AFRICAN 
STANDARD  DARS  
1483 
First Edition 2018  
 
 Reference No. ARS 1483:2018 (E) 
ICS 65.080  
 
 
© ARSO 2018  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) fertilizer — Specification  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DARS  1483:2018  
ii © ARSO 2018 — All rights reserved   
Table of contents  
 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  1 
2 Norm ative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  1 
4 Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ . 1 
4.1 General description  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  1 
4.2 Physical requirement  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  2 
4.3 Chemical requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  2 
4.4 Heavy metal contaminants  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 2 
5 Sampling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  2 
6 Tests  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  2 
6.1 Methods of test  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  2 
6.2 Inspection ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............................  3 
7 Compliance  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 3 
8 Packaging and labelling  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  3 
8.1 Packaging  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............................  3 
8.2 Labelling ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ . 3 
9 Certifi cate of analysis  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  3 
10 Material safety  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................  3 
 DARS 14 83:2018  
© ARSO 2018 — All rights reserved  iii  
Foreword  
 
The African Organization for Standardization (ARS O) is an African intergovernmental organization 
establishe d by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Organization of 
African Unity (AU)  in 1977 . One of the fundamental mandates of ARSO is to develop and harmoniz e 
African Standards (ARS) for the purpose of enhancing Africa’s internal tr ading capacity, increase 
Africa’s product and service competitiveness globally and uplift the welfare of African communities.  
The work of preparing African  Standards is normally carried out through ARSO  technical committees. 
Each Member State  interested in  a subject for which a technical committee has been established has 
the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, Regional Economic 
Communities (RECs), governmental and non -governmental  organizations , in liaison with ARSO , also 
take part in the work.  
 
ARSO  Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.  
 
The main task of technical committees is to prepare ARSO  Standards. Draft ARSO  Standards 
adopted by the technical committees are c irculated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an 
ARSO  Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.  
 
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of 
paten t rights. ARSO  shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.  
 
This African Standard was prepared by the ARSO Technical Harmonization Committee Number 5 on 
Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (ARSO/THC 05) . 
 
 
 
 
 
© African Organ isation for Standardisation  2018 — All rights reserved* 
 
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Tel. +254 -20-2224561, +254 -20-3311641, +254 -20-3311608  
 
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* 2018 ARSO — All rights of exploitation reserved worldwide for African Member States’ NSBs. 
 DARS  1483:2018  
iv © ARSO 2018 — All rights reserved   
 
Copyright notice  
 
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© African Organisation for Standardisation 2018 — All rights reserved  
 
ARSO Cent ral Secretariat  
International House 3rd Floor  
P.O. Box 57363 — 00200 City Square  
NAIROBI, KENYA  
 
Tel: +254 -20-2224561, +254 -20-3311641, +254 -20-3311608  
 
 
E-mail: arso@arso -oran.org  
Web: www.arso -oran.org  
 
Reproduction for sales purposes may be subject to royalty payments or a licensing agreement. 
Violators may be p rosecuted.  
 
 
 
 
 DARS 14 83:2018  
© ARSO 2018 — All rights reserved  1  
Calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) fertilizer — Specification  
 
 
1 Scope  
 
This African  Standard specifies requirements , sampling and test methods for calcium ammonium 
nitrate (CAN) fertilizer.  
 
2 Normative references  
 
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated 
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced 
document (including any amendments) applies.  
 
AOAC 955.01, Neutralizing value for liming materials  
 
AOAC 2006.03,  Arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, lead, molybdenum, nickel, and selenium in 
fertilizers — Microwave digestion and inductively coupled plasma -optical emission spectrometry  
 
EN 12048, Solid fertilizers and liming materials — Determination of moisture content — Gravimetric 
method by drying at 105 2 C 
 
ISO 5314, Fertilizers — Determination of ammoniacal nitrogen content — Titrimetric method after 
distillation  
 
ISO 5315, Fertilizers — Determination of total nitrogen content — Titrimetric method after distillation  
 
ISO 7409, Fertilizers — Marking — Presentation and declarations  
 
ISO 8157, Fertilizers and soil conditioners — Vocabulary  
 
ISO 8397, Solid fertilizers and soil conditioners — Test sieving  
 
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  
 
ISO 15604, Fertilizers — Determination of different forms of nitrogen in the same sample, containing 
nitrogen as nitric, ammoniacal, urea and cyanami de nitrogen   
 
ISO 17318, Fertilizers and soil conditioners — Determination of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead 
and mercury contents  
 
ISO 20978, Neutralising value measurement (or determination)  
 
ISO 25475, Fertilizers — Determination of ammoniacal nitrogen  
 
3 Terms and definitions  
 
For the purpose of this standard the terms and definitions in ISO 8157 apply . 
 
4 Requirements  
 
4.1 General description  
 
The fertilizer shall be in pellet or granular form  free from lumps , visible foreign matter and shall be 
free-flowing.  
 AFRICAN STANDARD  DARS 14 83:2018  
2 © ARSO 2018 — All rights reserved  4.2 Physical  requirement  
 
4.2.1  When test sieved in accordance with ISO 8397, n ot less than 90% of weight of the material 
shall be of particles in the size range of 1 mm to 4 mm for pellets  or 2mm to 5mm for granular form.  
 
4.2.2 Not more than 5 % shall be below 1 mm size.  
 
4.3 Chemical  requirements  
 
The fertilizer shall consist of homogeneous granules /pellets  of ammonium nitrate with limestone filler 
and shall comply with the requirements when tested with the appropriate method given in the last 
column of Table 1. 
 
Table 1 — Requirements/limits for calcium ammonium nitrate  
 
Characteristic  Requirement  Test method  
Nitrogen content (as total N), %m/m , min. 26.0%  ISO 5315  
Neutralizing value as equivalent of CaO (or as 
% by weight of CaO), %m/m , min. 9.0%  ISO 20978/ AOAC 
955.01  
Moisture, %, m/m,  max.  1.0%  EN 12048  
Calcium and magnesium , as %calcium 
carbonate, m/m, min  18 ISO 20978 / AOAC 
955.01  
Ammoniacal nitrogen, per cent by mass of 
total nitrogen, min  50 ISO 5314 / ISO 25475  
Nitrate nitrogen, pe rcent by mass of total 
nitrogen, min  50 ISO 15604  
 
4.4 Heavy metal contaminants  
 
The presence of heavy metal contaminants shall not exceed the limits stipulated in Table 2.  
 
Table 2 — Heavy metal contaminants  
 
Parameter  Limits, mg/kg  Test method  
Arsenic,  As, max.  10.0 ISO 17318  
Cadmium, Cd, max.  7 ISO 17318  
Mercury, Hg, max.  0.1 ISO 17318  
Selenium, Se, max.  1.0 AOAC 2006.03  
Lead, Pb, max.  30.0 ISO 17318  
Chromium, Cr, max.  50.0 ISO 17318  
 
5 Sampling  
 
Sampling shall be carried out in accordance with ISO 14820 -1. 
 
6 Tests  
 
6.1 Methods of test  
 
Samples of the fertilizer  shall be prepared in accordance with ISO 14820 -2 and tested in  accordance 
with the methods of test indicated in  Table 1  and Table 2 . 
 DARS 14 83:2018  
© ARSO 2018 — All rights reserved  3 6.2 Inspection  
 
From the bulk sa mples obtained from ISO 14820 -1, inspect the lot for the characteristics relating  to 
the packing and marking of the product.  
 
7 Com pliance  
 
The lot shall be deemed to comply with the standard  if after inspection and testing it complies with the  
require ments of this standard.  
 
8 Packaging and labelling  
 
8.1 Packaging  
 
The fertiliser shall be packed in clean, non -defective and strong containers.  The material for which the 
container is made shall be such as to protect the contents from moisture and also not lead to easy 
rupture du ring handling, transportation and storage.  
 
8.2 Labelling  
 
8.2.1  Each container of the fertiliser shall bear a label in indelible marking in accordance with ISO 
7409, the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) and with the following particulars:  
 
a) name of the fertilizer, as “Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN)”;  
 
b) name, address and physical location of the manufacturer/packer/importer;  
 
c) the nitrogen content of the material as a percentage by mass;  
 
d) country of origin/manufacture;  
 
e) date of manufacture and e xpiry dates;  
 
f) the content net weight;  
 
g) batch/lot number;  
 
h) storage instructions;  
 
i) handling instructions.  
 
8.2.2  Bulk containers  
 
Where the product is distributed in bulk, the marking  information shall acco mpany the delivery notice 
to the purchas er. 
 
9 Certificate of analysis  
 
A certificate of analysis stating the mini mum percentage levels of plant nutrient elements shall 
accompany every lot or consign ment of  the fertilizer.  
 
10 Material safety  
 
Each container must be accompanied by a Material Saf ety Data Sheet (MSDS) and Technical Data 
Sheet (TDS).  
 
 DARS 14 83:2018 
© ARSO 201 7 — All rights reserved