ARCHIVESHISTORIQUES
DELACOMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEEDES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM(75)635
Vol.1975/0238

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0014(75 )635 final
Brussels ,15Lecember 1975
Proposal for a
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
ontheapproximation oflaws ,reflations
and administrative provisions relating to
themarketing ofhigh nitrogen content
arincnium nitrate based fertilizer
(submitted totheCouncil bytheCommission )
COUH75 )635 final

EXPLANATORY lOtroRAIIDUM
(SlWJji:!T'RODUCTIOII
TheResolutionoftheCouncilof28May1$59establishing aprogramme
fortheelimination oftechnical "barrierstotradeinindustrialproducts
includedproposalsfordirectivesforstraightandcompoundfertilizers.
TheCouncilisinthefinalstagesofdiscussionofageneraldirective
dealingwiththecomposition ,labellingandpackagingofstraightand
compoundfertilizers .
I-Ii.vhnitrogencontentstraightammoniumnitratefertilizersareofpart­
icularinterestinagriculture becausetheyareahighlyconcentrated
sourceofthefertilising elementnitrogen,andasmallerweightoffert­
ilizerhastobetransported andstoredtoachievethesamefertilizing
effectaswithlowernitrogencontentproducts ,,
Ammoniumnitrateisachemicalwhichalsoisusedasamaterialforexplo­
sivemanufactureinadmixtureswithoil.Anammoniumnitrateofhigh
porositynotonlyreadilyadsorbsoilbutinitselfismoresusceptible
tothepropagation ofdetonationthanlowporosityammoniumnitrate.A
numberofotherparameters suchaspHandchloridecontentaffectthe
stabilityofammoniumnitratetowardsheat.
Thegeneraldirectiveontheapproximation oflaws,regulations a.nd
administrative provisionsconcerningthecomposition ,packagingand
labellingoffertilizerswillremovebarrierstotradeinthefertilizer
marketinthisrespect,howeverinanumberofMemberStatestradein
highnitrogencontentammoniumnitratefertilizerishamperedbyprovisions
concertingitsstorageandmarketing,whichcreateconsiderablerestrictions
incertainMemberStateswhereammoniumnitratefertilizerisclassedand
storedasanexplosive.ThesestorageprovisonsareinmostMemberStates
extremelycomplexandapplytoaverywiderangeofexplosiveorpotentially
explosiveproducts.Theirharmonisation wouldthereforebeanextremely
difficultandcomplicatedtask.

η·■
f
Althoughinthepastthere.,haveJwenvseriousexplosionsoflargestocksof
ammoniumnitratefertilizerwithseverelossoflife,modemmanufacturing
techniquescanproduceasafeandstablefertilize **which,i^-.clearly'distirn
guishablefromexplosiveproducts.TheCommissioninmakingthisproposal
ofDirectiveforclassification ofammonium ,nitratefertilizerconsiders
thatthisconstitutesanimportantandessentialsteptotheremovalof
technicalbarrierstotrade,.Theclearerdefinitionoffertilizersetout
inthisdirectivewillallowMemberStatestoamendtheirstorageregulations
inrespectofammoniumnitratefertilizerandindeedasaresultoftheprep­
arationofthisproposalseveralMemberStatesare'alreadystartingthiswork.
Shouldserioustechnicalbarrierstotrade,continuetoexi'staft®rtheimple­
mentationofthisdirectivethe.Commissionwillconsiderafurther
asproposingcommonryilesforstorage.stagesuch

NOTESONINDIVIDUAL ARTICLES
xlrticle 1
ThisArticledefinesthescopeofapplication ofthedirectiveandrelates
ittothegeneralDirective „onfertilizers.
Article2
ThisArticlelaysdowntheprocedurefortestingandcertifyingthefert­
ilizerfordetonability andporosity "beforemarketingandatregular
intervalsthereafter.Italsolaysdowntheconditionsbywhicharepeat
ofthecertification testmayberequired.
Article3
ThisArticledescribesthaprocedurefordesignation andnotification of
theauthorities competenttocarryoutthecertification procedure.
m*-> '
Article4
ThisArticledefinesthe'"labellingrequirements whichareadditionalto
thoseofthemaindirectiveonfertilizers andarerequiredforidentifi­
cationofthefertilizerwiththe.certificate .'!
Article5 ,■
ThisArticlerequitestheMemberStatestoacceptconformityofaproperly
labelledandcertifiedfertilizerwithoutremovingtheirrighttocarry
outotherverification tests.
Article6
Thisisastandardfreecirculationarticle.
Article7
ThisArticlerequirest!fcheMemberStatestocarryoutcontrolmeasuresto
ensureconformityoffertilizermarketedunderthedirectiveWithits
provisions.
••/#•

Article8 """"
ThisArticlelaysdowntheprocedureforadaptingtheDireotiveto
technicalprogress. .,
Article9
ThisArticleisastandardsafeguardolause.
Articles10and11
TheseArticlesarecommontoallDirectives
IIICONSULTATION OFINTERESTED PARTIES
TheproposalofDirectivehasbeenelaboratedfollowingextensiveconsul–
'tationwithaworkingpartycomposedofexpertsonfertilizers,explosives
andpublicandindustrialsafetyinclosecollaboration withrelevant
organisations fromtheindustryconcerned.
IVCONSULTATION OFTHEEUROPEANPAHLIjJflSHT ANDTHEECONOMICANDSOCIAL
.COMMITTEE .. ........
InapplicationofArticle100,para2,oftheTraaty,takingintoaccount
thefactthattheapplicationofthisDirectiveimpliesmodification of
theexistinglegalprovisionsoftheMemberStates,the"opinionofthe
•EuropeanParliamentandtheEoonomioandSocialCommitteeisnecessary.

PROPOSALFORACOUNCILDIRECTIVE
ontheapproximation ofthelawsoftheMemberStatesconcerning ammonium
nitratebasedfertilizer
THECOUNCILOPTHEEUROPEANCOMMUNITIES,
HAVINGREGARDtotheTreatyestablishing theEuropeanEconomicCommunity,
andinparticularArticle100thereof;
HAVINGREGMtDtotheproposalfromtheCommission ;
HAVINGREGARDtotheOpinionoftheEuropeanParliament ;
HAVINGREGARDtotheOpinionoftheEconomicandSocialCommittee,
WHEREAStheCouncilDirectiveof- concerningtheapproximation
ofjfchalaws:ofMemberStatesrelat-ivetofertilizershasalreadylaiddown
communityrulesonthedenomination ,composition,labellingandpackingof
the.mostimportant'.simpleandcompoundfertilizersintheCommunity;whereas
ammoniumnitratebasedfertilizersinparticularareenvisagedbythisdirec­
tive;whereasitseemshowevernecessary,havingregardtottheparticular
natureofthistypeoffertilizerandtotheconsequentrequirements ofpub­
licsafety,tofixcomplementary communityrulesforthisfertilizer.
WHEREASammoniuinni"trateis-theessentialingredientofavarietyofproducts
somaofWhichareintendedforuseasfertilizers andothersasexplosives,
andthatbyreasonofthedisparitybetweennationaldispositionsrelative
totheclassification ofproductsusedasfertilizerfromotherproducts
basedonammoniumnitrateregulationscontrollingthemarketing'ofammonium
nitratebasedfertilizerdifferfromoneMemberStatetoanother;whereasby
theirdisparitytheyhindertradeinammoniumnitratebasedfertilizerwithin
theEuropeanEconomicCommunity;

niiSKElAbsuchobstaclestotheestablishment ofthecommonmarketcan"be
reducedandeliminatedifthesamerequirements areadoptedbyallthe
MemberStateseitherinadditiontoorinplaceof'theirpresentlaws;
WHEREASitisprincipallynecessary,tothisendandintheinterestof
public.safetyto'detemineatpommunity ,levelthe^characteristics and
propertiesdistinguishing ammoniumnitratebasedfertilizerfromproducts
basedonammoniumnitratemanufactured foruseasanexplosive ;
WHEREASadetonationtest.isregardedastheprimecriterionofapproval
ofahighnitrogencontentammoniumnitratebasedfertilizer ,andwhereas
foreachfertilizerproductadetonationtestmustbecarriedoutbefore
themarketingofthefertilizerandatfixedintervalsthereafter ,..andv
whereasitisnecessarytorelatetheresultsofthistesttootherimport­
antparameterssuchasporosityhavingacorrelation withdotcscability ;
WHEREASthedetermination ofthemethodsofanalysis,aswellasanychanges
oradditionstobemadethereto ,inconsideration oftechnicalprogress,aK
implementing measuresofatechnicalnature,andwhereasitisappropriate
toassigntheiradoptionto;theCommissioninordertosimplifyandspeed
uptheprocedure;':';.1.-1
WHEREAStechnicalprogressnecessitates therapidadaptationofthetechnical
requirements of.thisdirective;whereasaprocedurehasalreadybeenestab­
lishedunderarticles10and11ofCouncilDirectiveof:regarding
theapproximation ofthelawsofMe&berStatesconcerningfertilizers ,-with
aviewtoadaptingdirectivesintl.efieldoffertilizerstotechnicalpro­
gress.
HASADOPTEDTHISDIRECTIVE:-•

Article 1
1.ThisDirectiveshallapplytostraighthighnitrogencontentammonium
nitratebasedfertilizers whicharecov^Sd'.Vbync'.cr theprovisionsof
CouncilDirectiveof ontheapproximation ofthelawsof
Ifc-toberStatesconcerningfertilizers.
2.Forthepurposesofthisdirective,fertilizermeans"straighthigh
nitrogencontentammoniumnitratebasedfertilizer",whichisachemi-,
callyobtainedproductcontainingatleast28J0byweightnitrogene
asitsessentialingredientwhichmaycontaininorganicadditivesor
fillers,suchasgroundlimestone,calciumsulphate,grounddolomite,
magnesiumsulphate,kisserite.
3.Inorganicadditivesorfillersaresubstancesusedinthecompounding of
thefertilizerwhichmustnotincreaseitssensitivitytoheatordeton­
ation.
Article2
2.1aBeforeahighnitrogencontentstraightammoniumnitratebasedfertilizer
ismarketed^oneoftheoompetentauthoritiesdesignatedundertheterms
ofArticle3willsubmitarepresentative sampleofthefertilizertype
tothe"testsspecifiedinAnnexIofthisdirective.
2.1bWherethefertilizertypehasanoilretentionafterthermalcyclingas
specifiedinAnnexI,para2,of4$orless,theaboveprocedureshall
berepeatedatannualintervals.
2.1cWherethefertilizertypehasanoilretentionafterthermalcyclingas
specifiedinAnnexI,para2,of4$orgreater,butnotexceeding7$»
theaboveprocedureshallberepeatedatfourmonthlyintervals.

2.2WhereafertilizercomplieswiththeprovisionsofAnnexIacertifi­
catestatingthedateandtheresultsoftheaboveteststogetherwith
themanufacturers name,addressandproductnumberofthefertilizer
andanyotherrelevantinformation musthetransmittedtothecompetent
administrative authorities oftheMemberStates.
2.3Achangeinchemicalformulation,fillersoradditivesrequiresthe
carryingoutofanewapprovalprooedure..
2.4Ifinaspotcheoktheoilretentioncapacitywithoutartificialthermal
cyclinglaiddowninpara1,AnnexIIexceeds0>andishigherthanthe
valueonthecertificateforthetestwiththermalcyclinglaiddownin
para2,Annex'I"by1.0$ormoreaMemberStatemayrequirethat4con­
signmentberesubmittedtothedetonationtestlaiddowninAnnexIor
thatthefertilizer bewithdrawnfromsaleorreturnedtothemanufact­
ureruntiltheresultsofthedetonationtestareknown.'
Article3
EachMemberStateshallnotifytheotherMemberStatesandtheCommission
ofthenamesandaddressesofthecompetentauthoritieswithintheir
territorywhom^theymaydesignatetocarryout-thetestingprocedure
forAnnexI,specifiedinArticle2ofthisdirective.Thenamesand
addressesshallbepublishedforinformationintheOfficialJournal
oftheEuropeanCommunities.
Article4
Inadditiontotheinscriptions requiredbyCouncilDirective
of andinaccordancewithitsgeneralprovisions.^nlabelling,
thelabelsoraoconrpanying documentsofstraighthighnitrogencontent
ammoniumnitratebasedfertilizer marketedunder .thisdirectiveshall
bearthemanufacturer *sproductnumberforthefertilizer.

Article 5
Without prejudice toother methods ofproof theMember States shall take
allnecessary measures toensure that their competent authorities shall
accept that there isapresumption ofconformity with therequirements
ofAnnex I,where thelabel oraccompanying documents hear amanufacturer 's
name andproduct number forafertilizer forwhich they have been notified
that theprocedure ofArticle 2.paras 1and 2hasbeen carried out.
Article 6
TheMember States maynot ,refuse ,prohibit orrestrict themarketing of
afertilizer which complies with therequirements ofthis Directive andthe
Annexes thereto .
.Article 7 ■
TheMember States shall take allthenecessary measures toensure that
•I
straight high nitrogen content ammonium nitrate based fertilizers marketed
with themarking "ESCfertilizer "aresubjected toofficial oontrol measures
forthepurposes ,ofverifying that they comply with this Directive andwith
itsAnnex II.
Article 8
1.Anyamendments which arenecessary inorder toadapt theanrexes ofthis
directive totechnical progress shall beadopted inaccordance with the-
procedure laid down inArticle 11ofCouncil Directive of
ontheapproximation oflaws ,of~^mber^tat6s:,2iiinistr:rfeive provi -
.•'.iov ..-2concerning fertilizers .
2.Thesampling method andtheanalysis techniques shall likewise bedeter­
mined inaccordance with the same procedure .
./

Article9
1,IfaIfemberStatenotes,onthebasisofasubstantivejustification
thatastraighthighnitrogencontentammoniumnitratefertilizer,
althoughcomplyingwiththerequirements oftheDirective,represents
ahazardtosafety,itmayprovisionally prohibitthesaleofthe
productinitsterritoryorsubjectittospecialconditions.It
shallimmediately informtheotherIfemberStatesandtheCommission
.thereof,statingthegroundsforitsdecision,:
2,TheCommissionshall,withinsixweeks,consulttheIfemberStatesconc­
erned,followingwMchitshalldeliveritsopinionwithoutdelayand
taketheappropriate steps,
3,IftheCommissionisoftheopinionthattechnicaladaptationstothe.
Directiveareneoessary,suchadaptationsshallbeadoptedbyeither
theCommissionortheCouncilinaccordancewiththeprocedurereferred
toinArticle8,Inthatcase,theIfemberStatehailngadoptedsafe­
guardmeasuresmaymaintainthemuntiltheentryintoforceofthe
adaptations.
Article10
1,IfemberStatesshalladoptandpublishbefore1July1977,theprovisions
neededinordertocomplywith.this.Directive },andshallforthwithinform
theCommissionthereof.Theyshallapplytheseprovisonsasof1January".,'7•
1978.:
2#Onnotification ofthisDirective,IfemberStatesshallinformtheCommission
intimetoenableittoputforwarditscomments,ofalldraftlaws,regula­
tionsoradministrative provisionswhichtheycontemplateadoptinginthe
fieldcoveredbythisDirective,
Article11
ThisDirectiveisaddressedtotheIfemberStates,

ΑΝΪΤΞΧI
Product •feststo"becarriedoutinaccordancewiththeprocedurespeci­
fiedinArticle3.
Thesetestashall"becarriedoutonarepresentative sampleoffertili­
zerandshallhecompletedwithin30daysofthedateofproductionof
thefertilizer.Before "beingtestedfor"bothdetonability andoilret­
entionthewholemassofthesampleshall"bethermallycycledfivqtimes
between25°Cand50°C.
1.Detonability test
ThefertilizershallheSubjectedtoadetonahilitytestinahorizontal
steelttijjeunderthefollowingconditions.
Tubematerial Steel-ISOstrong(EBN53201)
orsimilar
Tubelength 1000mm
ïïrteraaldiameter 114mm
!Tallthickness 5nmi
Booster -500gdynamitecontaining
between22to28<f0explosive
,oil
Testtemperature 25C
Witnessleadcylindersfor 50mmdiameter
detectingdetonation 100mmhigh
placedat150maintervalsandsupportingthetubehorizontally,,
Thetestshall "becarriedouttwice.Thefertilizershallhedeemedto
havesatisfiedthetestifinbothtestsoneormoreofthesupporting
leadcylindersiscrushedbylessthp.fc55®*
2.Oilretention
Theoilretentionofasampleoffertilizerwhichhasbeenofferedfor
salebythemanufacturer orimporter,^andhasbeensubjectedtofive
thermalcyclesbetween25°Cand50°Cshallnotexceed7$byweight.
Theresultshallbeobtainedbytakingthemeanoffivedeterminations .

/
AMÎTEXII
Straighthighnitrogencontentammoniunnitratefertilizeratanystage
ofitsmarketingshallcomplywiththefollowingrequirements:–
1•Porosity(Oilretention)
Theoilretentionofthefertilizershallnotexceed7$"byweight.
2#Combustible material
Theweightpercentageofcombustiblematerialmeasuredascartonshall
notexceed0.2$forfertilizershavinganitrogencontentofatleast
31.5$IT"byweightandshallnotexceed0,4$forfertilizershavinga
•.nitrogencontentofatleast28$"but.lessthan31.5$byweight
3.£2
Asolutioncontainingthesolubleportionof10gofthefertilizerin
100mlofwatermusthaveapHofatleast4*5*
t
4*Sizeanalysis
Hotmorethan5$byweightofthefertilizershallpassthrougha1mm
meshsieveandnotmorethan3$byweightshallpassthrougha0.5mm
meshsieve. .i,
5.Chlonne
Themaximumchlorinecontentofthefertilizershallbe0.1$byweight.