FprEN 17816
(Main)Liming materials - Determination of physical and chemical properties and specific contaminants
- Abstract
This document is applicable to liming materials, which contain oxides, hydroxides, carbonates or silicates of the nutrients calcium (Ca) or magnesium (Mg) and the function of which is to correct soil acidity.
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 liming materials is the highest % in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. If liming materials 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. 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.
In case of chromium VI determination, in a fertilizing product blend containing organic matter, the European Standard for liming materials and inorganic fertilizers is not applicable.
This document specifies references to the methods for the determination of the following physical and chemical properties and specific contaminants in liming materials:
— determination of the cadmium content;
— determination of the chromium VI content;
— determination of the mercury content;
— determination of the nickel content;
— determination of the lead content;
— determination of the arsenic content;
— determination of the total chromium content;
— determination of neutralizing value;
— determination of the reactivity;
— determination of the grain size/granulometry;
— determination of the total CaO content;
— determination of the total MgO content;
— determination of the dry matter content;
— determination of the copper and zinc content;
— determination of the phosphonates content.
— determination of the chloride content;
— determination of quantity (indicated by mass or volume).
- Status
- Not Published
- Publication Date
- 24-Feb-2027
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 260 - Fertilizers and liming materials
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 260/WG 3 - Liming materials
FprEN 17816 is a draft European Standard from CEN for liming materials. It specifies which European test methods to use for physical and chemical properties and specific contaminants in liming materials, and in certain fertilizing product blends where liming materials is the main component. Laboratories, producers, and conformity assessors use it to check product quality and to support work under Regulation (EU) 2019/1009.
What does FprEN 17816 specify?
FprEN 17816 specifies reference methods for testing liming materials, not the test procedures themselves. It covers products used to correct soil acidity, plus certain fertilizing product blends when liming materials make up the highest share.
The standard is organized into:
- Clause 1 - scope
- Clause 2 - normative references
- Clause 3 - terms and definitions
- Clause 4 - sampling and sample preparation
- Clause 5 - requirements for physical and chemical properties and specific contaminants
- Annex ZA - link to Regulation (EU) 2019/1009
For blends, the document applies only when liming materials are the highest percentage component by mass or volume, or by dry mass for liquids. If another component is dominant, the standard for that component applies instead. For chromium VI in a blend containing organic matter, the methods referenced here are not the applicable route.
What are the key requirements of FprEN 17816?
FprEN 17816 works as a method-selection standard: it tells you which EN standard to use for each property or contaminant. In practice, that means you choose the right test route before you claim compliance or release a product.
Sampling and sample preparation
Clause 4 says sampling is outside the method itself. It points users to EN 1482-1 and EN 1482-3 for sampling, and it requires the laboratory sample to be representative and unchanged by transport or storage. Clause 4.2 requires sample preparation according to EN 1482-2:2024. This matters because a poor sample can give a wrong result even when the analysis is correct.
Physical and chemical properties
Clause 5.2 covers the main product properties:
- neutralizing value - EN 12945
- reactivity - EN 13971, EN 14984, or EN 16357
- grain size/granulometry - EN 12948
- total CaO content - EN 12946 or EN 13475
- total MgO content - EN 12946 or EN 12947
- dry matter content - derived from moisture content using EN 12048 or EN 12049
- quantity - EN 17817
These are the core quality checks for liming materials. They show how strongly the product can neutralize acidity, how fast it reacts, how it is graded, and how much active material or declared quantity it contains.
Specific contaminants
Clause 5.3 points to reference methods for cadmium, chromium VI, mercury, nickel, lead, arsenic, total chromium, phosphonates, copper and zinc, and chloride. The relevant methods are spread across prEN 16319:2025, EN 16318:2013+A1:2016, EN 16320:2013+A1:2017, EN 16317:2013+A1:2017, prEN 18319:2026, and prEN 17758:2026. This is the part used for safety and contaminant control.
Link to EU fertilizing product rules
Annex ZA connects the clauses in this standard to the essential requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 for liming materials as PFC 2. In practice, this is the bridge between laboratory testing and EU market conformity work.
What terms does FprEN 17816 define?
FprEN 17816 uses the terms and definitions from prEN 12944-1:2026 and EN 12944-3:2025. The most important terms for reading this standard are:
- Liming materials - materials containing oxides, hydroxides, carbonates or silicates of calcium (Ca) or magnesium (Mg) used to correct soil acidity.
- Neutralizing value - the measure used to show how strongly a liming material can neutralize acidity.
- Reactivity - the measure of how quickly a liming material reacts, which affects its field performance.
- Grain size/granulometry - the particle size distribution used to judge grading and handling.
- Dry matter content - the part of the product remaining after moisture is removed.
- PFC 2 - product function category 2 in Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 for liming materials.
- Chromium VI - the hexavalent form of chromium, covered here as a specific contaminant.
Who uses FprEN 17816?
FprEN 17816 is used by testing laboratories, liming material manufacturers, fertilizer producers, and quality managers. It is also used by conformity assessment bodies and technical staff who need a common test basis for EU fertilizing products and blended products that include liming materials.
What changed in FprEN 17816 from the previous edition?
FprEN 17816 will supersede EN 17816:2023. The foreword states these changes:
- scope updated
- normative references updated
- sampling and sample preparation updated
- added parameters in Clause 5 for quantity, copper and zinc content, phosphonates content, dry matter content, and chloride content
- Annex ZA updated
Which standards are used with FprEN 17816?
| Standard | What it contributes |
|---|---|
| EN 1482-1 | General sampling provisions |
| EN 1482-2:2024 | Sample preparation |
| EN 1482-3 | Sampling of static heaps |
| EN 12048:1996 | Moisture content for non-calcined materials |
| EN 12049:1996 | Moisture content for calcined materials |
| prEN 12944-1:2026 | General terms |
| EN 12944-3:2025 | Liming materials terms |
| EN 12945:2014+A1:2016 | Neutralizing value |
| EN 12946:2023 | Calcium and magnesium content |
| EN 12947:2000 | Magnesium content |
| EN 12948:2010 | Size distribution by dry and wet sieving |
| EN 13475:2001 | Calcium content |
| EN 13971:2020 | Reactivity by potentiometric titration with hydrochloric acid |
| EN 14984:2016 | Product effect on soil pH |
| EN 16317:2013+A1:2017 | Arsenic |
| EN 16318:2013+A1:2016 | Chromium(VI) |
| EN 16320:2013+A1:2017 | Mercury |
| prEN 16319:2025 | Cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc |
| prEN 17758:2026 | Chloride content |
| EN 17817:2023 | Quantity by mass or volume |
| prEN 18319:2026 | Phosphonates content |
| EN 14069 | Supplementary denominations, specifications and labelling |
What does the FprEN 17816 document contain?
FprEN 17816 contains clause-level directions for sampling, sample preparation, and the analytical method to use for each property or contaminant. It also contains Annex ZA, which maps the standard to Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 for conformity purposes. The document uses references to other standards instead of restating the test methods, so the reader needs the linked standards to carry out the analyses.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 08-Oct-2025
Get Certified
Connect with accredited certification bodies for this standard
Control Union Certifications
Global certification for agriculture and sustainability.
ECOCERT
Organic and sustainability certification.
FSC International
Forest Stewardship Council certification.
Sponsored listings
Frequently Asked Questions
FprEN 17816 is a draft published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Liming materials - Determination of physical and chemical properties and specific contaminants". This standard covers: This document is applicable to liming materials, which contain oxides, hydroxides, carbonates or silicates of the nutrients calcium (Ca) or magnesium (Mg) and the function of which is to correct soil acidity. 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 liming materials is the highest % in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. If liming materials 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. 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. In case of chromium VI determination, in a fertilizing product blend containing organic matter, the European Standard for liming materials and inorganic fertilizers is not applicable. This document specifies references to the methods for the determination of the following physical and chemical properties and specific contaminants in liming materials: — determination of the cadmium content; — determination of the chromium VI content; — determination of the mercury content; — determination of the nickel content; — determination of the lead content; — determination of the arsenic content; — determination of the total chromium content; — determination of neutralizing value; — determination of the reactivity; — determination of the grain size/granulometry; — determination of the total CaO content; — determination of the total MgO content; — determination of the dry matter content; — determination of the copper and zinc content; — determination of the phosphonates content. — determination of the chloride content; — determination of quantity (indicated by mass or volume).
This document is applicable to liming materials, which contain oxides, hydroxides, carbonates or silicates of the nutrients calcium (Ca) or magnesium (Mg) and the function of which is to correct soil acidity. 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 liming materials is the highest % in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. If liming materials 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. 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. In case of chromium VI determination, in a fertilizing product blend containing organic matter, the European Standard for liming materials and inorganic fertilizers is not applicable. This document specifies references to the methods for the determination of the following physical and chemical properties and specific contaminants in liming materials: — determination of the cadmium content; — determination of the chromium VI content; — determination of the mercury content; — determination of the nickel content; — determination of the lead content; — determination of the arsenic content; — determination of the total chromium content; — determination of neutralizing value; — determination of the reactivity; — determination of the grain size/granulometry; — determination of the total CaO content; — determination of the total MgO content; — determination of the dry matter content; — determination of the copper and zinc content; — determination of the phosphonates content. — determination of the chloride content; — determination of quantity (indicated by mass or volume).
FprEN 17816 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 17816 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN 17816:2023. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
FprEN 17816 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 17816 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
Sredstva za apnjenje - Določanje fizikalnih in kemijskih lastnosti ter specifičnih
onesnaževal
Liming materials - Determination of physical and chemical properties and specific
contaminants
Kalkdünger - Bestimmung physikalischer und chemischer Eigenschaften und
spezifischer Kontaminanten
Amendements minéraux basiques - Détermination des propriétés physiques et
chimiques et des contaminants spécifiques
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 17816
ICS:
65.080 Gnojila Fertilizers
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 17816
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
March 2026
ICS 65.080 Will supersede EN 17816:2023
English Version
Liming materials - Determination of physical and chemical
properties and specific contaminants
Amendements minéraux basiques - Détermination des Kalkdünger - Bestimmung physikalischer und
propriétés physiques et chimiques et des contaminants chemischer Eigenschaften und spezifischer
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 17816:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
prEN 17816:2026 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 7
4 Sampling and sample preparation . 7
4.1 Sampling . 7
4.2 Sample preparation . 7
5 Requirements . 7
5.1 General. 7
5.2 Determination of physical and chemical properties . 7
5.2.1 Neutralizing value. 7
5.2.2 Reactivity . 7
5.2.3 Grain size/granulometry . 8
5.2.4 Total calcium oxide (CaO) content . 8
5.2.5 Total magnesium oxide (MgO) content . 8
5.2.6 Dry matter content . 8
5.2.7 Quantity . 8
5.3 Determination of specific contaminants . 8
5.3.1 Cadmium content . 8
5.3.2 Hexavalent chromium content . 8
5.3.3 Mercury content . 8
5.3.4 Nickel content . 8
5.3.5 Lead content . 8
5.3.6 Arsenic content . 8
5.3.7 Total chromium content . 8
5.3.8 Phosphonates content . 8
5.3.9 Copper and zinc content . 9
5.3.10 Chloride content . 9
Annex ZA (informative) Relationship of this European Standard and the essential
requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 making available on the market of EU
fertilizing products aimed to be covered . 10
Bibliography . 12
prEN 17816:2026 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 17816:2026) 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 EN 17816:2023.
prEN 17816:2026 includes the following significant technical changes with respect to EN 17816:2023:
— Scope (Clause 1) updated;
— Normative references (Clause 2) updated;
— Sampling and sample preparation (Clause 4) updated;
— parameters added to Clause 5: quantity, copper and zinc content, phosphonates content, dry matter
content, chloride content.
— Annex ZA updated.
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 17816:2026 (E)
Introduction
Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 [6] lays down the rules on the making available on the market of EU
fertilizing products and the specific safety, quality and labelling requirements for the defined product
function categories (PFCs). Liming materials have been classified as PFC 2.
In this document the normative references of the test methods to be used for liming materials (PFC 2) are
defined in order to measure the compliance with the related requirement in Regulation
(EU) 2019/1009 [6].
Supplementary denominations and specifications widely used in Europe are given in EN 14069 [5].
prEN 17816:2026 (E)
1 Scope
This document is applicable to liming materials, which contain oxides, hydroxides, carbonates or silicates
of the nutrients calcium (Ca) or magnesium (Mg) and the function of which is to correct soil acidity.
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 liming materials is the highest % in the blend by mass or
volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. If liming materials 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. 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.
In case of chromium VI determination, in a fertilizing product blend containing organic matter, the
European Standard for liming materials and inorganic fertilizers is not applicable.
This document specifies references to the methods for the determination of the following physical and
chemical properties and specific contaminants in liming materials:
— determination of the cadmium content;
— determination of the chromium VI content;
— determination of the mercury content;
— determination of the nickel content;
— determination of the lead content;
— determination of the arsenic content;
— determination of the total chromium content;
— determination of neutralizing value;
— determination of the reactivity;
— determination of the grain size/granulometry;
— determination of the total CaO content;
— determination of the total MgO content;
— determination of the dry matter content;
— determination of the copper and zinc content;
— determination of the phosphonates content.
— det
...