II 
(Non-legislative acts)  
REGULATIONS  
COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 137/2011  
of 16 February 2011  
amending Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to 
fertilisers for the purposes of adapting Annexes I and IV thereto to technical progress  
(Text with EEA relevance)  
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,  
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European 
Union,  
Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 of the 
European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 
relating to fertilisers (  1 ), and in particular Article 31(1) and (3) 
thereof,  
Whereas:  
(1) Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 provides that 
a fertiliser belonging to a type of fertiliser listed in Annex 
I thereto and complying with the conditions laid down in 
that Regulation may be designated ‘EC fertiliser’.  
(2) Calcium formate (CAS 544-17-2) is a secondary nutrient 
fertiliser that is used as foliar fertiliser for fruit cultivation 
in one Member State. The substance is harmless for the 
environment and human health. Therefore to make it 
more easily available to farmers throughout the Union, 
calcium formate should be recognised as an ‘EC fertiliser’ 
type.  
(3) Provisions on micro-nutrient chelates and micro-nutrient 
solutions should be adapted to allow the use of more 
than one chelating agent, to introduce common values 
for the minimum content of water-soluble micro-nutrient 
and to ensure that each chelating agent that chelates at 
least 1 % of the water-soluble micro-nutrient and that is 
identified and quantified by EN standards is labelled. A sufficient transitional period is necessary in order to 
allow economic operators to sell off their stocks of 
fertilisers.  
(4) Zinc oxide powder (CAS 1314-13-2) is a zinc fertiliser 
listed in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003. Zinc 
oxide in powder form presents a potential dust hazard in 
use. The use of zinc oxide in the form of a stable 
suspension in water avoids this hazard. Zinc fertiliser 
suspension should therefore be recognised as an ‘EC 
fertiliser’ type to allow a safer use of zinc oxide. To 
allow flexibility within formulations, the use of zinc 
salts and one or more types of zinc chelate(s) should 
also be permitted in any such water-based suspensions.  
(5) Article 23(2) of Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 contains 
rules for the composition and labelling of mixed micro- 
nutrient fertilisers but such mixtures are not yet listed 
among the fertiliser types of Annex I. Mixed micro- 
nutrient fertilisers therefore cannot be sold as ‘EC 
fertilisers’. Micro-nutrient fertiliser type designations 
should therefore be introduced in Annex I for solid 
and fluid fertilisers.  
(6) Iminodisuccinic acid (hereinafter ‘IDHA’) is a chelating 
agent which is authorised for use in two Member 
States as foliar sprays, for soil application, in hydroponics 
and in fertigation. IDHA should be added to the list of 
authorised chelating agents in Annex I to make it more 
easily available to farmers throughout the Union.  
(7) Article 29(2) of Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 requires 
the control of ‘EC fertilisers’ in accordance with the 
methods of analysis that are described therein. 
However, some methods have not been internationally 
recognised. EN standards have now been developed by 
the European Committee for Standardisation and should 
replace those methods.EN 17.2.2011 Official Journal of the European Union L 43/1  
( 1 ) OJ L 304, 21.11.2003, p. 1.(8) Validated methods published as EN standards usually 
include a ring test (inter-laboratory test) to check the 
reproducibility and repeatability of the analytical 
methods between different laboratories. A distinction 
between validated EN standards and non-validated 
methods should therefore be made to help to identify 
the EN standards which have undergone an inter- 
laboratory test to correctly inform controllers about the 
statistical reliability of EN standards.  
(9) To simplify legislation and facilitate future revision, it is 
appropriate to replace the full text of the standards in 
Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 with 
references to the EN standards to be published by the 
European Committee for Standardisation.  
(10) Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 should therefore be 
amended accordingly.  
(11) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in 
accordance with the opinion of the Committee estab ­
lished by Article 32 of Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003,  HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:  
Article 1  
Amendments  
1. Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 is amended in 
accordance with Annex I to this Regulation.  
2. Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 is amended 
in accordance with Annex II to this Regulation.  
Article 2  
Transitional provisions  
Points (a) to (e) of point (2) of Annex I shall apply from 
9 October 2012 to fertilisers that are placed on the market 
before 9 March 2011.  
Article 3  
Entry into force  
This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following 
its publication in the  Official Journal of the European Union . 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.  
Done at Brussels, 16 February 2011.  
For the Commission  
The President  
José Manuel BARROSOEN L 43/2 Official Journal of the European Union 17.2.2011EN 17.2.2011 Official Journal of the European Union L 43/3
 ANNEX I  
Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 is amended as follows:  
(1) In Section D, the following entries 2.1 and 2.2 are inserted: 
‘2.1 Calcium formate  Chemically obtained product containing calcium 
formate as essential ingredient  33,6 % CaO 
Calcium expressed as water-soluble 
CaO 
56 % formate  Calcium oxide 
Formate  
2.2 Calcium formate fluid  Product obtained by dissolution in water of calcium 
formate  21 % CaO 
Calcium expressed as water-soluble 
CaO 
35 % formate  Calcium oxide 
Formate’  
(2) Section E.1 is amended as follows:  
(a) in Section E.1.2, entries 2b and 2c are replaced by the following: 
‘2b Cobalt chelate  Water-soluble product containing cobalt 
chemically combined with authorised 
chelating agent(s)  5 % of water-soluble cobalt and at 
least 80 % of the water-soluble 
cobalt is chelated by authorised 
chelating agent(s)  Name of each authorised chelating 
agent that chelates at least 1 % water- 
soluble cobalt and that can be identified 
and quantified by a European standard  Water-soluble cobalt (Co) 
Optional: Total cobalt (Co) chelated by 
authorised chelating agents 
Cobalt (Co) chelated by each authorised 
chelating agent that chelates at least 1 % 
water-soluble cobalt and that can be 
identified and quantified by a European 
standard  
2c Cobalt fertiliser solution  Aqueous solution of types 2a and/or 
types 2b  2 % water-soluble cobalt  The designation must include: 
(1) the name(s) of the mineral anion(s) 
(2) the name of any authorised 
chelating agent that chelates at 
least 1 % water-soluble cobalt if 
present and that can be identified 
and quantified by a European 
standard  Water-soluble cobalt (Co) 
Optional: Total cobalt (Co) chelated by 
authorised chelating agents 
Cobalt (Co) chelated by each authorised 
chelating agent that chelates at least 1 % 
water-soluble cobalt and that can be 
identified and quantified by a European 
standard’EN L 43/4 Official Journal of the European Union 17.2.2011
 (b) in Section E.1.3, entries 3d and 3f are replaced by the following: 
‘3d Copper chelate  Water-soluble product containing copper 
chemically combined with authorised 
chelating agent(s)  5 % of water-soluble copper and at 
least 80 % of the water-soluble 
copper is chelated by authorised 
chelating agent(s)  Name of each authorised chelating 
agent that chelates at least 1 % water- 
soluble copper and that can be 
identified and quantified by a 
European standard  Water-soluble copper (Cu) 
Optional: Total copper (Cu) chelated by 
authorised chelating agents 
Copper (Cu) chelated by each authorised 
chelating agent that chelates at least 1 % 
water-soluble copper and that can be 
identified and quantified by a European 
standard  
3f Copper fertiliser 
solution  Aqueous solution of types 3a and/or 
types 3d  2 % water-soluble copper  The designation must include: 
(1) the name(s) of the mineral anion(s) 
(2) the name of any authorised 
chelating agent that chelates at 
least 1 % water-soluble copper if 
present and that can be identified 
and quantified by a European 
standard  Water-soluble copper (Cu) 
Optional: Total copper (Cu) chelated by 
authorised chelating agents 
Copper (Cu) chelated by each authorised 
chelating agent that chelates at least 1 % 
water-soluble copper and that can be 
identified and quantified by a European 
standard’  
(c) in Section E.1.4, entries 4b and 4c are replaced by the following: 
‘4b Iron chelate  Water-soluble product containing iron 
chemically combined with authorised 
chelating agent(s)  5 % of water-soluble iron, of which 
the chelated fraction is at least 
80 % and at least 50 % of the 
water-soluble iron is chelated by 
authorised chelating agent(s)  Name of each authorised chelating 
agent that chelates at least 1 % water- 
soluble iron and that can be identified 
and quantified by a European standard  Water-soluble iron (Fe) 
Optional: Total iron (Fe) chelated by 
authorised chelating agents 
Iron (Fe) chelated by each authorised 
chelating agent that chelates at least 
1 % water-soluble iron and that can be 
identified and quantified by a European 
standard  
4c Iron fertiliser solution  Aqueous solution of types 4a and/or 
types 4b  2 % of water soluble iron  The designation must include: 
(1) the name(s) of the mineral anion(s) 
(2) the name of any authorised 
chelating agent that chelates at 
least 1 % water-soluble iron if 
present and that can be identified 
and quantified by a European 
standard  Water-soluble iron (Fe) 
Optional: Total iron (Fe) chelated by 
authorised chelating agents 
Iron (Fe) chelated by each authorised 
chelating agent that chelates at least 
1 % water-soluble iron and that can be 
identified and quantified by a European 
standard’EN 17.2.2011 Official Journal of the European Union L 43/5
 (d) in Section E.1.5, entries 5b and 5e are replaced by the following: 
‘5b Manganese chelate  Water-soluble product containing 
manganese chemically combined with 
authorised chelating agent(s)  5 % of water-soluble manganese 
and at least 80 % of the water- 
soluble manganese is chelated by 
authorised chelating agent(s)  Name of each authorised chelating 
agent that chelates at least 1 % water- 
soluble manganese and that can be 
identified and quantified by a 
European standard  Water-soluble manganese (Mn) 
Optional: Total manganese (Mn) 
chelated by authorised chelating agents 
Manganese (Mn) chelated by each auth ­
orised chelating agent that chelates at 
least 1 % water-soluble manganese and 
that can be identified and quantified by 
a European standard  
5e Manganese fertiliser 
solution  Aqueous solution of types 5a and/or 
types 5b  2 % water-soluble manganese  The designation must include: 
(1) the name(s) of the mineral anion(s) 
(2) the name of any authorised 
chelating agent that chelates at 
least 1 % water-soluble manganese 
if present and that can be identified 
and quantified by a European 
standard  Water-soluble manganese (Mn) 
Optional: Total manganese (Mn) 
chelated by authorised chelating agents 
Manganese (Mn) chelated by each auth ­
orised chelating agent that chelates at 
least 1 % water-soluble manganese and 
that can be identified and quantified by 
a European standard’  
(e) in Section E.1.7, entries 7b and 7e are replaced by the following: 
‘7b Zinc chelate  Water-soluble product containing zinc 
chemically combined with authorised 
chelating agent(s)  5 % of water-soluble zinc and at 
least 80 % of the water-soluble 
zinc is chelated by authorised 
chelating agent(s)  Name of each authorised chelating 
agent that chelates at least 1 % water- 
soluble zinc and that can be identified 
and quantified by a European standard  Water-soluble zinc (Zn) 
Optional: Total zinc (Zn) chelated by 
authorised chelating agents 
Zinc (Zn) chelated by each authorised 
chelating agent that chelates at least 
1 % water-soluble zinc and that can be 
identified and quantified by a European 
standard  
7e Zinc fertiliser solution  Aqueous solution of types 7a and/or 
types 7b  2 % water-soluble zinc  The designation must include: 
(1) the name(s) of the mineral anion(s) 
(2) the name of any authorised 
chelating agent that chelates at 
least 1 % water-soluble zinc if 
present and that can be identified 
and quantified by a European 
standard  Water-soluble zinc (Zn) 
Optional: Total zinc (Zn) chelated by 
authorised chelating agents 
Zinc (Zn) chelated by each authorised 
chelating agent that chelates at least 
1 % water-soluble zinc and that can be 
identified and quantified by a European 
standard’EN L 43/6 Official Journal of the European Union 17.2.2011
 (f) in Section E.1.7, the following entry 7f is added: 
‘7f Zinc fertiliser suspension  Product obtained by suspending type 7(a) 
and/or 7(c) and/or types 7(b) in water  20 % total zinc  The designation must include: 
(1) the name(s) of the anions 
(2) the name of any authorised 
chelating agent that chelates at 
least 1 % water-soluble zinc if 
present and that can be identified 
and quantified by a European 
standard  Total zinc (Zn) 
Water-soluble zinc (Zn) if present 
Zinc (Zn) chelated by each authorised 
chelating agent that chelates at least 
1 % water-soluble zinc and that can be 
identified and quantified by a European 
standard’(3) Section E.2 is amended as follows:  
(a) the title of Section E.2 is replaced by the following:  
‘E.2.  Minimum micro-nutrient content, percentage weight of fertiliser; mixed micro-nutrient fertiliser types ’; 
(b) the title of Section E.2.1 is replaced by the following:  
‘E.2.1.  Minimum micro-nutrient content in solid or fluid mixtures of micro-nutrient fertilisers, percentage weight of fertiliser ’; 
(c) in Section E.2.1, the two sentences below the table are deleted;  
(d) the title of Section E.2.2 is replaced by the following:  
‘E.2.2.  Minimum micro-nutrient content in EC fertilisers containing primary and/or secondary nutrient(s) with micro- 
nutrient(s) applied to the soil, percentage weight of fertiliser ’; 
(e) the title of Section E.2.3 is replaced by the following:  
‘E.2.3.  Minimum micro-nutrient content in EC fertilisers containing primary and/or secondary nutrient(s) with micro- 
nutrient(s) for leaf sprays, percentage weight of fertiliser ’; 
(f) the following Section E.2.4 is added:  
‘E.2.4.  Solid or fluid mixtures of micro-nutrient fertilisers  
No Type designation  Data on method of 
production and 
essential ingredients  Minimum total 
content of 
micro-nutrients 
(percentage by 
weight) 
Data on expression of 
nutrients 
Other requirements  Other data on the type 
designation  Nutrient content to be 
declared 
Forms and solubilities 
of the nutrients 
Other criteria  
1 2  3  4  5  6  
1 Mixture of 
micro-nutrients  Product obtained 
by mixing two or 
more E.1 type 
fertilisers  Total of 
micro-nutrients: 
5 % by mass of 
the fertiliser 
Individual 
micro-nutrient 
according to 
Section E.2.1  The designation 
must include: 
(1) the names of 
any mineral 
anions if 
present 
(2) the name(s) of 
any authorised 
chelating 
agents if 
present  Total content of 
each nutrient 
Water soluble 
content of each 
nutrient if present 
Micro-nutrient 
chelated by each 
authorised chelating 
agent(s) if present  
2 Fluid mixture of 
micro-nutrients  Product obtained 
by dissolving 
and/or suspending 
two or more E.1 
type fertilisers in 
water  Total of 
micro-nutrients: 
2 % by mass of 
the fertiliser 
Individual 
micro-nutrient 
according to 
Section E.2.1  The designation 
must include: 
(1) the names of 
any mineral 
anions if 
present 
(2) the name(s) of 
any authorised 
chelating 
agents if 
present  Total content of 
each nutrient 
Water soluble 
content of each 
nutrient if present 
Micro-nutrient 
chelated by each 
authorised chelating 
agent(s), if present’  
(4) In Section E.3.1, the following entry is added: 
‘Iminodisuccinic acid  IDHA  C  8 H 11 O 8 N 131669-35-7’.EN 17.2.2011 Official Journal of the European Union L 43/7ANNEX II  
Section B of Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 is amended as follows:  
(1) Method 2.6.2 is replaced by the following:  
‘M e t h o d 2 . 6 . 2  
Determination of total nitrogen in fertilisers containing nitrogen only as nitric, ammoniacal and urea 
nitrogen by two different methods  
EN 15750: Fertilizers. Determination of total nitrogen in fertilizers containing nitrogen only as nitric, ammoniacal 
and urea nitrogen by two different methods.  
This method of analysis has been ring-tested.’  
(2) The following method 2.6.3 is added:  
‘M e t h o d 2 . 6 . 3  
Determination of urea condensates using HPLC — Isobutylenediurea and crotonylidenediurea (method A) 
and methylen-urea oligomers (method B)  
EN 15705: Fertilizers. Determination of urea condensates using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). 
Isobutylenediurea and crotonylidenediurea (method A) and methylen-urea oligomers (method B)  
This method of analysis has been ring-tested.’  
(3) The following title of method 5 is inserted:  
‘Carbon dioxide’  
(4) The following method 5.1 is inserted:  
‘M e t h o d 5 . 1  
Determination of carbon dioxide — Part I: method for solid fertilisers  
EN 14397-1: Fertilizers and liming materials. Determination of carbon dioxide. Part I: method for solid fertilisers  
This method of analysis has been ring-tested.’  
(5) Method 8.9 is replaced by the following:  
‘M e t h o d 8 . 9  
Determination of the sulfates content using three different methods  
EN 15749: Fertilizers. Determination of sulfates content using three different methods  
This method of analysis has been ring-tested.’EN L 43/8 Official Journal of the European Union 17.2.2011