AFRICAN 
STANDARD  DARS  
1490  
First Edition 2018  
 
 Reference No. ARS 1490: 2018 (E) 
ICS 65.080  
 
 
© ARSO 2018  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Organic fertilizer — Specification  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DARS 1490: 2018  
ii © ARSO 2018 — All rights reserved   
Table of contents  
 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  2 
4 Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ . 3 
4.1 Product description  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  3 
4.2 General requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  4 
4.3 Fresh/ or raw manures  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  4 
4.4 Comp osted manures  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  5 
4.5 Specific requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  5 
4.6 Minimum percentage for guarantee  ................................ ................................ .......................  6 
4.7 Heavy metal contaminants  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 6 
4.8 Hygiene  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 6 
5 Sampling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  7 
5.1 Sampling for laboratory analysis ................................ ................................ ............................  7 
5.2 Laboratory sampling (sample preparation for laboratory analysis)  ................................ ....... 8 
6 Tests ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  8 
6.1 Methods of test  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  8 
6.2 Inspection ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............................  8 
7 Compliance  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 8 
8 Packaging and labelling  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  8 
8.1 Packaging  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............................  8 
8.2 Labelling ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ . 9 
8.3 Other labelling guidelines  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 9 
9 Certificate of analysis  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  10 
10 Material  safety  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............................  10 
Annex A (informative)  Substances that may be used as fertilizers or soil conditioners  ......................  11 
Annex B (normative)  Minimu m requirements for microbial inoculants  ................................ ................  15 
Annex C (informative)  Sample label designs  ................................ ................................ .......................  17 DARS 1490: 2018  
© ARSO 2018 — All rights reserved  iii  
Foreword  
 
The African Organization for Standardization (ARS O) is an African intergovernmental organization 
established 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 trading 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 -gove rnmental  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 circulated 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 elem ents of this document may be the subject of 
patent 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 Chemica l Engineering (ARSO/THC 05) . 
 
 
 
 
 
© African Organisation for Standardisation  2018 — All rights reserved* 
 
ARSO Central 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  
                                                 
* 2018 ARSO — All rights of exploitation reserved worldwide for African Member States’ NSBs. 
 DARS 1490: 2018  
iv © ARSO 2018 — All rights reserved   
 
Copyright notice  
 
This ARSO document is copyright -protected by ARSO. While th e reproduction of this document 
by participants in the ARSO standards development process is permitted without prior 
permission from ARSO, neither this document nor any extract from it may be reproduced, stored 
or transmitted in any form for any other purp ose without prior written permission from ARSO.  
 
Requests for permission to reproduce this document for the purpose of selling it should be 
addressed as shown below or to ARSO’s member body in the country of the requester:  
 
 
© African Organisation for Stan dardisation 2018 — All rights reserved  
 
ARSO Central 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 1490: 2018  
© ARSO 2018 — All rights reserved  v  
Introduction  
 
Organic fertilizers are natural products used to provide plant nutrients. There are a number of organic 
fertilizers like farmyard manure, green manures, compost prepared from crop residues and other farm 
wastes, vermicompost, oil cakes, biological wastes —anim al bones, slaughter house refuse and 
natural mineral deposits that include but not limited to phosphate rock, greensand, Epsom salt, 
calcium, limestone flour . The organic fertilizer standard has been revised to improve on the 
definitions, classifications, specifications, packaging and labelling.  
 
This standard has been prepared to promote safe use of organic fertilizers, promote fair trade 
practices and ensure safety of consumers.  
 
 DARS 1490: 2018  
© ARSO 2018 — All rights reserved  1  
Organic fertilizer — Specification  
 
 
1 Scope  
 
This African Standard specifies the requirements, sampling and test methods of organic fertilizers . 
 
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 2006.03 , Arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, lead, molybdenum, nickel, and selenium in 
fertilizers  — Microwave digestion and inductively coupled plasma -optical emission spectrometry  
 
EN 13475, Liming materials — Determination of calcium content — Oxalate method  
 
EN 16032, Fertilizers — Extraction and determination of elemental sulfur  
 
EN 16197, Fertilizers — Determination of magnesium by atomic absorption sp ectrometry  
 
EN 16198, Fertilizers — Determination of magnesium by complexometry  
 
EN 16963, Fertilizers — Determination of boron, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum and 
zinc using ICP -AES 
 
EN 16965, Fertilizers — Determination of cobalt, copper, ir on, manganese and zinc using flame 
atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS)  
 
ISO 6579 , Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Horizontal method for the detection of 
Salmonella spp.  
 
ISO 6598 , Fertilizers — Determination of phosphorus content — Quinoline phosphomolybdate 
gravimetric method  
 
ISO 7251,  Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Horizontal method for the de tection and 
enumeration of presumptive Escherichia coli — Most probable number technique  
 
ISO 7409, Fertilizers — Marking — Presentation and declarations  
 
ISO 8157, Fertilizers and soil conditioners — Vocabulary  
 
ISO 8397, Solid fertilizers and soil condit ioners — Test sieving  
 
ISO 10390 , Soil quality — Determination of pH  
 
ISO 10694, Soil quality — Determination of organic and total carbon after dry combustio n (elementary 
analysis)  
 
ISO 11047, Soil quality — Determination of cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, 
nickel and zinc — Flame and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric methods  
 
ISO 11261, Soil quality — Determination of total nit rogen — Modified Kjeldahl method  
 
ISO 11265, Soil quality — Determination of the specific electrical conductivity  
 
ISO 11465, Soil quality — Determination of dry matter and water content on a mass basis — 
Gravimetric method  AFRICAN STANDARD  DARS 1490: 2018  
2 © ARSO 2018 — All rights reserved   
ISO 14820 -1, Fertilizers and li ming materials — Sampling and sample preparation — Part 1:  
Sampling  
 
ISO 14820 -2, Fertilizers and liming materials — Sampling and sample preparation — Part 2: Sample 
preparation  
 
ISO 15178, Soil quality — Determination of total sulfur by dry combustion  
 
ISO 17318, Fertilizers and soil conditioners — Determination of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead 
and mercury contents  
 
ISO 17184, Soil quality — Determination of carbon and nitrogen by near -infrared spectrometry (NIRS)  
 
3 Terms and definitions  
 
For the purpo se of this standard , the terms and definitions in and the following apply.  
 
3.1 
biosolids  
organic material from sewage and related materials recycled and treated for use as a fertilizer  
 
3.2 
blood meal  
dried, powdered blood collected from livestock slaught er houses  used as fertilizer.  
 
3.3 
bone meal  
fertilizer made from degreased bone which may be degelatinized and has been ground or crushed  
 
3.4 
compost  
well decomposed organic wastes like plant residues, animal slurry from livestock sheds  
 
3.5 
cottonseed m eal 
milled cotton seeds used as a fertilizer  
 
3.6 
farmyard manure  
a decomposed mixture of livestock dung and urine with straws and litter used as bedding material and 
residues from the fodder fed to livestock  
 
3.7 
fertilizer  
substance containing one or mor e recognized plant nutrient(s), which is used for its plant nutrient 
content and which is designed for use or claimed to have value in promoting plant growth  
 
3.8 
fish emulsion fertilizer  
a partially decomposed blend of finely pulverized fish  
 
3.9 
green ma nure  
crop that is incorporated into the soil for the purpose of soil improvement and which may include 
spontaneous crops, plants or weeds  
 
3.10 
guano  
well decomposed accumulated and mined excrements of birds, bats and seals valued as fertilizers  
 DARS 1490: 2018  
© ARSO 2018 — All rights reserved  3 3.11 
manu re 
mixture of litter and/or dung in process of biological change  
 
3.12 
natural mineral fertilizer  
Materials that are directly mined from mineral deposits and only subjected to physical processes such 
as crushing and drying. Examples of these materials may include: phosphate rock; gypsum; sulphate 
of potassium -magnesia and any other natural mineral deposits.  
 
3.13 
night soil  
human urine and faeces collected separately from each other or mixed with flush water and 
amendments such as soil, ash other organic m atter 
 
3.14 
organic based product  
product that contains at least 70% organic material  
 
3.15 
organic fertilizer  
material containing carbon or one or more elements other than hydrogen and oxygen, mainly of plant 
and/or animal origin added either directly to the plant or to the soil, specifically, for the nutrition of 
plants and that may improve soil structure  
 
3.16 
organic matter  
biomass of animals and plants. For this reason, only products that are solely derived from organic 
matter may be identified or desc ribed as "organic".  
 
3.17 
soil conditioner  
material (could be inorganic or organic) added to soils to improve the physical and/ or chemical 
properties, and/ or the biological activity of soils without a declarable content of nutrients  
   
3.18 
sewage sludg e 
recycled product of sewage treatment plants  
 
3.19 
syntheti c 
substance that is formulated or manufactured by a chemical process or by a process that chemically 
changes a substance extracted from naturally occurring plant, animal, or mineral sources, excep t for 
those substances created by naturally occurring biological processes.  
 
3.20 
vermicompost  
product or process of composting using various worms such as earthworms to create a heterogenous 
mixture of decomposing vegetable or food waste, bedding material s 
 
4 Requirements  
 
4.1 Product description  
 
4.1.1 Organic Fertilizer  
 
Any product in solid or liquid form, of plant (except byproducts  from petroleum industries) or animal 
origin, that has undergone substantial  decomposition that can supply available nutri ents to plants with 
a total Nitrogen (N),  Phosphorus (P 2O5), and Potassium (K 2O) of five to ten percent (5 -10%). This 
may be  enriched by microbial inoculants and naturally occurring minerals but no chemical or  inorganic DARS 1490: 2018  
4 © ARSO 2018 — All rights reserved  fertilizer material has been used in  the production or added to the finished  product to affect the 
nutrient content.  
 
4.1.2 Compost / soil conditioner  
 
Any product in solid or liquid form, of plant (except by -products from petroleum industries) or animal 
origin, that has undergone substantia l decomposition that can supply available nutrients to plants with 
a total Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P 2O5), and Potassium (K 2O) of 2.5 to less than five percent (2.5 < 
5%). This may be enriched by microbial inoculants and naturally occurring minerals but no  chemical 
or inorganic fertilizer material has been used in the production or added to the finished product to 
affect the nutrient content. Compost and soil conditioner are used interchangeably in this Standard.  
 
4.1.3 Microbial inoculant  
 
Biologically act ive products containing optimum  population of one or a combination of active strains of 
bacteria, actinomycetes, algae, and  fungi that are useful in different biological activities, such as, but 
not limited to: N 2-fixation, decomposition of organic residue s, and enhancement of nutrient availability.  
 
4.1.4 Organic plant supplement  
 
Any compound of organic origin in liquid or solid  form which in low concentration promotes or modifies 
physiological processes in plants.  Total N -P2O5-K2O is not lower than 0.5% and not more than 5% 
(0.5-<5%) and may  contain beneficial microorganisms and micronutrients. These plant supplements 
include,  but are not limited to: FPJ (Fermented Plant Juice), FFJ (Fermented Fruit Juice), FAA (Fish  
Amino Acid), FE (Fish Emulsion), Seawe ed Extracts, Vermi Tea, Compost Tea, and the like.  
 
4.2 General requirements  
 
4.2. organic fertilizer  shall be dark in colour . 
 
4.2.2organic fertilizer  shall be free from foul smell . 
 
4.2.3 Organic  fertilizer  shall be homogenous in texture . 
 
4.2.4 The organic fertilizer  shall be free from contaminants which include but not limited  to residual 
hormones, antibiotics, pesticides and disease organism.  
 
4.2.5 A high -temperature aerobic composting shall be employed to make the  compost.  
 
4.3 Fresh / or raw manures  
 
4.3.1All fresh manures should be composted. However, where they are used the  following conditions 
shall apply:  
 
4.3.1.1 Fresh manures shall not be used as preplant or side dress fertilizers on  vegetables that are 
eaten raw.  
 
4.3.1.2 Dog, cat or pig manure s and those derived from equines (donkey and horse  family) shall not 
be used as these species share many parasites with humans.  
 
4.3.1.3 Raw manure may NOT be applied to food crops within 120 days of harvest  where edible 
portions have soil contact.  
 
4.3.1.4 Raw manure may NOT be applied to food crops within 90 days of harvest  where edible 
portions do not have soil contact (i.e., grain crops, and most tree  fruits.)  
 
4.3.2 The manures shall be free from heavy metals and other chemical  contaminants.  
 
4.3.3 Untreated human wastes shall not be used as manure  
 DARS 1490: 2018  
© ARSO 2018 — All rights reserved  5 4.4 Composted manures  
 
A standard organic fertilizer shall be based on composted livestock and/or  plant materials 
supplemented with only natural products.  
 
4.5 Specific requirements  
 
4.5.1  Organic fertilizer s shall conform to the composition requirements set out in Table 1.  
 
Table 1: specific requirements for organic fertilizers  
 
Parameter  Limit  Method of test  
pH 6.5 – 7.5 ISO 10390  
Carbon: Nitrogen ratio , ≤ 20:1 ISO 17184  
Moisture content , %, m/m  10-35 ISO 11465  
Temperature , C 20-30 Method needed   
Humus, %, m/m  6-8 % Method needed  
Total Nitrogen, %, m/m, min.  >1 ISO 11261  
Organic matter content  (solid), %, m/m, min.  ≥70 Method needed  
Organic carbon, %, m/m, min.  12 ISO 10694  
Total primary nutrients  — N-P2O5-K2O (solid and liquid 
organic fertilizer) ,%, m/m, min  5  ISO 11261, ISO 6598  
Stones >5 mm, %, m/m, max.  5 ISO 8397  
Foreign matter > 2 mm, % m/m, max  0.5 ISO 8397  
Seed, number/kg, max  5 Method needed  
Soluble salts (conductivity), mmhos, max.  5 ISO 11265  
* For pelletized fertilizer, moisture content should be ≤10%.  
 
4.5.2  For organic plant food supplement products such as humin, seaweed extract, fermented 
products, blood meal, and bone meal, any claim should be verifiable, while products with at least 3% 
total (soluble) N will be subjected to other confirmatory test.  
 
4.5.4  For microbial inoculants, please refer to Annex B.  
 
Table 2 — Minimum requirements for organic plant supplements  
 
Main ingredient  Total N -P2O5-K2O Other requirements  
Animal origin (bone meal, 
blood meal)  5-10% Products that contain high concentrations of 
nitrogen should also include P 2O5 and K 2O. 
Fish Amino Acid (FAA)  
Fish Emulsion (FE)  0.5-<5% All claims for contents of macro and 
micronutrients, microorganisms, and plant 
growth hormones  should be verifiable.  
Plant based [ fermented 
plant juice (FPJ), 
Fermented fruit juice 
(FFJ)]  0.5-<5% 
Heavy metal content should be within 
allowable levels as stated in Table 5. 
Seaweed extracts  0.5-<5% 
Vermi -tea, compost tea  0.5-<5% 
Humin and hu mic acids  0.5-<5% 
Wood vinegar  0.5-2.5%  
Biochar  0.5-2.5%  
 
 DARS 1490: 2018  
6 © ARSO 2018 — All rights reserved  4.5.5  Absence of foreign materials  
 
Plastics, aluminum, wrappers, stones, and other materials must be totally removed from  the product.  
 
4.6 Minimum percentage for guarantee  
 
Secondary plant nutrients must not be identified and guaranteed if they are not  present in at least the 
following minimum concentrations:  
 
Table 3: Minimum nutrient percentage guarantee  
 
S/No.  Element  Limit  Method of test  
i Calcium, as Ca, %, m/m, maximum  ≥1.0000  EN 1347 5 
ii Magnesium (%)  ≥0.5000  EN 16197 / EN 16198  
iii Sulphur (%)   ≥1.0000  ISO 15178 / EN 16032  
iv Boron mg/kg  20-140 EN 16963 / EN 16965  
v Cobalt ( mg/kg ) 0.5-1.0 ISO 11047  
vi Copper (mg/kg  ) 8-300 ISO 11047  
vii Iron ( mg/kg  ) 1000 -2500  EN 16963 / EN 16965  
viii Manganese ( mg/kg  )  200-800 ISO 11047  
ix Molybdenum ( mg/kg  ) 0.5-1.0 AOAC 2006.03  
x Zinc ( mg/kg  ) 40-1000  ISO 11047  
 
 
4.7 Heavy metal contaminants  
 
Metal contaminants if present shall conform to the following limits . 
 
 
Table 4 — Heavy metal contam inant limits  for solid and liquid organic fertilizers, compost / soil 
conditioner, and organic plant supplements  
 
S/N Properties  Allowable maximum level 
(mg/kg, dry weight)  Test method  
i Arsenic (As)  10 ISO 17318  
ii Lead (Pb)  30 ISO 17318  
iii Chromium (Cr) 50 ISO 17318  
iv Nickel (Ni)  50 ISO 11047  
v Mercury (Hg)  2 ISO 17318  
vi Cadmium (Cd)  5 ISO 17318  
 
4.8 Hygiene  
 
The fertilizer shall be free from pathogenic organisms.  Where applicable,  the product shall also 
comply with microbiological limits in t he following table:  
 DARS 1490: 2018  
© ARSO 2018 — All rights reserved  7 Table 5 — Microbiological limits  for organic fertilizers  
 
Microorganisms  Allowable level Method of test  
E. coli 1000 cfu/g  ISO 7251  
Salmonella  spp  Absent in 25  g fresh mass  ISO 6579  
Faecal streptococci  <500 cfu/g  Test method needed  
Total coliforms  Nil Test method needed  
 
5 Sampling  
 
5.1 Sampling for laboratory analysis  
 
All finished products should be subjected to lot sampling for laboratory analysis using  the following 
procedure:  
 
For composite sampling of solid products:  
 
(1) Present to the inspector the production documents containing the number of bags  per batch 
number and bag number.  
 
(2) The inspector will randomly select the bag number.  
 
(3) The selected bags will be emptied into a clean area. All contents of the selected ba gs 
(maximum of 5 bags) will be thoroughly mixed.  
 
(4) Submit five kilograms (5 kg) of the composite sample to the laboratory.  
 
(5) Information relative to the sample taken must be accurate and complete to allow  traceability 
of the sample back to the lot fr om which it was sampled.  
 
NOTE  If the samples analyzed do not conform to the standards, the inspecting Certifying Body (CB) should review the 
production process which may include bulk sampling.  
 
Table 6  — Required Number of Samples for Solid Products  
 
Numb er of bags* per batch  Bags to be sampled  
<50 2 
51 to 100  3 
101 to 300  8 
301 to 500  15 
501 to 1000  20 
More than 1000  Multiples of 20  
* NOTE  1 bag = 50 kg  
 
For composite sampling of liquid products:  
 
(1) Present to the inspector the production docume nts containing the number of  containers per 
batch number and container number.  
 
(2) The inspector will randomly select the container number and subject the selected  containers 
for analysis.  DARS 1490: 2018  
8 © ARSO 2018 — All rights reserved   
(3) Information relative to the sample taken must be accurate and  complete to allow  traceability 
of the sample back to the lot from which it was sampled.  
 
Table 7 — Required number of samples for liquid products  
 
Number of containers* per batch  Containers to be sampled  
≤ 50 1 
51 to 100  2 
101 to 300  3 
301 to 500  4 
More than 500  5 
*NOTE: 1 container should be at least 1 L  
 
5.2 Laboratory sampling ( sample preparation for laboratory analysis)  
 
(a) For samples with uniform fineness  
 
Place sample on a clean piece of paper and mix thoroughly. Reduce sample to a quantity  sufficient 
for analysis by quartering. Mix and store in air -tight container.  
 
(b) For organic liquid fertilizers  
 
For liquid fertilizers without suspended particles, stir the sample until it is thoroughly  mixed before 
taking a sample.  
 
For liquid fertilize rs with suspended particles, take a sample while mixing the material  in order to 
obtain a representative sample.  
 
6 Tests  
 
6.1 Methods of test  
 
Samples of the fertilizer  shall be prepared in accordance with Clause 5 and tested in  accordance with 
the method s of test indicated in  Clause 4 . 
 
6.2 Inspection  
 
From the bulk sa mples, 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 th e contents from moisture and also not lead to easy 
rupture during handling, transportation and storage.  
 
 DARS 1490: 2018  
© ARSO 2018 — All rights reserved  9 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 Sys tem (GHS) and with the following particulars:  
 
(i) Nutrient content (NKP)  
 
(ii) Carbon/Nitrogen ratio  
 
(iii) Organic matter content  
 
(iv) Moisture content  
 
(v) Batch number  
 
(vi) Percentage foreign matter (gravel, plastic etc.)  
 
(vii) Name of the manufacturer/packer/importer  
 
(viii) Date of manufac ture 
 
(ix) Best before date  
 
(x) Instructions for use  
 
(xi) Precaution s /warning s 
 
NOTE  Sample designs for labels are provided in Annex C.  
 
8.2.2 Bulk containers  
 
Where the fertilizer  is distributed in bulk, the marking  information shall acco mpany the delivery notice 
to the purchaser.  
 
8.3 Other labelling guidelines  
 
a) Testimonials/ endorsements : The public has no way of evaluating the status of the endorser 
in relation to a product. For this reason, testimonials and endorsements will be viewed as 
claims and evaluated ac cordingly.  
 
b) Other claims : Any reference to the activity of a product containing plant nutrients that is not 
generally associated with its nutritional value must be substantiated with statistically 
significant efficacy data derived from field trials.  
 
c) Nutrient guarantees : Any product represented as a source of plant nutrients must carry a 
guaranteed analysis.  
 
d) Directions for use: All specialty fertilizers must carry instructions for use. These instructions 
must  specify both the rate and frequency of  application. Suggested rates of application  must 
provide an adequate quantity of nutrients to the plants concerned.  
 
e) Where the product does not contain all 3 major plant nutrients, the label  should carry a 
statement indicating that some plants may requ ire an additional  source of the nutrient(s) that 
are lacking.  
 
f) Any product containing composted materials or plant nutrients may represent a  potential 
hazard when misused. In order to avoid giving the impression that  reasonable precautions are 
unnecessa ry, blanket statements suggesting that the  product is completely safe and non -toxic 
to humans, animals or the environment  must not appear on the label.  
 DARS 1490: 2018  
10 © ARSO 2018 — All rights reserved  g) Miscellaneous terms : Words, such as balanced and healthy, should be avoided as they are 
often  misund erstood and consequently misleading.  Also objectionable are comparatives such 
as best, superior, and greener, as they  imply a comparison without indicating the basis of this 
comparison  
 
h) Environmentally beneficial : Any product represented as "environment ally sound", etc. must 
identify the  rationale for the claim and list all ingredients in order to allow the consumer to  
determine the validity of the statement.  
 
i) Slowly available plant nutrients : Only products providing at least 70%of a plant nutrient in  a 
slowly available  form may indicate this on the label. Such a claim must be accompanied by 
the associated guarantee.  
 
j) Low leaching potential : Only products containing at least70% of a nutrient in a slowly 
available form may  indicate that nutrient will  be slowly available and thus unlikely to leach 
when  used in accordance with label instructions.  
 
k) Improving soil structure : In order to suggest that the use of an organic or organic based 
product will  improve the structure of a soil, it must be recommen ded for use at rates that  could 
be expected to significantly increase the organic matter level of the  soil. Such as 1kg per 
square metre or 10 metric tonnes per hectare   
 
l) Any fertilizer shall only be labelled as organic if it conforms to this standard.  
 
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 Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and Technical Data 
Sheet (TDS).  
 DARS 1490: 2018  
© ARSO 2018 — All rights reserved  11  
Annex A  
(informative)  
 
Substances that may be used as fertilizers or soil conditioners  
 
 
 
Substance  Description; Compositional requirements; Conditions of 
use 
Plant and animal origin   
Farmyard and poul try manure  Products comprising a mixture of animal excrements and 
vegetable matter (animal bedding).  
Indication of animal species.  
Coming from extensive farming, but if sourced from intensive 
farming or not sourced from organic pro duction systems, 
need re cognition by the approved certifying organisation and 
shall be composted.  
Slurry or urine (not from human 
origin)  If not from organic farming sources, need recognition by the 
approved certifying organisation.  
Use after controlled fermentation and/or appro priate dilution.  
Factory farming sources not permitted.  
Indication of animal species.  
Composted animal excrements, 
including poultry manure  Need recognition by the approved certifying organisation.  
Indication of animal species.  
Dried farmyard manure an d 
dehydrated poultry manure  Need recognition by the approved certifying organisation.  
Indication of animal species.  
Coming from extensive farming, but if from intensive farming 
sources it must be composted.  
Guano  Need recognition by the approved certifyi ng organisation.  
Straw  Need recognition by the approved certifying organisation.  
Composts from spent 
mushroom and dejecta of 
worms and insects (vermiculture 
substrates)  The initial composition limited to products on this list.  
Composted or fermented 
organic household refuse  Organic vegetable and animal waste separated from 
household waste, which has been subjected to composting or 
anaerobic fermentation for biogas production.  
Need recognition by the approved certifying organisation.  
Maximum concentration s in mg/kg of dry matter: Cadmium:  
0.7; Copper: 70; Nickel: 25; Lead: 45; Zinc: 200; Mercury:  
0.4;  Chromium (total): 70; Chromium (VI):  0(*).  
(*) = limit of determination.  
Composted or fermented plant 
residues  Need recognition by the approved certifyi ng organisation.  
Mixtures of plant matter which has been subjected to 
composting or anaerobic fermentation for biogas production.  
Products and by -products of Need recognition by the approved certifying  organisation.  DARS 1490: 2018  
12 © ARSO 2018 — All rights reserved  Substance  Description; Compositional requirements; Conditions of 
use 
animal origin from 
slaughterhouses & fish 
industries:  
 blood meal  — 
 hoof meal  — 
 horn meal  — 
 bone meal or degelatinized 
bone meal  Heavy metal contamination monitoring necessary  
 fish meal  — 
 meat meal  — 
 feather, hair and "chiquette" 
meal  maximum concentration in mg/kg of dry matter of Chromi um 
(VI):0 (*)  
(*) = limit of determination   wool 
 fur 
 hair — 
 dairy products  — 
By-products of food & textile 
industries  Not treated with synthetic additives.  
Need recognition by the approved certifying organisation.  
Seaweeds and seaweeds 
products  Need  recognition by the approved certifying organisation.  
Directly obtained by — physical processes; extraction with 
water or acid and/or alkaline solution; and fermentation.  
Sawdust, bark and wood waste  From wood not chemically treated after felling.  
Wood a sh From wood not chemically treated after felling.  
Crop residues / by -products 
(from oil, palm, coconut and 
cocoa (including empty fruit 
bunch, coir, husks), palm oil mill 
effluent (pome), cocoa peat, 
empty cocoa pods, straw, 
peanut hulls, sugar cane tras h, 
straw, mud press, etc.)   
Green manure / leguminous 
crops   
Azolla  (mosquito fern, 
duckweed fern, fairy moss, 
water fern)   
Plant preparations and extracts   
Segregated biodegradable 
market waste   
Calcium lignosulfate  Recognized by the competent author ity 
Naturally occurring biological 
organisms e.g. worms   
Peat Should not be extracted or treated using inorganic chemicals; DARS 1490: 2018  
© ARSO 2018 — All rights reserved  13 Substance  Description; Compositional requirements; Conditions of 
use 
permitted for seed, potting module composts.  
By-products of industries 
processing ingredients from organic 
agriculture  Need recog nition by the approved certifying organisation.  
Night soil -faeces and material 
containing faecal matter  Subjected to either of the following treatments: composting, 
incineration/drying, anaerobic digestion and ammonia treatment  
Sewage Sludge  Subjected to  anaerobic digestion/fermentation, composting or long 
time treatments  
Human urine  Proper storage (based on the action of ammonia in combination with 
temperature.  
Stillage and stillage extract  Ammonium stillage excluded.  
ii. Mineral origin   
Natural phos phate rock  Need recognition by the approved certifying organisation.  
Cadmium should not exceed 90mg/kg P2O5 
 
May contain elevated levels of trace elements. Detailed 
chemical analysis is necessary.  
 
Their widespread extraction can also deplete the natural 
deposits and may cause negative environmental impact. 
Rate of extraction is subject to regulations.  
Basic slag  Need recognition by the approved certifying organisation.  
Rock potash, mined potassium 
salts (e.g. kainite, sylvinite)  Need recognition by the a pproved certifying organisation.  
Calcareous and magnesium 
amendments  Recognized by the competent authority  
Limestone (dolomite, 
calcite), marl, chalk, 
lime Recognized by the competent authority  
Calcium chloride   
Chloride of lime  Only from natural sourc es/origin  
Gypsum (calcium sulphate)  Only from natural sources/origin  
Magnesium rock, kieserite 
and Epsom salt 
(magnesium sulfate)  Only from natural sources/origin  
Rock potash, mined 
potassium salts (e.g. kainite, 
sylvinite)  Less than 60% chlorine  
Sulphate of potash  Obtained by physical procedures but not enriched by 
chemical processes to increase its solution  
Sulfur  Allowed if from natural source  
Pulverized rock, stone meal  May contain elevated levels of trace elements. Detailed 
chemical analysis is n ecessary.  
 
Their widespread extraction can also deplete the natural 
deposits and may cause negative environmental impact.  
 
Rate of extraction is subject to regulations.  
Clay (e.g. bentonite, perlite, 
vermiculite, zeolite)   
Sodium chloride  Only mined salt  
Trace elements (e.g. boron,  DARS 1490: 2018  
14 © ARSO 2018 — All rights reserved  Substance  Description; Compositional requirements; Conditions of 
use 
copper, iron, manganese, 
molybdenum, zinc)  
Stillage and stillage extract  Ammonium stillage excluded  
Aluminum calcium phosphate  Cadmium should not exceed 90mg/kg P2O5 
  
iii. Microbiological   
Biodegradable processing by -
products of microbial origin, e.g. 
by-products of brewery or 
distillery processing   
Microbial preparations (i.e. 
Trichoderma, Rhizobia, 
Mychorrizae , others) of non -
GMO origin   
  
iv. others   
Biodynamic and Agnihotra 
preparations   
 
 DARS 1490: 2018  
© ARSO 2018 — All rights reserved  15  
Annex B  
(normative)  
 
Minimum requirements for microbial inoculants  
 
 
 
Table B.1 — Minimum requirements for Rhizobia  
 
Base  Solid or Liquid  
Viable Cell Count  
Solid  
Liquid   
Minimum 108 cfu/g  
Minimum 108 cfu/ml  
Contaminants  No contaminants at 10-5 dilution  
pH 6.0-7.5 
Particl e size (solid inoculants)  All materials should pass through a sieve mesh no. 80 
(0.177 mm opening size)  
Moisture content by weight 
(solid inoculants)  30-40% 
Distinguishing characteristic(s)  Should show effective nodulation on all legume 
species listed in  the packet using plant infection 
technique under genotobiotic condition  
NOTE  Claims on odor – removal on odor should be verifiable  
 
Table B.2 — Minimum requirements for Azospirillum  
 
B
a
s
e Solid  
Viable Cell Count  Minimum 108 cfu/g  
Contaminants  No conta minants at 10-5 dilution  
pH 6.0-7.5 
Particle size  All materials should pass through a sieve mesh no. 80 
(0.177 mm opening size)  
Moisture content by weight  30-40% 
Distinguishing characteristic(s)  Formation of white pellicle in semi -solid nitrogen -free 
media 
 
Table B.3 — Minimum requirements for phosphate solubilizer (Bacteria)  
 
B
a
s
e Solid  
Viable Cell Count  Minimum 108 cfu/g  
Contaminants  No contaminants at 10-5 dilution  
pH 6.0-7.5 
Particle size  All materials should pass through a sieve mesh no. 80 
(0.177 mm opening size)  
Moisture content by weight  30-40% 
Distinguishing characteristic(s)  Minimum 5 mm solubilization zone in prescribed 
media  
 DARS 1490: 2018  
16 © ARSO 2018 — All rights reserved  Table B.4 — Minimum requirements for Phosphate Solubilizer (Fungi)  
 
Base  Solid  
Spore Count  Minimum 105 cfu/g  
Contaminants  No contaminants at 10-5 dilution  
pH 4.5-6.0 
Particle size  1.1 mm  
Moisture content by weight  30-40% 
Distinguishing characteristic(s)  Minimum 5 mm solubilization zone in 
prescribed media  
 
Table B.5 — Minimum requirements for endophytic bacteria  
 
Base  Solid  
Viable Cell Count  Minimum 106 cfu/g  
Contaminants  No contaminants at 10-5 dilution  
pH 6.0-7.0 
Particle size  0.1 to 0.8 microns  
Moisture content by weight  30-40% 
 
Table B.6 — Minimum requirements for decomposer and microbial inoculan t (Trichoderma ) 
 
Base  Solid  
Viable Spore Count  Minimum 108 cfu of Trichoderma /g 
Contaminants  No contaminants at 10-5 dilution  
pH 5.0-6.5 
Particle size  98% of materials should pass through a 2 mm 
diameter sieve  
Moisture content by weight  10-15% 
 
Table B.7 — Minimum requirements for mycorrhizae (VAM)  
 
Base  Solid  
Most probable number (MPN) 
Solid inoculant  
Root inoculant   
10 spores/g  
2,300 Infective Propagules (IP)/g  
Contamination level  Nematode -free 
pH 4.5-5.5 
Particle size  0.13-1.1 mm  
Moisture  content by weight  Minimum 10%  
 
Table B.8 — Minimum requirements for Ectomycorrhizae  
 
Base  Solid (Tablet/Powder)  
Spore Count  Minimum 108 cfu/g  
 
Table B.9 — Minimum requirements for Azotobacter  
 
Base  Solid  
Viable Cell Count  Minimum 108 cfu/g  
Contaminan ts No contaminants at 10-5 dilution  
pH 6.0-7.0 
Particle size  95% of materials should pass through a 2 mm 
diameter sieve  
Moisture content by weight  25-30% 
Distinguishing characteristic(s)  Watery colonies on Burks medium  
 
NOTE  For multistrain inoculants  or inoculants containing a consortium of microorganisms, claims should be verifiable.  DARS 1490: 2018  
© ARSO 2018 — All rights reserved  17  
Annex C 
(informative)  
 
Samp le label des igns 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure C.1 — Sample 4 -panel layout for labeling bottles and cartons  
 DARS 1490: 2018  
18 © ARSO 2018 — All rights reserved  
 
 
Figure C.2 — Sample layout for labeling bags  and sachets  
 
 
 
 
 DARS 1490: 2018 
© ARSO 2018 — All rights reserved