COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1020/2009  
of 28 October 2009  
amending Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to 
fertilisers for the purposes of adapting Annexes I, III, IV and V thereto to technical progress  
(Text with EEA relevance)  
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,  
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Community,  
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) Partially solubilised rock phosphate is a primary nutrient 
fertiliser type listed in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 
2003/2003. Article 16 of that Regulation permits the 
addition of secondary nutrients to all primary nutrient 
fertiliser types. However, the minimum content of phos ­
phorous pentoxide laid down for the existing partially 
solubilised phosphate rock fertiliser type is set too high 
to allow the addition of secondary nutrients. A new 
fertiliser type should therefore be introduced to allow 
mixtures of partially solubilised rock phosphate with 
magnesium secondary nutrients to be marketed as ‘EC 
fertiliser’.  
(3) Magnesium sulphate or magnesium oxide is added to 
ground phosphate rock to remedy phosphate and 
magnesium deficiencies in certain agricultural soils. The 
partial solubilisation makes phosphate and magnesium 
rapidly available to crops for a short period, whereas 
the non-solubilised constituents provide a slower but 
more sustained supply of phosphate and magnesium. 
Both phosphate and magnesium nutrients should be 
available in a single fertiliser type in order to benefit 
farmers.  
(4) Magnesium sulphate is a secondary nutrient fertiliser type 
listed in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003. 
Article 20 of that Regulation permits the addition of 
micro-nutrients to all secondary nutrient fertiliser types. 
However, the minimum content of sulphur trioxide and 
magnesium oxide laid down for the existing magnesium 
sulphate fertiliser type is set too high to allow the addition of micro-nutrients. Due to a growing interest in 
balanced plant nutrition the use of micro-nutrients has 
increased. A blend of magnesium sulphate with micro- 
nutrients would make it easier for farmers to use such 
micro-nutrients. The magnesium sulphate fertiliser type 
should therefore be revised to allow mixtures of 
magnesium sulphate with micro-nutrients to be 
marketed as ‘EC fertiliser’.  
(5) Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 gives 
technical provisions for the control of ammonium 
nitrate fertilisers of high nitrogen content. It should be 
clarified that the methods of analysis may be used for the 
different ammonium nitrate fertiliser forms (prills or 
granules). Furthermore, those descriptions of the 
analysis methods make use of obsolete units of 
pressure rather than the current SI units.  
(6) Article 29(2) to Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 requires 
that controls of EC fertilisers belonging to fertiliser types 
listed in Annex I to that Regulation are made in 
accordance with the methods of analysis that are 
described in detail in Annexes III and IV to that Regu ­
lation. As those methods are not internationally 
recognised, the European Committee for Standardisation 
(CEN) was mandated to develop equivalent EN standards 
to replace the existing methods.  
(7) As a partial outcome of the CEN Mandate M/335 
concerning the modernisation of analytical methods on 
fertilisers and liming materials, 20 EN standards have 
been developed and should be introduced in Annex IV 
to Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003. Some of those 
standards should replace existing methods of analysis, 
whilst others are new.  
(8) Validated methods published as EN standards usually 
include a ring-test (inter-laboratory test) to check the 
reproducibility of the analytical methods between 
different laboratories. However, a preliminary evaluation 
of the methods to be introduced in the mandate showed 
that some of them are little used. In this case, an editorial 
revision was found sufficient and no ring-test was 
deemed necessary. 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.EN 29.10.2009 Official Journal of the European Union L 282/7  
( 1 ) OJ L 304, 21.11.2003, p. 1.(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 CEN.  
(10) Article 30 of Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 requires 
laboratories to be competent and approved by a 
Member State when they carry out analysis on fertiliser 
samples for official controls. Such approved laboratories 
must meet the accreditation standards mentioned in 
Section B of Annex V. Since accreditation has proved 
in practice to take longer than originally foreseen, 
Annex V should be amended to ensure efficient control 
actions by allowing Member States to authorise labora ­
tories that are competent for official controls, but not yet 
accredited.  
(11) Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 should therefore be 
amended accordingly.  
(12) 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  
Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 is amended as follows:  
1. Annex I is amended in accordance with Annex I to this 
Regulation.  
2. Annex III is amended in accordance with Annex II to this 
Regulation.  
3. Annex IV is amended in accordance with Annex III to this 
Regulation.  
4. Annex V is amended in accordance with Annex IV to this 
Regulation.  
Article 2  
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, 28 October 2009.  
For the Commission  
Günter VERHEUGEN  
Vice-PresidentEN L 282/8 Official Journal of the European Union 29.10.2009ANNEX I  
Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 is amended as follows:  
1. in Table A.2, the following entry 3(a) is inserted:  
No Type designation  Data on method of production and essential ingredients  Minimum nutrient content 
(percentage by weight) 
Data on the 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  
‘3(a)  Partially solubilised rock 
phosphate with magnesium  Product obtained by partial solubilisation of 
ground rock phosphate with sulphuric acid or 
phosphoric acid with the addition of 
magnesium sulphate or magnesium oxide, and 
containing as essential ingredients monocalcium 
phosphate, tricalcium phosphate, calcium 
sulphate and magnesium sulphate  16 % P  2O 5 
6 % MgO 
Phosphorus expressed as P  2O 5 soluble in mineral 
acids, at least 40 % of the declared content of 
P 2O 5 being water-soluble 
Particle size: 
— at least 90 % able to pass through a sieve 
with a mesh of 0,160 mm 
— at least 98 % able to pass through a sieve 
with a mesh of 0,630 mm  Total phosphorus pentoxide 
(soluble in mineral acids) 
Phosphorus pentoxide soluble 
in water 
Total magnesium oxide 
Water-soluble magnesium 
oxide’  
2. in Table D, entry 5 is replaced by the following:  
No Type designation  Data on method of production and essential ingredients  Minimum content of nutrients 
(percentage by weight) 
Data on the 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  
‘5 Magnesium sulphate  Product containing heptahydrated magnesium 
sulphate as main ingredient  15 % MgO 
28 % SO  3 
Where micro-nutrients are added, and declared in 
accordance with Article 6(4) and 6(6): 
10 % MgO 
17 % SO  3 
Magnesium and sulphur expressed as water- 
soluble magnesium oxide and sulphur trioxide  The usual trade names may 
be added  Water-soluble magnesium 
oxide 
Water-soluble sulphur 
trioxide’EN 29.10.2009 Official Journal of the European Union L 282/9ANNEX II  
Section 3 of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 is amended as follows:  
1. in Method 2, point 6.2 is replaced by the following:  
‘6.2. Remove particles smaller than 0,5 mm using the test sieve (5.4). Weigh to the nearest 0,01 gram approximately 
50 grams of the sample into the beaker (5.2). Add sufficient gas oil (section 4) to cover the prills or granules 
completely and stir carefully to ensure that the surfaces of all the prills or granules are fully wetted. Cover the 
beaker with a watch glass and leave to stand for one hour at 25 (± 2) °C.’;  
2. in Method 3, point 4.3.5 is replaced by the following:  
‘4.3.5. Dreschel bottle D acting as a trap for any excess of acid which may distil over.’;  
3. in Method 3, the first paragraph of point 5.2 is replaced by the following:  
‘Place the sample for analysis in the reaction flask B. Add 100 ml of H  2 SO  4 (3.2). The prills or granules dissolve in 
about 10 minutes at ambient temperature. Assemble the apparatus as indicated in the diagram: connect one end of the 
absorption tube (A) to the nitrogen source (4.2) via a non-return flow device containing a pressure of 667 to 800 Pa 
and the other end to the feed tube which enters the reaction flask. Place the Vigreux fractionating column (C ′) and the 
condenser (C) with cooling water supply in position. Adjust the nitrogen to provide a moderate flow through the 
solution, bring the solution to boiling point and heat for two minutes. At the end of this time there should be no 
more effervescence. If effervescence is seen, continue heating for 30 minutes. Allow solution to cool for at least 20 
minutes with the nitrogen flowing through it.’EN L 282/10 Official Journal of the European Union 29.10.2009ANNEX III  
Section B of Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 is amended as follows:  
1. Method 1 is replaced by the following:  
‘M e t h o d 1  
Preparation of the sample for analysis  
EN 1482-2: Fertilisers and liming materials — Sampling and sample preparation — Part 2: Sample preparation ’ 
2. Methods 2 are replaced as follows:  
(a) Method 2.1 is replaced by the following:  
‘M e t h o d 2.1  
Determination of ammoniacal nitrogen  
EN 15475: Fertilisers — Determination of ammoniacal nitrogen  
This method of analysis has been ring-tested.’  
(b) Method 2.2.1 is replaced by the following:  
‘M e t h o d 2.2.1  
Determination of nitric and ammoniacal nitrogen according to Ulsch  
EN 15558: Fertilisers — Determination of nitric and ammoniacal nitrogen according to Ulsch  
This method of analysis has not been ring-tested.’  
(c) Method 2.2.2 is replaced by the following:  
‘M e t h o d 2.2.2  
Determination of nitric and ammoniacal nitrogen according to Arnd  
EN 15559: Fertilisers – Determination of nitric and ammoniacal nitrogen according to Arnd  
This method of analysis has not been ring-tested.’  
(d) Method 2.2.3 is replaced by the following:  
‘M e t h o d 2.2.3  
Determination of nitric and ammoniacal nitrogen according to Devarda  
EN 15476: Fertilisers — Determination of nitric and ammoniacal nitrogen according to Devarda  
This method of analysis has been ring-tested.’  
(e) Method 2.3.1 is replaced by the following:  
‘M e t h o d 2.3.1  
Determination of the total nitrogen in calcium cyanamide nitrate free  
EN 15560: Fertilisers — Determination of total nitrogen in calcium cyanamide nitrate free  
This method of analysis has not been ring-tested’  
(f) Method 2.3.2 is replaced by the following:  
‘M e t h o d 2.3.2  
Determination of total nitrogen in calcium cyanamide containing nitrates  
EN 15561: Fertilisers — Determination of total nitrogen in calcium cyanamide containing nitrates  
This method of analysis has not been ring-tested.’EN 29.10.2009 Official Journal of the European Union L 282/11(g) Method 2.3.3 is replaced by the following:  
‘M e t h o d 2.3.3  
Determination of total nitrogen in urea  
EN 15478: Fertilisers — Determination of total nitrogen in urea  
This method of analysis has been ring-tested.’  
(h) Method 2.4 is replaced by the following:  
‘M e t h o d 2.4  
Determination of cyanamide nitrogen  
EN 15562: Fertilisers — Determination of cyanamide nitrogen  
This method of analysis has not been ring-tested.’  
(i) Method 2.5 is replaced by the following:  
‘M e t h o d 2.5  
Spectrophotometric determination of biuret in urea  
EN 15479: Fertilisers — Spectrophotometric determination of biuret in urea  
This method of analysis has been ring-tested.’  
(j) Method 2.6.1 is replaced by the following:  
‘M e t h o d 2.6.1  
Determination of different forms of nitrogen in the same sample in fertilisers containing nitrogen as nitric, 
ammoniacal, urea and cyanamide nitrogen  
EN 15604: Fertilisers — Determination of different forms of nitrogen in the same sample containing nitrogen, as nitric, 
ammoniacal, urea and cyanamide nitrogen  
This method of analysis has not been ring-tested.’  
3. Method 4.1 is replaced by the following:  
‘M e t h o d 4.1  
Determination of the water-soluble potassium content  
EN 15477: Fertilisers — Determination of the water-soluble potassium content  
This method of analysis has been ring-tested.’  
4. The following methods are added:  
‘M e t h o d s 11  
Chelating agents  
M e t h o d 11.1  
Determination of the chelated micro-nutrient content and of the chelated fraction of micro-nutrients  
EN 13366: Fertilisers — Treatment with a cation exchange resin for the determination of the chelated micro-nutrient content and  
of the chelated fraction of micro-nutrients  
This method of analysis has been ring-tested.  
M e t h o d 11.2  
Determination of EDTA, HEDTA and DTPA  
EN 13368-1: Fertilisers — Determination of chelating agents in fertilisers by ion chromatography — Part 1: EDTA, HEDTA 
and DTPA  
This method of analysis has been ring-tested.  
M e t h o d 11.3  
Determination of iron chelated by o,o EDDHA and o,o EDDHMA  
EN 13368-2: 2007 Fertilisers — Determination of chelating agents in fertilisers by chromatography. Part 2: Determination of 
Fe chelated by o,o EDDHA and o,o EDDHMA by ion pair-chromatography . 
This method of analysis has been ring-tested.EN L 282/12 Official Journal of the European Union 29.10.2009M e t h o d 11.4  
Determination of iron chelated by EDDHSA  
EN 15451: Fertilisers — Determination of chelating agents-Determination of iron chelated by EDDHSA by ion pair-chroma ­
tography  
This method of analysis has been ring-tested.  
M e t h o d 11.5  
Determination of iron chelated by o,p EDDHA  
EN 15452: Fertilisers — Determination of chelating agents-Determination of iron chelated by o,p EDDHA by reversed phase 
HPLC  
This method of analysis has been ring-tested.  
M e t h o d s 12  
Nitrification and urease inhibitors  
M e t h o d 12.1  
Determination of dicyandiamide  
EN 15360: Fertilisers — Determination of dicyandiamide – Method using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)  
This method of analysis has been ring-tested.  
M e t h o d 12.2  
Determination of NBPT  
EN 15688: Fertilisers — Determination of urease inhibitor N-(n-butyl)thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) using high-performance 
liquid chromatography (HPLC)  
This method of analysis has been ring-tested.  
M e t h o d s 13  
Heavy metals  
M e t h o d 13.1  
Determination of cadmium content  
EN 14888: Fertilisers and liming materials — Determination of cadmium content  
This method of analysis has been ring-tested.’EN 29.10.2009 Official Journal of the European Union L 282/13ANNEX IV  
Section B of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 is replaced by the following:  
‘B. REQUIREMENTS TO AUTHORISE LABORATORIES THAT ARE COMPETENT TO PROVIDE THE 
NECESSARY SERVICE FOR CHECKING COMPLIANCE OF EC FERTILISERS WITH THE 
REQUIREMENTS OF THIS REGULATION AND ITS ANNEXES  
1. Standard applicable at the level of the laboratories.  
— Laboratories accredited in accordance with EN ISO/IEC 17025, General requirements for the competence of 
testing and calibration laboratories, for at least one of the methods of Annexes III or IV.  
— Until 18 November 2014, laboratories not yet accredited provided that the laboratory:  
— demonstrates that it has initiated and is pursuing the necessary accreditation procedures in accordance 
with EN ISO/IEC 17025 in one or more of the methods of Annexes III or IV, and  
— provides the competent authority with evidence that the laboratory is participating in inter-laboratory tests 
with good results.  
2. Standard applicable at the level of accreditation bodies:  
EN ISO/IEC 17011, Conformity assessment: General requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity 
assessment bodies.’EN L 282/14 Official Journal of the European Union 29.10.2009