Agriculture Standards Summary - September 2025

The month of September 2025 brought a noteworthy set of standards publications in the Agriculture sector—covering soil management, fertilizer analytics, forestry machinery safety, environmental safeguards for plant protection product application, and precise testing methods for tobacco products. Five new or revised standards were released, reflecting a blend of regulatory harmonization, increased environmental and operational rigor, and a focus on sustainable practices. For professionals ranging from quality managers and procurement specialists to researchers and field engineers, this comprehensive overview highlights what was published, examines emerging trends, and offers actionable guidance for compliance.

Monthly Overview: September 2025

Looking back at September 2025, the field of Agriculture saw concentrated activity in standards development. The five published standards display a marked emphasis on:

• Regulatory alignment with evolving EU and international frameworks, especially in the context of fertilizers and liming agents.
• Enhanced product and environmental safety, notably in plant protection and forestry equipment.
• Methodological precision for controlling contaminants and ensuring consistent testing—particularly in rapidly developing product areas such as nutrient-releasing fertilizers and fine-cut tobacco.

This month’s output aligns with industry movement toward environmental stewardship, process transparency, and traceable quality—factors that are increasingly central to both European and global markets.

In comparison to typical monthly releases, September 2025’s standards set manifests a clear push toward actionable benchmarking mechanisms and updated testing protocols that accommodate both traditional and innovative agricultural solutions. For agricultural organizations, this signals the necessity of reviewing—and possibly updating—existing processes for compliance and market access.

Standards Published This Month

EN 14069:2025 - Liming materials - Denominations, specifications and labelling

Liming materials – Denominations, specifications and labelling

This standard specifies the denominations, quality requirements, and comprehensive labelling practices for liming materials—ranging from products of natural origin to those resulting from industrial processes. Applicable to both basic and fine-quality liming agents, EN 14069:2025 is essential for soil management in agriculture and forestry, targeting improvement of pH in soils and water bodies.

The standard delivers in-depth protocols for categorizing liming materials, specifying minimum requirements for nutrient content, particle size distribution, and corresponding methods for determination. It also enables comparison across a wide spectrum of liming agents, harmonizing with Regulation (EU) 2019/1009, and updating references from earlier editions for products such as limestone, dolomitic limestone, and mixed liming materials.

Primary users include soil amendment manufacturers, agricultural cooperatives, quality controllers, and organizations responsible for labelling regulated materials. The standard’s robust scope assists stakeholders in navigating both domestic and pan-European regulatory demands.

Key highlights:

• Defines categories and quality requirements for a full range of liming materials
• Fully harmonized with Regulation (EU) 2019/1009, superseding previous editions
• Updates clauses on minimum neutralizing value, fineness, and official declaration for enhanced label accuracy

Access the full standard:View EN 14069:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN 18103:2025 - Inorganic fertilizers - Determination of nutrient polymers nitrogen in the presence of other nitrogenous forms

Inorganic fertilizers – Determination of nutrient polymers nitrogen in the presence of other nitrogenous forms

EN 18103:2025 introduces a precise method for quantifying nutrient polymers nitrogen—specifically methylen-urea and related slow-release compounds—in the presence of other forms of nitrogen within inorganic fertilizers. The method covers both solid and liquid fertilizers, provided that no interfering organic compounds are present.

The protocol integrates advanced sample preparation, sequential analytical procedures (including Kjeldahl digestion, HPLC, titrimetry), and distinct approaches for fractionating total, ammonia, nitrate, urea, cyanamide, and polymer-based nitrogen contents. This enhances the industry’s ability to verify nutrient-release claims critical for environmental protection and crop performance.

Manufacturers, laboratory analysts, and regulatory agencies are the principal users, as this standard supports claims validation and product registration in compliance-demanding markets. Its rigorous provisions underpin the traceability and accuracy expected in next-generation fertilizer formulations.

Key highlights:

• Covers analytical determination of slow-release polymer nitrogen forms (such as MU, IBDU, and CDU)
• Harmonized with existing European fertilizer sampling and terminology standards
• Facilitates clear product accountability by separating nitrogen forms despite complex matrix interferences

Access the full standard:View EN 18103:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN ISO 11680:2025 - Machinery for forestry - Safety requirements and testing for portable pole mounted powered pruners (ISO 11680:2025)

Machinery for forestry – Safety requirements and testing for portable pole mounted powered pruners (ISO 11680:2025)

This updated international standard addresses the complete spectrum of safety requirements and verification procedures applicable to portable, pole-mounted powered pruners driven by internal combustion engines. It covers both extendable and telescopic machines, equipping industry with harmonized criteria for machinery design, construction, component durability, and user instructions.

EN ISO 11680:2025 is essential for equipment manufacturers, importers, and distributors seeking conformity with the EU Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC). It details mandatory protections against mechanical, thermal, and ergonomic hazards, lays out precise labelling and warning obligations, and specifies test protocols for critical systems (cutting attachments, power transmission, stopping devices, etc.).

This revision replaces prior editions, reflecting advancements in design and risk assessment, and ensuring alignment with current EU legal requirements for operator health, safety, and market acceptance.

Key highlights:

• Covers a broad hazard spectrum: mechanical, thermal, emissions, and operational safety
• Includes exhaustive verification and testing schemes for machinery components
• Aligns with updated EU Directive for machinery, facilitating market access and legal compliance

Access the full standard:View EN ISO 11680:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN 17745:2025 - Agricultural and forestry machinery - Environmental requirements for granule applicator of Plant Protection Products

Agricultural and forestry machinery – Environmental requirements for granule applicator of Plant Protection Products

EN 17745:2025 sets out the environmental requirements and corresponding test methods for granule applicators used in delivering plant protection products (PPPs). This standard aims to minimize environmental contamination risks associated with the application, maintenance, and cleaning of these machines.

The document encompasses comprehensive provisions for hopper design (capacity, lid security, residue minimization), flow rate measurement, distribution uniformity, user accessibility, and requirements for protective features such as precise graduation marks and secure lids. The test methodologies included ensure that granule applicators, whether for banded or broadcast treatment, meet strict functional and containment criteria.

It is imperative for equipment manufacturers, environmental regulators, and agricultural engineers, as it streamlines compliance with EU Machinery Directive amendments addressing PPP environmental release.

Key highlights:

• Focus on granular PPP application to minimize environmental contamination
• Detailed constructive and functional test protocols for hoppers, dosing systems, and distribution
• Integrates requirements with updated EU machinery and environmental directives

Access the full standard:View EN 17745:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 15592-2:2025 - Fine-cut tobacco and smoking articles made from it - Methods of sampling, conditioning and analysis - Part 2: Atmosphere for conditioning and testing

Fine-cut tobacco and smoking articles made from it – Methods of sampling, conditioning and analysis – Part 2: Atmosphere for conditioning and testing

ISO 15592-2:2025 specifies the atmospheric conditions required for conditioning and testing samples of fine-cut tobacco and related smoking articles. By formalizing standard environments and durations for sample storage and test execution, it ensures repeatability and reliability in product quality control and regulatory compliance.

The standard clarifies its scope by distinguishing applications for fine-cut tobacco from other tobacco products (particularly those governed by ISO 3402). It is invaluable for tobacco processors, laboratories, regulators, and product developers, enabling validated benchmarking in both manufacturing and R&D.

Notably, the second edition harmonizes with ISO 3402:2023, furthering consistency across global tobacco testing protocols, and clarifies conditioning guidance when electronically controlled cabinets are not available.

Key highlights:

• Defines precise testing and conditioning atmospheres for fine-cut tobacco
• Harmonizes with recent ISO developments for broader methodological alignment
• Widely applicable for manufacturers, laboratories, and quality assurance in the tobacco sector

Access the full standard:View ISO 15592-2:2025 on iTeh Standards

Common Themes and Industry Trends

A retrospective analysis of September 2025’s standards activity in Agriculture identifies several unifying trends:

• Regulatory Synchronization: Many of the new/revised documents (EN 14069:2025, EN 18103:2025, EN ISO 11680:2025, EN 17745:2025) directly harmonize with EU regulations and directives, ensuring that compliance with these standards equates to adherence to the law.
• Sustainability and Environmental Protection: Beyond basic safety and functional criteria, EN 17745:2025 exemplifies a trend toward environmental stewardship, targeting not just product efficacy but also downstream impact minimization.
• Precision in Analysis and Reporting: EN 18103:2025 and ISO 15592-2:2025 both set rigorous benchmarks for analytical repeatability, reflecting a need for traceability as product formulations and regulatory requirements become more complex.
• Modernization of Machinery Requirements: Forestry and agricultural equipment now face multi-layered standards, integrating ergonomics, operator safety, environmental protections, and process transparency—indicating growing complexity in equipment compliance.
• Alignment with Industry Modernization: From slow-release fertilizers to new machinery user safety, the suite reflects the modernization of agriculture and its auxiliary industries, increasingly dependent on high-specification standards for competitiveness and global access.

Compliance and Implementation Considerations

For organizations affected by these September 2025 standards:

1. Audit Product Specifications and Labeling: Ensure product data sheets, safety data, and labels for liming materials and fertilizer blends reflect current denominations, minimum values, and EU-wide declarations.
2. Align Laboratory and Quality Control Protocols: Introduce updated analytical protocols for nitrogen forms in fertilizers and atmospheric conditions for testing tobacco to all relevant laboratories. Update training materials accordingly.
3. Machinery Certification and User Safety: Forestry and agricultural equipment distributors must review new machinery onboarding to confirm conformance with the latest EN and ISO requirements—especially for CE marking or EU market access.
4. Environmental Performance: Adopt user/maintenance manuals and operator training based on EN 17745’s protocols; prioritize design and procurement of machinery that demonstrably minimizes unintentional environmental contamination.
5. Implementation Timeline: Where standards supersede previous editions, transition periods may be specified in local or EU regulations. Early adoption is advisable to assure continuity in market access and legal certainty.
6. Access Support and Technical Resources: Utilize iTeh Standards and relevant technical committees’ resources for interpretation and gap assessment. Engage with industry associations for best practice materials.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways from September 2025

September 2025 proved pivotal for the agricultural standards landscape, with an emphatic move toward regulatory alignment, environmental stewardship, analytical rigor, and machinery safety. These standards provide:

• The framework for soil management agents (EN 14069:2025) and advanced fertilizer quality (EN 18103:2025),
• Modern, harmonized safety benchmarks for forestry and agricultural machinery (EN ISO 11680:2025, EN 17745:2025), and
• Reliable protocols for tobacco sample testing (ISO 15592-2:2025).

Industry professionals are encouraged to:

• Conduct full compliance reviews relative to these standards,
• Prioritize relevant upskilling and updating of internal documentation,
• Leverage the clarity and market access enabled by harmonized standards,
• Explore the detailed requirements via iTeh Standards.

Staying current with such standards is not just a regulatory imperative—it’s a competitive advantage in a sector where legal, environmental, and operational benchmarks evolve rapidly. Dive deeper into each document through the provided links, and ensure your operations and products are aligned with the best practices shaping agriculture’s future.