oSIST prEN 18300:2026
(Main)Soil improvers and growing media - Methods for the determination of cadmium, lead, nickel, hexavalent chromium, mercury, inorganic arsenic, phosphonates, total chromium and bioavailable nickel content
- Abstract
This document specifies references to methods to be used for the determination of specific parameters in soil improvers and growing media, but does not contain the methods themselves. The specific parameters in this document are:
— the cadmium content;
— the lead content;
— the nickel content;
— the hexavalent chromium (Cr VI) content;
— the mercury content;
— the inorganic arsenic content;
— the phosphonates content;
— the total chromium content;
— the bioavailable nickel content.
This document is applicable to the fertilizing product blends where a blend is a mix of two or more fertilizing products belonging to the categories of fertilizers, liming material, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors and plant biostimulants, and where soil improvers and/or growing media are the components with the highest percentage in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of products in liquid form by dry mass. If the soil improvers and/or growing media are not the components with the highest percentage in the blend, the European Standard relevant to the component with the highest percentage in the blend applies. In case a blend is composed of fertilizing products mixed in equal quantities, the user of the standard decides which standard to apply.
NOTE A soil improver or a growing medium consists of a single bulky (volume-building) component or a mix of bulky (volume-building) components (for example peat, wood fibres, coconut coir, compost, expanded perlite).
- Status
- Not Published
- Public Enquiry End Date
- 01-Apr-2026
- Technical Committee
- KAT - Soil quality
- Current Stage
- 4020 - Public enquire (PE) (Adopted Project)
- Start Date
- 27-Jan-2026
- Due Date
- 16-Jun-2026
- Completion Date
- 29-Apr-2026
- Mandate
- M/XXX - M/XXX
prEN 18300:2026 is a draft European Standard from CEN, shown on the SIST page as oSIST prEN 18300:2026. It tells users which referenced methods to use to determine cadmium, lead, nickel, chromium(VI), mercury, inorganic arsenic, phosphonates, total chromium and bioavailable nickel in soil improvers and growing media. It is aimed at laboratories, producers, and conformity teams that need to identify the right analytical route for these fertilizing products and for certain fertilizing product blends.
What does prEN 18300:2026 specify?
prEN 18300:2026 specifies references to test methods for defined contaminants and nutrient-related parameters in soil improvers and growing media. The document does not give the analytical procedures itself; instead, it points users to the standards that contain the sampling, preparation, extraction and measurement steps.
It also sets the rule for blends. If soil improvers and/or growing media are the main components by mass or volume, or by dry mass for liquid products, this standard applies. If another fertilizing product category is the main component, the standard for that component applies instead. If the blend contains equal quantities, the user selects the applicable standard.
| Annex | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Annex ZA | Relationship between this European Standard and the essential requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 |
What are the key requirements of prEN 18300:2026?
prEN 18300:2026 is mainly a routing document for compliance testing. Its key requirement is to choose the correct sample, sample preparation step, and measurement method for each parameter, then apply the method reference exactly as cited.
Sampling and sample preparation
Clause 4 requires representative samples for quality control, following EN 12579:2024. It also requires sample preparation in accordance with prEN 13040-1:2025, Clauses 9 to 11. In practice, this means the result depends on taking and preparing the sample in a way that reflects the batch, not just on the laboratory instrument.
Cadmium, lead and nickel
Clause 5.1 routes cadmium, lead and nickel to aqua regia extraction in prEN 13650:2025, Clause 9, followed by determination in prEN 18259:2025, Clause 9. For bioavailable nickel, it points to CaCl2/DTPA extraction and determination in prEN 13651:2025, Clause 9. This matters because the standard distinguishes between total content measured after aqua regia treatment and a bioavailable fraction measured by a different extraction.
Mercury
Clause 5.2 uses the same aqua regia extraction route from prEN 13650:2025, Clause 9, and then determination in prEN 18258:2025, Clause 9. In practice, the laboratory must not mix the mercury method with methods used for other elements, even though the extraction step is shared.
Inorganic arsenic
Clause 5.3 sends inorganic arsenic to prEN 18254:2025, Clause 8. This gives a dedicated route for arsenic in its inorganic form, which is important because the standard treats that form separately from total arsenic.
Chromium(VI) and chromium
Clause 5.4 covers chromium(VI) with prEN 18257:2025, Clause 8. The same clause also routes chromium determination after aqua regia extraction through prEN 13650:2025, Clause 9 and prEN 18259:2025, Clause 9. In practice, users need to distinguish chromium(VI) from the chromium value obtained after digestion.
Phosphonates
Clause 5.5 sends phosphonates to prEN 18251:2025, Clause 8. This is the separate route for phosphonate content in soil improvers and growing media.
What terms does prEN 18300:2026 define?
prEN 17732:2025 supplies the terms and definitions used by prEN 18300:2026. The most important ones for reading this standard are:
- Soil improvers - bulky products or bulky component mixes used to improve soil properties.
- Growing media - bulky products or mixes used as the plant-supporting medium.
- Fertilizing product blends - mixtures of two or more fertilizing products from the listed categories, used to decide which standard applies.
- PFC 3 - the product function category for soil improvers under Regulation (EU) 2019/1009.
- PFC 4 - the product function category for growing media under Regulation (EU) 2019/1009.
- Chromium(VI) - hexavalent chromium, treated separately from total chromium.
- Bioavailable nickel - nickel measured by the CaCl2/DTPA extraction route.
Who uses prEN 18300:2026?
prEN 18300:2026 is used by analytical laboratories, quality control teams, and manufacturers of soil improvers and growing media. It is also relevant to producers of fertilizing product blends who need to decide which method set applies to their product.
It is most useful when a team has to plan sampling, choose the right extraction or determination standard, and document compliance with the safety requirements linked to EU fertilising products. Regulators and conformity assessment personnel may also use it when checking that the right methods were applied.
Which standards are used with prEN 18300:2026?
prEN 18300:2026 relies on several companion standards:
- prEN 17732:2025 - supplies the terminology and definitions.
- EN 12579:2024 - gives sampling requirements.
- prEN 13040-1:2025 - gives sample preparation for chemical and physical tests.
- prEN 13650:2025 - gives aqua regia digestion for subsequent element determination.
- prEN 13651:2025 - gives CaCl2/DTPA extraction for soluble nutrients and bioavailable nickel.
- prEN 18251:2025 - gives the phosphonates method.
- prEN 18254:2025 - gives the inorganic arsenic method.
- prEN 18257:2025 - gives the chromium(VI) method.
- prEN 18258:2025 - gives the mercury method.
- prEN 18259:2025 - gives the determination of aqua regia soluble elements.
What does the prEN 18300:2026 document contain?
prEN 18300:2026 contains the scope, normative references, terms and definitions, sampling and sample preparation rules, and the clause-by-clause method references in Clause 5. It does not reproduce the analytical procedures; instead, it points users to the cited standards that contain the actual test methods.
The document also includes informative Annex ZA, which links the normative clauses to Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 and explains where the standard can support presumption of conformity. A bibliography entry to Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 is included as well.
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Frequently Asked Questions
oSIST prEN 18300:2026 is a draft published by the Slovenian Institute for Standardization (SIST). Its full title is "Soil improvers and growing media - Methods for the determination of cadmium, lead, nickel, hexavalent chromium, mercury, inorganic arsenic, phosphonates, total chromium and bioavailable nickel content". This standard covers: This document specifies references to methods to be used for the determination of specific parameters in soil improvers and growing media, but does not contain the methods themselves. The specific parameters in this document are: — the cadmium content; — the lead content; — the nickel content; — the hexavalent chromium (Cr VI) content; — the mercury content; — the inorganic arsenic content; — the phosphonates content; — the total chromium content; — the bioavailable nickel content. This document is applicable to the fertilizing product blends where a blend is a mix of two or more fertilizing products belonging to the categories of fertilizers, liming material, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors and plant biostimulants, and where soil improvers and/or growing media are the components with the highest percentage in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of products in liquid form by dry mass. If the soil improvers and/or growing media are not the components with the highest percentage in the blend, the European Standard relevant to the component with the highest percentage in the blend applies. In case a blend is composed of fertilizing products mixed in equal quantities, the user of the standard decides which standard to apply. NOTE A soil improver or a growing medium consists of a single bulky (volume-building) component or a mix of bulky (volume-building) components (for example peat, wood fibres, coconut coir, compost, expanded perlite).
This document specifies references to methods to be used for the determination of specific parameters in soil improvers and growing media, but does not contain the methods themselves. The specific parameters in this document are: — the cadmium content; — the lead content; — the nickel content; — the hexavalent chromium (Cr VI) content; — the mercury content; — the inorganic arsenic content; — the phosphonates content; — the total chromium content; — the bioavailable nickel content. This document is applicable to the fertilizing product blends where a blend is a mix of two or more fertilizing products belonging to the categories of fertilizers, liming material, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors and plant biostimulants, and where soil improvers and/or growing media are the components with the highest percentage in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of products in liquid form by dry mass. If the soil improvers and/or growing media are not the components with the highest percentage in the blend, the European Standard relevant to the component with the highest percentage in the blend applies. In case a blend is composed of fertilizing products mixed in equal quantities, the user of the standard decides which standard to apply. NOTE A soil improver or a growing medium consists of a single bulky (volume-building) component or a mix of bulky (volume-building) components (for example peat, wood fibres, coconut coir, compost, expanded perlite).
oSIST prEN 18300:2026 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.
oSIST prEN 18300:2026 is associated with the following European legislation: EU Directives/Regulations: 2003/2003, 2019/1009; Standardization Mandates: M/564, M/564 AMD 1, M/564 AMD 2, M/XXX. 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.
oSIST prEN 18300:2026 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-marec-2026
Izboljševalci tal in rastni substrati - Metode določanja kadmija, svinca, niklja,
šestvalentnega kroma, živega srebra, anorganskega arzena, fosfonatov, celotnega
kroma in biološko razpoložljivega niklja
Soil improvers and growing media - Methods for the determination of cadmium, lead,
nickel, hexavalent chromium, mercury, inorganic arsenic, phosphonates, total chromium
and bioavailable nickel content
Bodenverbesserungsmittel und Kultursubstrate - Bestimmung spezifischer
Kontaminanten
Amendements du sol et supports de culture - Méthodes pour la détermination de la
teneur en cadmium, en plomb, en nickel, en chrome hexavalent, en mercure, en arsenic
inorganique, en phosphonates, en chrome total et en nickel biodisponible
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 18300
ICS:
65.080 Gnojila Fertilizers
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 18300
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
January 2026
ICS 65.080
English Version
Soil improvers and growing media - Methods for the
determination of cadmium, lead, nickel, hexavalent
chromium, mercury, inorganic arsenic, phosphonates, total
chromium and bioavailable nickel content
Amendements du sol et supports de culture - Méthodes Bodenverbesserungsmittel und Kultursubstrate -
pour la détermination de la teneur en cadmium, en Verfahren zur Bestimmung des Gehalts an Cadmium,
plomb, en nickel, en chrome hexavalent, en mercure, en Blei, Nickel, sechswertigem Chrom, Quecksilber,
arsenic inorganique, en phosphonates, en chrome total anorganischem Arsen, Phosphonaten, Gesamtchrom
et en nickel biodisponible und bioverfügbarem Nickel
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 223.
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 18300:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
prEN 18300:2026 (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
5 Determination . 6
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 . 8
Bibliography . 11
prEN 18300:2026 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 18300:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 223 “Soil
improvers and growing media”, the secretariat of which is held by NEN.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
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 18300:2026 (E)
Introduction
Different product functions warrant different product safety, quality and quantity requirements adapted
to their different intended uses. EU fertilizing products have therefore been divided into different product
function categories (PFCs), which are subject to specific safety, quality and quantity requirements, as
specified in the Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 [1].
Soil improvers have been classified as PFC 3, growing media have been classified as PFC 4. The specific
safety and quality requirements in relation to specific parameters are specified in this document, as well
as normative references of the test methods to be used to assess the compliance with the related
requirement.
prEN 18300:2026 (E)
1 Scope
This document refers to methods to be used for the determination of specific parameters in soil
improvers and growing media, but does not contain the methods themselves. The specific parameters in
this document include:
— the cadmium content;
— the lead content;
— the nickel content;
— the chromium (VI) content;
— the mercury content;
— the inorganic arsenic content;
— the phosphonates content;
— the total chromium content;
— the bioavailable nickel content.
This document is applicable to the fertilizing product blends where a blend is a mix of two or more
fertilising products belonging to the categories of fertilizers, liming material, soil improvers, growing
media, inhibitors and plant biostimulants, and where soil improvers and/or growing media are the
components with the highest percentage in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of products in
liquid form by dry mass. If the soil improvers and/or growing media are not the components with the
highest percentage in the blend, the European Standard relevant to the component with the highest
percentage in the blend applies. In case a blend is composed of fertilising products mixed in equal
quantities, the user of the standard decides which standard to apply.
NOTE A soil improver or a growing medium consists of a single bulky (volume-building) component or a mix
of bulky (volume-building) components (for example peat, wood fibres, coconut coir, compost, expanded perlite).
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.
prEN 17732:2025, Soil improvers and growing media — Terminology
EN 12579:2024, Soil improvers and growing media — Sampling
prEN 13040-1:2025, So
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