Guzzo. 2005. Long -term survival of pathogenic and sanitation indicator  bacteria in 
experimental biowaste composts. Appl. Environ. Microbiol.71(10): 5779 -5786 
− Ang-Lopez M. 2001. Quality and Maturation of Vermicompost Derived from Different 
Feedstocks. MSc. Thesis. Nova Scotia Agricultural College/ Dalhousie University. 
Nova Scotia, Canada  
− Avery, DT. 2002. The Hidden Dangers in Organic Food. Center for Global Food Issues - 
California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. www.organicag.com  
− DUS 1584: 2023  
− Characterization of Liquid Fertilizer from Different Types of Bio -Waste Compost and its  
Correlation with the Compost Nutrients  
(available in English)  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : June 2023  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  G/SPS/N/UGA/232  
 
- 4 - 
 
  11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
[X] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [X]  Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 21 March 2023  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [  ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
Uganda National Bureau of Standards  
Plot 2 -12 ByPass Link, Bweyogerere Industrial and Business Park  
P.O. Box 63 29 
Kampala, Uganda  
Tel: +(256) 4 1733 3250/1/2  
Fax: +(256) 4 1428 6123  
E-mail: info@unbs.go.ug  
Website: https://www.unbs.go.ug  
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [  ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
Uganda National Bureau of Standards  
Plot 2 -12 ByPass Link, Bweyogerere Industrial and Business Park  
P.O. Box 6329  
Kampala, Ug anda 
Tel: +(256) 4 1733 3250/1/2  
Fax: +(256) 4 1428 6123  
E-mail: info@unbs.go.ug  
Website: https://www.unbs.go.ug