No C 304/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 11. 88 
Proposal for a Council Directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member States in 
respect of the trace elements boron, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum and zinc 
contained in fertilizers 
COM(88) 562 final — SYN 160 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 27 October 1988) 
(88/C 304/08) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community and in particular Article 100a 
thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
In cooperation with the European Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas it is necessary to adopt measures intended 
gradually to establish the internal market during a period 
expiring on 31 December 1992; whereas the internal 
market consists of an area without internal frontiers 
within which the free movement of goods, persons, 
services and capital is guaranteed; 
Whereas Council Directive 76/116/EEC of 18 
December 1975 on the approximation of the laws of the 
Member States relating to fertilizers (!), as last amended 
by Directive 88/183/EEC (2) lays down rules on the 
marketing of EEC-type solid fertilizers; whereas it has 
proved necessary to extend this Directive to cover trace 
elements contained in fertilizers and mixtures thereof; 
Whereas Directive 76/116/EEC should henceforth apply 
to solid or fluid fertilizers containing certain of the trace 
elements referred to in the above recital; 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: 
Article 1 
1. Solid or fluid fertilizers containing one of the 
trace elements boron, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, 
molybdenum and zinc which meet the requirements of 
Chapter A of the Annex may be marked 'EEC fertilizer'. 
2. Mixtures of at least two of the fertilizers referred 
to in paragraph 1 containing at least two different 
fertilizers may be termed 'EEC fertilizers' if they meet 
the requirements of Chapter B of the Annex. 
(') OJ No L 24, 30. 1. 1976, p. 21. 
(2) OJ No L 83, 22. 3. 1988, p. 33. Article 2 
EEC fertilizers complying with the provisions of Article 
1 shall be packaged. 
Article 3 
The content of one or more of the trace elements boron, 
cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum or zinc in 
the EEC fertilizers listed in Annex I to Directive 
76/116/EEC shall be declared where the following two 
conditions are fulfilled: 
(a) the elements are added and present at least in the 
minimum quantities specified in chapters C and D of 
the Annex to this Directive; 
(b) the EEC fertilizers continue to satisfy the 
requirements of Annex I to Directive 76/116/EEC. 
Where they are the normal ingredients of the raw 
materials intended to supply major and secondary 
elements their declaration shall be optional in the case of 
fertilizers applied to the soil. 
Article 4 
The compulsory markings for the identification of the 
fertilizers covered by this Directive shall be as follows: 
(a) 'EEC FERTILIZER' in capital letters, 
(b) the designation of the type of fertilizer: 
— either in accordance with chapter A of the 
Annex, 
— or as the type designation 'Mixture of trace 
elements', followed by the name or names of the 
trace elements present or their chemical symbol, 
— or in accordance with Annex I to Directive 
76/116/EEC, by adding to the type designation 
either 'with trace elements' or 'with ...' followed 
by the names of the trace elements present or by 
the chemical symbol. 
Only the numbers stating the contents of the major 
and secondary elements covered by Directive 
76/116/EEC follow the type designation. 
29. 11. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 304/9 
Where several trace elements are present they shall 
be listed in the alphabetical order of their chemical 
symbols: B, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Zn. 
(c) the guaranted content in respect of each nutrient and 
the guaranteed content expressed as forms and/or 
solubilities where these are specified in the Annexes 
to Directive 76/116/EEC and, for each trace 
element present, as required by Article 6. 
(d) where all or part of the trace element is chemically 
linked with an organic molecule, the name of that 
element is then followed by one of the following 
qualifiers: 
— 'chelated by ... ' (name of chelating agent or its 
abbreviation as set out in Chapter El of the 
Annex) 
— 'complexed by .. .' (name of the complexing 
organic matter, as set out in Chapter E2 of the 
Annex. 
The trace element content shall be expressed as a 
percentage by weight, in whole numbers for fertilizers 
only containing one trace element (Chapter A of the 
annex). Where fertilizers contain several trace elements 
the number of decimal places may, for a given element, 
be as set out in Chapters B, C and D of the Annex. 
Trace elements shall at the same time be expressed by 
their literal designation and by their chemical symbol. 
The following shall be entered on the label or ac­
companying papers, below the obligatory or optional 
declarations: 
'To be used only where there is a recognized need. 
Do not exceed the appropriate dose rates'. 
Article 5 
Member States may authorize on their territory and on 
the responsibility of the person in charge of its marketing 
that dose rates and conditions of use may be stated 
which are suitable for the soil and crop conditions under 
which the fertilizer is used. This information must be 
clearly separated from the obligatory declarations 
provided for in Article 4. 
Article 6 
Member States shall require that the trace-element 
content of EEC fertilizers placed on the market must be 
stated in the form of elements (B, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, 
Zn). The trace element content of a fertilizer shall be declared 
in the following manner: 
(a) for the fertilizers referred to in Article 1 (1): in 
accordance with the requirements set out in Chapter 
A (column 6) of the Annex. 
(b) for the fertilizers referred to in Article 1 (2) and 
Article 3 by indicating: 
— the total content, expressed as a percentage by 
weight of the fertilizer (content determined 
under the conditions laid down in the methods of 
analysis provided for in Article 8 of Directive 
76/116/EEC. 
— the water-soluble content, expressed as a 
percentage by weight of the fertilizer, where that 
solubility is at least half of the total content. 
Where an element is totally water-soluble, only 
the water-soluble, content shall be declared. 
Where an element is chemically linked with an organic 
molecule the quantity present in the fertilizer shall be 
declared immediately following the water-soluble 
quantity as a percentage by weight of the product, 
followed by one of the terms: 'chelated by' or 
'complexed by' with the name of the organic mulecule as 
set out in chapter E of the Annex. The name of the 
organic molecule may be replaced by its initials. 
Article 7 
The tolerance allowed in respect of the declared trace-
element content shall be: 
— for a content of more than 2 %: 0,4 % in absolute 
terms 
— for a content not exceeding 2 %: 20 % of the 
declared value. 
Article 8 
1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, 
regulations and administrative provisions necessary in 
order to comply with this Directive by 1 January 1991 at 
the latest. They shall forth with inform the Commission 
thereof. 
2. Member States shall communicate to the 
Commission the text of the provisions of national law 
which they adopt in the field governed by this Directive. 
Article 9 
This Directive is addressed to the Member States. 
No C 304/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 11. 88 
ANNEX 
CHAPTER A 
Fertilizers only containing one trace element 
Note 1: 
A chelating agent may be designated by means of its initials as set out in Chapter E of this Annex. 
Note 2: 
If the product leaves no solid residue after dissolution it may be described as 'for dissolution'. 
Note 3: 
Where a trace element is present in a chelated form, the pH range guaranteeing acceptable stability of the 
chelated fraction shall be stated. 
Number 
(1) Type designation 
(2) Data on method 
of production and 
essential ingredients 
(3) Minimum content of nutrients 
(percentage by weight) 
data on the expression 
of nutrients; 
other requirements 
(4) Other data or type designation 
(5) Nutrient content to be declared; 
forms and solubilities 
of the nutrients; 
other criteria 
(6) 
BORON 
la 
lb 
lc 
Id 
le Boric acid 
Sodium borate 
Calcium borate 
Boron ethanol amine 
Borated fertilizer in 
solution or suspension Product obtained by the 
action of an acid on a 
borate 
Product obtained 
chemically and having as 
its essential ingredient a 
sodium borate 
Product obtained partly 
from colemanite or 
pandermite, and having as 
its essential ingredient 
calcium borates 
Product obtained from 
the reaction of boric acid 
with an alcohol amine 
Product obtained by 
dissolution or suspension 
in water of types la, lb, 
Id 14 % water-soluble B 
10 % water-soluble B 
7 % total B 
Particle size at least 98 % 
passing through a 0,063 
mm sieve 
10 % water-soluble B 
2 % total B The normal trade 
designations may be 
added 
The normal trade 
designations may be 
added 
The normal trade 
designations may be 
added Water-soluble (B) 
Water-soluble boron (B) 
Total boron (B) 
Soluble boron (B) 
Total boron (B) and 
water-soluble boron (B) if 
this accounts for at least 
one quarter of the total B 
COBALT 
2a Cobalt salt Product obtained 
chemically, and having as 
its essential ingredient, a 
mineral salt of cobalt 19 °/o water-soluble cobalt 
(Co) The designation must 
include the name of the 
combined mineral anion Water-soluble cobalt (Co) 
29. 11. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 304/11 
(1) 
2b 
2c (2) 
Cobalt chelate 
Solution of cobalt 
fertilizer (3) 
Product obtained by 
combining cobalt 
chemically with a 
chelating agent 
Product obtained by 
dissolving types 2a and/or 
2b (4) 
2 % water-soluble Co, at 
least Vio of which has 
been chelated 
2 % water-soluble Co (5) 
Nature of the chelating 
agent 
The designation must 
include the name of the 
mineral anion and/or the 
nature of the chelating 
agent (6) 
Water-soluble cobalt (Co) 
Chelated cobalt 
Water-soluble cobalt (Co) 
Chelated cobalt 
COPPER 
3a 
3b 
3c 
3d 
3e 
3f Copper salt 
Copper oxide 
Copper hydroxide 
Copper chelate 
Copper-based 
fertilizer 
Copper fertilizer 
solution Product obtained 
chemically and having as 
its essential ingredient a 
mineral salt of copper 
Product obtained 
chemically and having as 
its essential ingredient 
copper oxide 
Product obtained 
chemically and having as 
its essential ingredient 
copper hydroxide 
Product obtained by 
combining copper 
chemically with a 
chelating agent 
Product obtained by 
mixing types 3a, 3b, 3c, 
3d and a filler that is 
neither nutrient nor toxic 
Product obtained by 
dissolving types 3a and 3d 
in water 20 % water-soluble Cu 
70 % total Cu 
Particle size: at least 
98 % passing through a 
0,063 mm sieve 
45 % total Cu 
Particle size: at least 
98 % passing through a 
0,063 mm sieve 
9 % water-soluble copper 
of which at least V10 
chelated 
5 % total copper 
Particle size: 98 % 
passing through a 
0,063 mm sieve 
3 % water-soluble Cu The designation must 
include the name of the 
combined anion 
Designation by means of 
initials shall be permitted 
Nature of the chelating 
agent 
Nature of the chelating 
agent 
Nature of the chelating 
agent Water-soluble copper (Cu) 
Total copper (Cu) 
Water-soluble copper (Cu) 
Water-soluble copper (Cu) 
Chelated copper (Cu) 
Total copper (Cu) 
Water-soluble copper if 
this accounts for at least 
one quarter of the total 
copper 
Chelated copper (Cu) 
Copper (Cu), a proportion 
of which is chelated copper 
IRON 
4a 
4b Iron salt 
Iron chelate Product obtained 
chemically in water and 
having as its essential 
ingredient a ferrous salt 
(Fe II) 
Product obtained by 
combining iron 
chemically with a 
chelating agent 12 % water-soluble Fe 
5 % water-soluble Fe, of 
which at least '/to has 
been chelated The designation will 
include the name of the 
combined anion, if the 
product leaves no solid 
residue after dissolution it 
may be described as 'for 
dissolution' 
Nature of the chelating 
agent Water-soluble iron (Fe) 
Water-soluble iron (Fe) 
Chelated iron (Fe) 
No C 304/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 11. 88 
(1) 
4c (2) 
Iron fertilizer solution 
and suspension (3) 
Product obtained by 
dissolving types 4a and/or 
4b in water (4) 
2 % water-soluble Fe (5) 
Nature of the chelating 
agent (6) 
Water-soluble iron (Fe) 
Chelated iron (Fe) 
MANGANESE 
5a 
5b 
5c 
5d 
5e 
5f Manganese salt 
Manganese chelate 
Manganese oxide 
Manganese-based 
fertilizer 
Fertilizer in 
manganese-based 
solution 
Organic manganese 
complex Product obtained 
chemically and having as 
its essential ingredient a 
mineral salt of manganese 
(II) 
Product obtained by 
combining manganese 
chemically with a 
chelating agent 
Product obtained 
chemically and having as 
its essential ingredients 
manganese oxides 
Product obtained by 
mixing types 5a and/or 
5b in water 
Product obtained by 
dissolving types 5a and/or 
5b in water 
Product obtained by 
combining manganese 
chemically with an 
organic complexing agent 
provided for in the Annex 17 % water-soluble Mn 
5 % water-soluble Mn, of 
which at least 'Ao has 
been chelated 
40 % total Mn 
Particle size: at least 
80 % passing through a 
0,063 mm sieve 
17 % total Mn 
3 % water-soluble Mn 
2 % water-soluble Mn, of 
which at least 80 % 
complexed The designation must 
include the name of the 
combined anion 
Nature of the chelating 
agent 
Nature of the chelating 
agent Water-soluble manganese 
(Mn) 
Water-soluble manganese 
(Mn) 
Chelated manganese (Mn) 
Total manganese (Mn) 
Total manganese (Mn) 
Water-soluble manganese 
(Mn) if this accounts for at 
least one quarter of the 
total manganese 
Water-soluble manganese 
(Mn) 
Chelated manganese 
content 
Water-soluble manganese 
(Mn) 
Complexed manganese 
(Mn) 
MOLYBDENUM 
6a 
6b 
6c 
6d Sodium molybdate 
Ammonium 
molybdate 
Molybdenum-based 
fertilizer 
Molybdenum fertilizer 
in solution Product obtained 
chemically and having as 
its essential ingredient 
sodium molybdate 
Product obtained 
chemically and having as 
its essential ingredient 
ammonium molybdate 
Product obtained by 
mixing types 6a and 6b 
Product obtained by 
dissolving types 6a and/or 
6b in water 35 % water-soluble Mo 
50 % water-soluble Mo 
35 % water-soluble Mo 
3 % water-soluble Mo If the product leaves no 
solid residue after 
dissolution it may be 
described as 'for 
dissolution' Water-soluble 
molybdenum (Mo) 
Water-soluble 
molybdenum (Mo) 
Water-soluble 
molybdenum (Mo) 
Water-soluble 
molybdenum (Mo) 
29. 11. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 304/13 
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) 
ZINC 
7a 
7b 
7c 
7d 
7e 
7i Zinc salt 
Zinc chelate 
Zinc oxide 
Zinc-based fertilizer 
Zinc-based solution or 
suspension 
Organic zinc complex Product obtained 
chemically and having as 
its essential ingredient a 
mineral salt of zinc 
Product obtained by 
combining zinc 
chemically with a 
chelating agent 
Product obtained 
chemically and having as 
its essential ingredient 
zinc oxide 
Product derived from 
types 7a and 7b 
Product obtained by 
dissolving or suspending 
in water types 7a and 7b 
Product obtained by 
combining zinc 
chemically with a 
complexing agent 
provided for in the Annex 15 % water-soluble Zn 
5 % water-soluble Zn 
75 % total Zn 
30 % water-soluble Zn 
3 % water-soluble Zn 
2 % water-soluble Zn, of 
which at least 80 % 
complexed The designation will 
include the name of the 
combined anion 
Nature of the chelating 
agent 
Nature of the chelating 
agent Water-soluble zinc (Zn) 
Water-soluble zinc (Zn) 
Chelated zinc (Zn) 
Total zinc (Zn) 
Total zinc (Zn) 
Water-soluble zinc (Zn), if 
this accounts for at least 
one quarter of the total 
zinc 
Water-soluble zinc (Zn) 
Content of chelated zinc 
Water-soluble zinc (Zn) 
Complexed zinc (Zn) 
No C 304/14 Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 11. 88 
Minimum trace element contents, percentage mass of the product 
CHAPTER B 
Solid fluid mixtures of trace elements 
For a trace element: 
Boron (B) 
Cobalt (Co) 
Copper (Cu) 
Iron (Fe) 
Manganese (Mn) 
Molybdenum (Mo) 
Zinc (Zn) Where the trace element is present in a form 
exclusively mineral 
0,2 
0,02 
0,5 
2,0 
0,5 
0,02 
0,5 chelated or complexed 
0,2 
0,02 
0,1 
0,3 
0,1 
— 
0,1 
Minimum total of trace elements in a solid mixture: 5 % by mass of the fertilizer. 
Minimum total of trace elements in a fluid mixture: 2 % by mass of the fertilizer. 
CHAPTER C 
EEC fertilizers containing major and/or secondary elements with trace elements applied to the soil 
Boron (B) 
Cobalt (Co) 
Copper (Cu) 
Iron (Fe) 
Manganese (Mn) 
Molybdenum (Mo) 
Zinc (Zn) For crops or grassland 
0,01 
0,002 
0,01 
0,5 
0,1 
0,001 
0,01 For horticultural use 
0,01 
— 
0,002 
0,02 
0,01 
0,001 
0,002 
CHAPTER D 
EEC fertilizers containing major and secondary elements with trace elements for leaf sprays 
Boron (B): 0,01 
Cobalt (Co)(l): 0,0005 
Copper (Cu): 0,002 
Iron(Fe): 0,02 
Manganese (Mn): 0,01 
Molybdenum (Mo): 0,001 
Zinc(Zn): 0,002 
(') Cobalt is only authorized for fodder crops and grassland. 
29. 11. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities Nr. C 304/15 
CHAPTER E 
List of authorized organic complexing agents for trace elements 
Definition of complexed trace elements: 
Within the meaning of this Directive complexed trace elements are defined as combinations where the 
metal is present in the form of: 
— a chelated product 
— a complexed product 
The following products are authorized in this Directive: 
1. Chelating products: 
Sodium, potassium or ammonium acid or salts of: 
ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid 
diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid 
ethylene diamine-di(0-hydroxyphenyl acetic) acid 
hydroxy-2 ethylene diamine triacetic acid 
ethyldiamine-di(0-hydroxy-p-methyl phenyl)acetic 
ethylene diamine-di(5-carboxy-2-hydroxyphenyl) acetic acid 
2. Complexing products 
Lignosulphates 
Protide hydrolysates EDTA 
DTPA 
EDDHA 
HEEDTA 
EDDHMA 
EDDCHA C10H16O8N2 
C14H23O10N3 
C18H20O6N2 
C10H„O7N2 
C18H20N2O6 
^-20^20*-'10^>"2