FprEN 17753
(Main)Inorganic fertilizers - Determination of specific contaminants
- Abstract
This document specifies references to methods for the determination of the following contaminants: mercury, cadmium, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, lead, chromium(VI), biuret, perchlorate, total chromium and phosphonates content in inorganic fertilizers.
For the mercury, cadmium, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, lead, perchlorate and total chromium content: This document is applicable to the fertilizing products blends where a blend is a mix of at least two of the following components: fertilizers, liming materials, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors, plant biostimulants, and where the following category: inorganic fertilizers is the highest % in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. If inorganic fertilizer is not the highest % in the blend, the European Standard for the highest % of the blend applies. In case a fertilizing product blend is composed of components in equal quantity, the user decides which standard to apply.
For the chromium(VI) and biuret content: This document is applicable to the fertilizing products blends where a blend is a mix of at least two of the following components: fertilizers, liming materials, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors, plant biostimulants, and where organic matter is present in at least one of the products in the blend. In case a fertilizing product blend is composed only of inorganic products, the European Standard for inorganic fertilizers applies. Variations in analytical methods for fertilizing product blends can lead to differing results as some components or matrix interactions can affect the outcome. Validation procedures have shown that developed standard methods are robust and reliable across diverse product compositions, but possible interferences and unexpected results when analysing fertilizing product blends are possible.
An overview of the references to methods for the determination of the specific contaminants is given in Table 1.
NOTE 1 The determination of copper and zinc in inorganic fertilizers as micronutrients is covered by prEN 17754.
NOTE 2 The determination of copper in ammonium nitrate fertilizers of high nitrogen content is covered by CEN/TS 17751.
- Status
- Not Published
- Publication Date
- 24-Feb-2027
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 260 - Fertilizers and liming materials
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 260/WG 7 - Chemical analysis
FprEN 17753 is a CEN draft European Standard for inorganic fertilizers. It specifies which test methods are used to determine mercury, cadmium, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, lead, chromium(VI), biuret, perchlorate, total chromium and phosphonates, mainly for compliance checking with Regulation (EU) 2019/1009. It is written for laboratories, manufacturers, and other users who need a clear method reference for fertilizer conformity work.
What does FprEN 17753 specify?
FprEN 17753 specifies references to methods for determining specific contaminants in inorganic fertilizers and in certain fertilizing product blends. Clause 5 ties each contaminant to a named test standard, while Clause 4 sets out the sampling and sample preparation approach used before testing.
| Annex | What it covers |
|---|---|
| ZA | Relationship between this European Standard and the essential requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 |
The scope distinguishes between blends based on what is predominant and whether organic matter is present. That matters because the applicable European Standard can change depending on the blend composition, so the user has to choose the right route before testing starts.
What are the key requirements of FprEN 17753?
FprEN 17753 is mainly a method-reference standard. It does not give one in-house analytical procedure for every contaminant; instead, it points to the method to use for each substance and, for some cases, the measurement range that decides which method applies.
Product coverage and method choice
- For mercury, cadmium, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, lead, perchlorate and total chromium, the document applies to blends where inorganic fertilizers are the highest share by mass or volume, or by dry mass for liquid blends. If inorganic fertilizer is not the highest share, the standard for the dominant product category applies. In practice, the user has to classify the blend before sending it to the lab.
- For chromium(VI) and biuret, the document applies to blends where organic matter is present in at least one product. If a blend contains only inorganic products, the European Standard for inorganic fertilizers applies. This matters because the same material can fall under a different standard depending on whether organic matter is present.
- The scope warns that blend matrices can affect analytical results. In practice, users should expect possible interferences and check that the selected method remains suitable for the product matrix.
Sampling, preparation and analysis
- Clause 4 says sampling is outside the method and sample preparation shall follow EN 1482-2:2024. The document also points to EN 1482-1 and EN 1482-3 for recommended sampling approaches. This means the laboratory should receive a representative sample that has not been altered in transport or storage.
- Clause 5.1 assigns mercury to EN 16320 after aqua regia dissolution with vapour generation (VG) detection.
- Clause 5.2 assigns cadmium, nickel and lead to prEN 16319, and arsenic to EN 16317, both using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) after aqua regia dissolution.
- Clause 5.3 separates copper and zinc into extraction and measurement steps: EN 16964 for total extraction, EN 16962 for water-soluble extraction, then EN 16963 or EN 16965 for measurement. In practice, users must decide whether they need total or water-soluble content before they start.
- Clause 5.4 covers chromium(VI) with EN 16318. Method A is used for higher Cr(VI) levels, and Method B for lower levels within the range given in the document. This helps the user match the method to the expected contamination level.
- Clause 5.5 assigns biuret in liquid and solid urea-based fertilizers to ISO 18643, with EN 15479:2009 also available for biuret in urea. The note on units means the reported result must be converted to the unit expected for regulatory reporting.
- Clauses 5.6 to 5.8 assign perchlorate to EN 17246, total chromium to prEN 16319, and phosphonates to prEN 18319. These clauses tell the user exactly which reference method to cite in reports and specifications.
What terms does FprEN 17753 define?
- Hg - Mercury, the contaminant determined by EN 16320.
- Cd - Cadmium, determined by prEN 16319.
- Cr(VI) - Hexavalent chromium, determined by EN 16318.
- ICP-AES - Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry, used here for several metals after aqua regia dissolution.
- IC-CD - Ion chromatography with conductivity detection, used for perchlorate and phosphonates.
- HPLC - High-performance liquid chromatography, the basis of ISO 18643 for biuret.
- VG - Vapour generation, the detection approach used for mercury in EN 16320.
- FAAS - Flame atomic absorption spectrometry, one of the measurement options for copper and zinc in EN 16965.
Who uses FprEN 17753?
FprEN 17753 is used by laboratories, fertilizer producers, importers, and conformity assessment bodies that need to verify contaminant content in inorganic fertilizers. It is also useful for quality managers and buyers who need to specify which test standard applies to a product or blend before release, acceptance, or regulatory checking.
What changed in FprEN 17753 from the previous edition?
FprEN 17753 supersedes CEN/TS 17753:2022. The draft text states these changes from that edition:
- it is adopted as a European Standard and adds Annex ZA
- the Introduction is updated
- Clause 1 Scope is updated
- Clause 2 Normative references is updated
- the Bibliography is updated
- determination of phosphonates content is added
Which standards are used with FprEN 17753?
| Reference | What it contributes |
|---|---|
| EN 1482-2:2024 | General sample preparation provisions |
| prEN 12944-1:2026 | General terms for fertilizers, liming materials and inhibitors |
| prEN 12944-2:2026 | Terms relating specifically to fertilizers |
| EN 16317:2013+A1:2017 | Arsenic determination by ICP-AES after aqua regia dissolution |
| EN 16318:2013+A1:2016 | Chromium(VI) determination by photometry or ion chromatography |
| prEN 16319:2025 | Cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc by ICP-AES after aqua regia dissolution |
| EN 16320:2013+A1:2017 | Mercury determination by VG after aqua regia dissolution |
| EN 16962:2018 | Extraction of water-soluble micro-nutrients |
| EN 16963:2018 | Determination of copper and zinc by ICP-AES |
| EN 16964:2018 | Extraction of total micro-nutrients |
| EN 16965:2018 | Determination of copper and zinc by FAAS |
| EN 17246:2019 | Perchlorate determination by IC-CD |
| ISO 18643:2016 | Biuret determination in urea-based fertilizers by HPLC |
| prEN 18319:2026 | Phosphonates determination by IC-CD |
The document also points to EN 1482-1 and EN 1482-3 for recommended sampling, and to prEN 17754 and CEN/TS 17751 in notes on copper and zinc use cases.
What does the FprEN 17753 document contain?
FprEN 17753 contains Clause 4 on sampling and sample preparation, Clause 5 with one subsection per contaminant, and Table 1 summarizing which method applies to each contaminant. It also includes Annex ZA, which links the clauses on contaminant determination to Regulation (EU) 2019/1009. For a user, the practical value is simple: the document tells you what to sample, how to prepare it, and which external method standard to cite for each contaminant.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 03-Jul-2024
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Frequently Asked Questions
FprEN 17753 is a draft published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Inorganic fertilizers - Determination of specific contaminants". This standard covers: This document specifies references to methods for the determination of the following contaminants: mercury, cadmium, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, lead, chromium(VI), biuret, perchlorate, total chromium and phosphonates content in inorganic fertilizers. For the mercury, cadmium, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, lead, perchlorate and total chromium content: This document is applicable to the fertilizing products blends where a blend is a mix of at least two of the following components: fertilizers, liming materials, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors, plant biostimulants, and where the following category: inorganic fertilizers is the highest % in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. If inorganic fertilizer is not the highest % in the blend, the European Standard for the highest % of the blend applies. In case a fertilizing product blend is composed of components in equal quantity, the user decides which standard to apply. For the chromium(VI) and biuret content: This document is applicable to the fertilizing products blends where a blend is a mix of at least two of the following components: fertilizers, liming materials, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors, plant biostimulants, and where organic matter is present in at least one of the products in the blend. In case a fertilizing product blend is composed only of inorganic products, the European Standard for inorganic fertilizers applies. Variations in analytical methods for fertilizing product blends can lead to differing results as some components or matrix interactions can affect the outcome. Validation procedures have shown that developed standard methods are robust and reliable across diverse product compositions, but possible interferences and unexpected results when analysing fertilizing product blends are possible. An overview of the references to methods for the determination of the specific contaminants is given in Table 1. NOTE 1 The determination of copper and zinc in inorganic fertilizers as micronutrients is covered by prEN 17754. NOTE 2 The determination of copper in ammonium nitrate fertilizers of high nitrogen content is covered by CEN/TS 17751.
This document specifies references to methods for the determination of the following contaminants: mercury, cadmium, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, lead, chromium(VI), biuret, perchlorate, total chromium and phosphonates content in inorganic fertilizers. For the mercury, cadmium, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, lead, perchlorate and total chromium content: This document is applicable to the fertilizing products blends where a blend is a mix of at least two of the following components: fertilizers, liming materials, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors, plant biostimulants, and where the following category: inorganic fertilizers is the highest % in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. If inorganic fertilizer is not the highest % in the blend, the European Standard for the highest % of the blend applies. In case a fertilizing product blend is composed of components in equal quantity, the user decides which standard to apply. For the chromium(VI) and biuret content: This document is applicable to the fertilizing products blends where a blend is a mix of at least two of the following components: fertilizers, liming materials, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors, plant biostimulants, and where organic matter is present in at least one of the products in the blend. In case a fertilizing product blend is composed only of inorganic products, the European Standard for inorganic fertilizers applies. Variations in analytical methods for fertilizing product blends can lead to differing results as some components or matrix interactions can affect the outcome. Validation procedures have shown that developed standard methods are robust and reliable across diverse product compositions, but possible interferences and unexpected results when analysing fertilizing product blends are possible. An overview of the references to methods for the determination of the specific contaminants is given in Table 1. NOTE 1 The determination of copper and zinc in inorganic fertilizers as micronutrients is covered by prEN 17754. NOTE 2 The determination of copper in ammonium nitrate fertilizers of high nitrogen content is covered by CEN/TS 17751.
FprEN 17753 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 65.080 - Fertilizers. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
FprEN 17753 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to CEN/TS 17753:2022. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
FprEN 17753 is associated with the following European legislation: EU Directives/Regulations: 2019/1009; Standardization Mandates: M/564, M/564 AMD 1, M/564 AMD 2. When a standard is cited in the Official Journal of the European Union, products manufactured in conformity with it benefit from a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the corresponding EU directive or regulation.
FprEN 17753 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-april-2026
Anorganska gnojila - Določanje specifičnih onesnaževal
Inorganic fertilizers - Determination of specific contaminants
Anorganische Düngemittel - Bestimmung spezifischer Kontaminanten
Engrais inorganiques - Détermination des contaminants spécifiques
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 17753
ICS:
65.080 Gnojila Fertilizers
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 17753
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
February 2026
ICS 65.080 Will supersede CEN/TS 17753:2022
English Version
Inorganic fertilizers - Determination of specific
contaminants
Engrais inorganiques - Détermination des Anorganische Düngemittel - Bestimmung spezifischer
contaminants spécifiques Kontaminanten
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 260.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.
Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 17753:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
prEN 17753:2026 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Sampling and sample preparation . 6
4.1 Sampling . 6
4.2 Sample preparation . 6
5 Determination of specific contaminants . 6
5.1 Mercury (Hg) . 6
5.2 Cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) . 7
5.3 Copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) . 7
5.4 Chromium(VI) (Cr(VI)) . 7
5.5 Biuret (C H N O ) . 7
2 5 3 2
5.6 Perchlorate (ClO -) . 8
5.7 Total chromium (Cr(total)) . 8
5.8 Phosphonates . 8
Annex ZA (informative) Relationship of this European Standard and the essential
requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 making available on the market of EU
fertilising products aimed to be covered . 9
Bibliography . 11
prEN 17753:2026 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 17753:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 260 “Fertilizers
and liming materials”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN.
This document is currently submitted to CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede CEN/TS 17753:2022.
prEN 17753:2026 includes the following significant technical changes with respect to
CEN/TS 17753:2022:
— the CEN Technical Specification has been adopted as a European Standard including the addition of
Annex ZA;
— Introduction updated;
— Scope (Clause 1) updated;
— Normative references (Clause 2) updated;
— Bibliography updated;
— determination of the phosphonates content (5.8) added.
This document has been prepared under a standardization request addressed to CEN by the European
Commission. The Standing Committee of the EFTA States subsequently approves these requests for its
Member States.
For the relationship with EU Legislation, see informative Annex ZA, which is an integral part of this
document.
prEN 17753:2026 (E)
Introduction
Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 [3] lays down the rules on the making available on the market of EU
fertilizing products and the specific safety and quality requirements for the defined product function
categories (PFCs). Inorganic fertilizers have been classified into PFC 1(C).
The specific safety and quality requirements in relation to specific contaminants (i.e. the mercury,
cadmium, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, lead, chromium VI, biuret, perchlorate and total chromium
content) are defined in this document as well as normative references of the test methods to be used in
order to measure the compliance with the related requirement in the Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 [3].
The definition of phosphonates is not clearly stated in Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 [3] and to avoid any
misunderstanding, the results are expressed as a content of phosphorus (P) bound in the form of free
water-soluble phosphonates (P-PO ).
prEN 17753:2026 (E)
1 Scope
This document specifies references to methods for the determination of the following contaminants:
mercury, cadmium, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, lead, chromium(VI), biuret, perchlorate, total chromium
and phosphonates content in inorganic fertilizers.
For the mercury, cadmium, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, lead, perchlorate and total chromium content:
This document is applicable to the fertilizing products blends where a blend is a mix of at least two of the
following components: fertilizers, liming materials, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors, plant
biostimulants, and where the following category: inorganic fertilizers is the highest % in the blend by
mass or volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. If inorganic fertilizer is not the highest % in the
blend, the European Standard for the highest % of the blend applies. In case a fertilizing product blend is
composed of components in equal quantity, the user decides which standard to apply.
For the chromium(VI) and biuret content: This document is applicable to the fertilizing products blends
where a blend is a mix of at least two of the following components: fertilizers, liming materials, soil
improvers, growing media, inhibitors, plant biostimulants, and where organic matter is present in at least
one of the products in the blend. In case a fertilizing product blend is composed only of inorganic
products, the European Standard for inorganic fertilizers applies. Variations in analytical methods for
fertilizing product blends can lead to differing results as some components or matrix interactions can
affect the outcome. Validation procedures have shown that developed standard methods are robust and
reliable across diverse product compositions, but possible interferences and unexpected results when
analysing fertilizing product blends are possible.
An overview of the references to methods for the determination of the specific contaminants is given in
Table 1.
NOTE 1 The determination of copper and zinc in inorganic fertilizers as micronutrients is covered by
prEN 17754.
NOTE 2 The determination of copper in ammonium nitrate fertilizers of high nitrogen content is covered by
CEN/TS 17751.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 1482-2:2024, Fertilizers, liming materials and inhibitors — Sampling and sample preparation — Part
2: General sample preparation provisions
prEN 12944-1:2026, Fertilizers, liming materials and inhibitors — Vocabulary — Part 1: General terms
prEN 12944-2:2026, Fertilizers, liming materials and inhibitors — Vocabulary — Part 2: Terms relating to
fertilizers
EN 16317:2013+A1:2017, Fertilizers and liming materials — Determination of arsenic by inductively
coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) after aqua regia dissolution
EN 16318:2013+A1:2016, Fertilizers and liming materials — Determination of chromium(VI) by
photometry (method A) and by ion chromatography with spectrophotometric detection (method B)
...