Commission Decision (EU) 2022/1244 of 13 July 2022 establishing the EU Ecolabel criteria for growing media and soil improvers (notified under document C(2022) 4758) (Text with EEA relevance)
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Address https://gelex.eu/eli/EU/decision/2022/1244@2022-07-13/en
Contents
- Preamble
- ANNEX
- ANNEX EU Ecolabel criteria for awarding the EU Ecolabel to growing media and soil improvers FRAMEWORK
- EU ECOLABEL CRITERIA Table 1 Overview of applicable criteria according to the specific product
- Criterion 1 Components
- Criterion 1.1 Organic components of the product
- (2)
- (4) I.
- Criterion 2 Mineral components
- Criterion 2.1 Energy consumption and CO2 emissions during the manufacture of mineral growing media
- Criterion 2.2 Sources of mineral extraction
- Criterion 2.3 Mineral growing media use and after use
- Criterion 3 Organic components and recycled/recovered materials in growing media
- Criterion 4 Restricted substances
- Criterion 4.1 Limits for heavy metals
- Criterion 4.1(a) Limits for heavy metals in soil improvers Table 2 Heavy metals limits for soil improvers
- Criterion 4.1(b) Limits for heavy metals in growing media Table 3 Heavy metal limits for growing media
- Criterion 4.2 Limits for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) Table 4 Limit for PAHs
- Criterion 4.3 Restrictions on substances and mixtures classified as hazardous under Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008
- Criterion 4.4 Restrictions on substances of very high concern (SVHCs) as identified under Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006
- Criterion 4.5 Microbiological criteria Table 5 Limit value proposed for pathogens
- Criterion 5 Fitness for use
- Criterion 5.1 Stability Table 7 Table 8 Stability requirements of soil improvers intended for non-professional applications and growing media intended for all applications Stability requirements of soil improvers intended for professional applications
- Criterion 5.2 Macroscopic impurities
- Criterion 5.3 Organic matter and dry matter in soil improvers
- Criterion 5.4 Viable weed seeds and plant propagules
- Criterion 5.5 Plant response
- Criterion 6 Growing media features
- Criterion 6.1 Electrical conductivity
- Criterion 6.2 Sodium content
- Criterion 6.3 Chloride content
- Criterion 7 Provision of information
- Criterion 7.1 Soil improvers
- Criterion 7.2 Growing media
- Criterion 8 Information appearing on the EU Ecolabel
- Appendix 1 Sampling and test frequency for the application year
- Appendix 2 Sampling and test frequency for the following years
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the EU Ecolabel, and in particular Article 8(2) thereof,
After consulting the European Union Ecolabelling Board,
Whereas:
(1) Under Regulation (EC) No 66/2010, the EU Ecolabel may be awarded to those products with a reduced environmental impact during their entire life cycle.
(2) Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 provides that specific EU Ecolabel criteria are to be established according to product groups.
(3) Commission Decision (EU) 2015/2099 established EU Ecolabel criteria and related assessment and verification requirements for the product group growing media, soil improvers and mulch. The period of validity of those criteria and requirements has been extended to 30 June 2022 by Commission Decision (EU) 2019/1134.
(4) In order to better reflect best practice in the market for the product group and to take account of policy developments, potential future windows of opportunity for increased uptake and the market`s demand for sustainable products, it is appropriate to establish a new set of criteria for growing media and soil improvers.
(5) The EU Ecolabel Fitness check Report of 30 June 2017, reviewing the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 66/2010, concluded on the need to develop a more strategic approach for the EU Ecolabel, including the bundling of closely related product groups where appropriate.
(6) In line with those conclusions, it is appropriate to revise the criteria for the product group growing media, soil improvers and mulch, and to ensure harmonisation with Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
(7) In line with Regulation (EU) 2019/1009, point (6) of the preamble and Part I of Annex I to that Regulation, the product group name should be modified to growing media and soil improvers to better reflect product functionality, since mulch is considered to be a type of soil improver.
(8) Harmonisation with Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 should also increase the market visibility of the EU Ecolabel for growing media and soil improvers products and reduce the administrative burden for national authorities. Additionally, certain modifications should be made to the definitions within the product group growing media and soil improvers, notably to harmonise terminology with Regulation (EU) 2019/1009.
(9) The New Circular Economy Action Plan for a cleaner and more competitive Europe adopted on 11 March 2020 stipulates that the durability, recyclability and recycled content requirements are to be more systematically included in the EU Ecolabel criteria.
(10) The revised EU Ecolabel criteria for growing media and soil improvers should aim, in particular, to promote products that have limited environmental impact along their life cycle, and that are produced using material-efficient and energy-efficient processes. In order to contribute towards the transition to a more circular economy, the criteria should promote the inclusion, in growing media and soil improvers, of recycled organic matter and nutrients, and they should encourage the recovery of mineral growing media at their end-of-life phase. The revised criteria should guarantee the products’ safety for human, animals or plant health and/or for the environment by setting limits on the presence of hazardous substances, such as heavy metals and organic pollutants, and by ensuring controlled sourcing of minerals. Considering efforts towards climate neutrality and the decarbonisation of European industry, the criteria should set mandatory requirements on CO2 emissions and energy consumption for expanded minerals and mineral wool manufacturing and should incentivise the incorporation of recycled/recovered material content in growing media.
(11) The new criteria and related assessment and verification requirements should remain valid until 30 June 2030, taking into account the innovation cycle for the product group.
(12) For reasons of legal certainty, Decision (EU) 2015/2099 should be repealed.
(13) A transitional period should be allowed for producers whose products have been awarded the EU Ecolabel for growing media, soil improvers and mulch on the basis of the criteria set out in Decision (EU) 2015/2099, so that they have sufficient time to adapt their products to comply with the new criteria and requirements. For a limited period after adoption of this Decision, producers should also be allowed to submit applications based either on the criteria established by Decision (EU) 2015/2099 or on the new criteria established by this Decision. EU Ecolabel licences awarded in accordance with the criteria set out in Decision (EU) 2015/2099 should be allowed to be used for 12 months from the date of adoption of this Decision.
(14) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established by Article 16 of Regulation (EC) No 66/2010,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The product group growing media and soil improvers shall comprise growing media and soil improvers.
Article 2
For the purpose of this Decision, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) growing medium means a product other than soil in situ, the function of which is for plants, including algae, or mushrooms to grow in;
(2) soil improver means a product, including mulch, the function of which is to maintain, improve or protect the physical or chemical properties, the structure or the biological activity of the soil to which it is added;
(3) mulch means a type of soil improver used as protective covering placed around plants on the topsoil whose specific functions are to prevent the loss of moisture, control weed growth, help moderate soil temperature and reduce soil erosion.
Article 3
In order for a product to be awarded the EU Ecolabel for growing media and soil improvers under Regulation (EC) No 66/2010, it shall fall within the product group growing media and soil improvers as defined in Article 1 of this Decision, and shall comply with the criteria and related assessment and verification requirements set out in the Annex to this Decision.
Article 4
The EU Ecolabel criteria for the product group growing media and soil improvers and the related assessment and verification requirements shall be valid until 31 December 2030.
Article 5
For administrative purposes, the code number assigned to the product group growing media and soil improvers shall be 048.
Article 6
Decision (EU) 2015/2099 is repealed.
Article 7
1. Applications for the EU Ecolabel for the product group growing media, soil improvers and mulch, as defined in Article 1 of Decision (EU) 2015/2099, submitted before the date of application of this Decision shall be evaluated in accordance with the conditions laid down in Decision (EU) 2015/2099.
2. Applications for the EU Ecolabel for products falling within the product group growing media and soil improvers, as defined in Article 1 of this Decision, submitted on or within two months from the date of application of this Decision may be based either on the criteria set out in this Decision or on the criteria set out in Decision (EU) 2015/2099. Those applications shall be evaluated in accordance with the criteria on which they are based.
3. EU Ecolabel licences awarded on the basis of an application evaluated in accordance with the criteria set out in Decision (EU) 2015/2099 may be used for 12 months from the date of application of this Decision.
Article 8
This Decision is addressed to the Member States. It shall apply from 20 July 2022.
Done at Brussels, 13 July 2022. For the Commission Virginijus Sinkevičius Member of the Commission
ANNEX
ANNEX EU Ecolabel criteria for awarding the EU Ecolabel to growing media and soil improvers FRAMEWORK
EU ECOLABEL CRITERIA Table 1 Overview of applicable criteria according to the specific product
The criteria for awarding the EU Ecolabel to growing media and soil improvers, and their applicability to each type of product covered by the scope, are as follows: Criterion Growing media Soil improvers 1 – Components x x 1.1 – Organic components of the product x x 2 – Mineral components x x 2.1 – Energy consumption and CO2 emissions during the manufacture of mineral growing media x 2.2 – Sources of mineral extraction x x 2.3 – Mineral growing media use and after use x 3 – Organic components and recycled/recovered materials in growing media x 4 – Restricted substances x x 4.1 – Limits for heavy metals x x 4.2 – Limits for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) x x 4.3 – Restrictions on substances and mixtures classified as hazardous under Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council x x 4.4 – Restrictions on substances of very high concern (SVHCs) as identified under Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council x x 4.5 – Microbiological criteria x x 5 – Fitness for use x x 5.1 – Stability x x 5.2 – Macroscopic impurities x x 5.3 – Organic matter and dry matter in soil improvers x 5.4 – Viable weed seeds and plant propagules x x 5.5 – Plant response x x 6 – Growing media features x 6.1 – Electrical conductivity x 6.2 – Sodium content x 6.3 – Chloride content x 7 – Provision of information x x 7.1 – Soil improvers x 7.2 – Growing media x 8 – Information appearing on the EU Ecolabel x x
Assessment and verification requirements
For the EU Ecolabel to be awarded to a specific product, applicants must comply with each requirement. Specific assessment and verification requirements are indicated under each criterion. Where the applicant is required to provide declarations, documentation, analyses, test reports, or other evidence to show compliance with the criteria, these may originate from the applicant and/or their supplier(s) as appropriate. Competent bodies shall preferentially recognise attestations that are issued by bodies accredited in accordance with the relevant harmonised standard for testing and calibration laboratories, and verifications by bodies that are accredited in accordance with the relevant harmonised standard for bodies certifying products, processes and services. Where appropriate, test and sampling methods other than those indicated for each criterion may be used if the competent body assessing the application accepts their equivalence. Where appropriate, competent bodies may require supporting documentation and may carry out independent verifications. Changes in suppliers and production sites pertaining to products to which the EU Ecolabel has been granted shall be notified to competent bodies, together with supporting information to enable verification of continued compliance with the criteria. As a prerequisite, the product must meet the relevant requirements in Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 or the legal requirements of the Member State in which the product is intended to be placed on the market. In the latter case, the applicant shall declare the product’s compliance with this requirement. The sampling shall be carried out in accordance with EN 12579 (Soil improvers and growing media – Sampling). Samples are be prepared in accordance with EN 13040 (Soil improvers and growing media – Sample preparation for chemical and physical tests, determination of dry matter content, moisture content and laboratory compacted bulk density). Once available, test and sampling methods shall be conducted in accordance with the corresponding harmonised standards, the references of which have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union in accordance with Article 13 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1009. For the application year, the sampling and test frequency shall fulfil the requirements set down in Appendix 1. For the following years, the sampling and test frequency of products shall fulfil the requirements set down in Appendix 2. Different sampling and testing frequencies are set for the following types of plants: For Type 2 plants, the sampling and test frequencies for the application year and the following years will be the same as the frequencies set for Type 3, if the supplied materials derived from waste/animal by-products comply with the EU Ecolabel criteria for growing media and soil improvers. The applicant shall provide the competent body with the test reports from the suppliers, together with the documentation, to ensure the compliance of the supplied material with the EU Ecolabel criteria. The competent body may recognise the sampling and testing frequencies under national legislation and standards as valid to ensure compliance with the EU Ecolabel criteria of the supplied materials derived from waste or animal by-products. A written confirmation from the applicant that all the criteria are fulfilled shall also be required for the assessment. An EU fertilising product is a fertilising product that is CE marked when made available on the market. If the product is an EU fertilising product, the following documentation shall be delivered to the competent body: the EU declaration of conformity; the technical documentation; and, where applicable, the documents issued by a notified body involved in the conformity assessment procedure of the product. For the purposes of this Annex, the following definitions shall apply:
Type 1: Treatment plants for waste or for animal by-products,
Type 2: Product manufacture plants using materials from Type 1 plants, and
Type 3: Product manufacture plants not using materials from Type 1 plants.
(1) annual input means the annual quantity of materials treated in a waste or animal by-product treatment plant;
(2) annual output means the annual quantity of products composed of the same components;
(3) batch means a quantity of goods manufactured by the same process under the same conditions and labelled in the same manner and is assumed to have the same characteristics;
(4) bio-waste means biodegradable garden and park waste, food and kitchen waste from households, offices, restaurants, wholesale, canteens, caterers and retail premises and comparable waste from food processing plants, including similar waste from households collected together with bio-waste;
(5) component means the material that is used as an ingredient of the product;
(6) mineral growing medium means a growing medium totally composed of mineral components, which is only offered for use for professional horticultural applications, as green walls and/or green roofs;
(7) organic component means components composed primarily of carbon and molecules derived from living organisms, other than fossil fuels and materials derived from fossil fuels;
(8) recovered material means any material that underwent any recovery operation, including preparing for re-use, recycling and backfilling, but excluding energy recovery and the reprocessing into materials that are to be used as fuels or other means to generate energy;
(9) recovery means any operation the principal result of which is waste serving a useful purpose by replacing other materials that would otherwise have been used to fulfil a particular function, or waste being prepared to fulfil that function, in the plant or in the wider economy;
(10) recycling means any recovery operation by which waste materials are reprocessed into products, materials or substances whether for the original or other purposes, including the reprocessing of organic material but excluding energy recovery and the reprocessing into materials that are to be used as fuels or for backfilling operations;
(11) total organic carbon (TOC) means quantity of carbon that is converted into carbon dioxide by combustion and which is not liberated as carbon dioxide by acid treatment.
Criterion 1 Components
This criterion applies to growing media and soil improvers. The components admitted shall be organic and/or mineral components. The product shall not contain intentionally added peat.
Criterion 1.1 Organic components of the product
The product may contain one or more of the following organic components: Organic components (g) can be obtained by processing one or more of the following input materials:
(a) plants, plant parts or plant extracts, derived from agricultural or forestry activities, having undergone no other processing than cutting, grinding, milling, sieving, sifting, centrifugation, pressing, drying, frost treatment, freeze-drying, extraction with water, supercritical CO2 extraction, or fiberisation at a temperature not higher than 100 °C and without any additives except water. For the purpose of this point, plants include mushrooms and algae and exclude blue-green algae (cyanobacteria);
(b) food industry factory lime, i.e. a material from the food processing industry obtained by carbonation of organic matter, using exclusively burnt lime from natural sources;
(c) molasses, i.e. a viscous by-product of the refining of sugar cane or sugar beets into sugar;
(d) vinasse, i.e. a viscous by-product of the fermentation process of molasses into ethanol, ascorbic acid or other products;
(e) distillers grains, i.e. by-products resulting from the production of alcoholic beverages;
(f) lime from drinking water production, i.e. residue that is released by production of drinking water from groundwater or surface water and consists, mainly, of calcium carbonate;
(g) digestate obtained through anaerobic digestion or compost obtained through aerobic composting of one or more of the materials listed below from 1 to 5.
(1) bio-waste from separate collection at source, as defined in Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council;
(2) living or dead organisms or parts thereof that are unprocessed or processed only by manual, mechanical or gravitational means, by dissolution in water, by flotation, by extraction with water, by steam distillation or by heating solely to remove water, or which are extracted from air by any means, except:
(2)
(a) materials originating from mixed municipal waste;
(b) sewage sludge, industrial sludge or dredging sludge;
(c) animal by-products or derived products falling within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council for which no end point in the manufacturing chain has been determined in accordance with Article 5(2), third subparagraph, of that Regulation;
(3) category 2 or category 3 materials or derived products thereof, in accordance with the conditions set out in Article 32(1) and (2) and in the measures referred to in Article 32(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009, provided that the end point in the manufacturing chain has been determined, in accordance with Article 5(2), third subparagraph, of that Regulation, and reached before placing the product on the market;
(4) sludges that comply with both of the following two conditions:
(4) I.
they are identified as one of the following types of waste:
0203 05 sludges from on-site effluent treatment in the preparation and processing of fruit, vegetables, cereals, edible oils, cocoa, coffee, tea and tobacco, conserve production, yeast and yeast extract production, molasses preparation and fermentation;
0204 03 sludges from on-site effluent treatment in sugar processing;
0205 02 sludges from on-site effluent treatment in the dairy products industry;
0206 03 sludges from on-site effluent treatment in the baking and confectionery industry;
0207 05 sludges from on-site effluent treatment in the production of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (except coffee, tea and cocoa);
II.
they are single-source separated, meaning that there has been no mixing with effluents or sludges outside a specific production process.
(5) digestate obtained through anaerobic digestion or compost obtained through aerobic composting of any of the materials indicated in points 1, 2, 3 and 4 of this list.
Assessment and verification
The applicant shall provide the competent body with the list of all components of the product. The applicant shall provide the competent body with the information about the origin of each organic component of the product and a declaration of compliance with the requirements of Criterion 1 of this Annex.
Criterion 2 Mineral components
Criterion 2.1 Energy consumption and CO2 emissions during the manufacture of mineral growing media
This criterion applies to mineral growing media only. The manufacture of expanded minerals and mineral wool shall fulfil the following energy consumption and CO2 emissions thresholds: Product refers to the mineral wool in any of the forms placed on the market (e.g. slabs, cubes, plugs). The ratio energy consumption/product shall be calculated as an annual average as follows: ratioEnergyProduct1ni1Productioni•ni1F2.1•ElgridHcogRef HηElcogRef Eη•1PEScogi Where: The ratio CO2 emissions/production shall be calculated as an annual average as follows: ratioCO2 emissionsProduct1ni1Productioni•ni1Direct CO2Indirect CO2i Where: The direct CO2 emissions shall be monitored in accordance with Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2066. The indirect CO2 emissions shall be monitored in accordance with Article 6 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/331 on free allocation rules. The period to calculate the ratios energy consumption/product and CO2 emissions/product shall be the last five years before the submission of the application. If the operation period of the plant is less than five years at the date of the submission of the application, the ratio shall be calculated as an annual average of that operation period, which shall be at least one year.
energy consumption/product ≤ 11 GJ/t product, in primary energy, and
CO2 emissions/product ≤ 0,7 t CO2/t product.
n is the number of years of the period used to calculate the average,
i is each year of the period used to calculate the average,
Production is the production of the mineral wool or expanded minerals in tonnes in the year i,
F is the annual consumption of fuels in the production process in the year i,
Elgrid is the annual electricity consumption from the grid in the year i,
Hcog is the annual consumption of useful heat from cogeneration in the year i,
Elcog is the annual consumption of electricity from cogeneration in the year i,
Ref Ηη and Ref Εη are the reference efficiencies for the separate production of heat and electricity as defined in Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council and calculated in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2402, and
PEScog is the primary energy saving of the cogeneration plant as defined in the Directive 2012/27/EU, in the year i.
n is the number of years of the period used to calculate the average,
i is each year of the period used to calculate the average,
Production is the mineral wool production in tonnes in the year i,
Direct CO2 is the CO2 emissions in accordance with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2066, in the year i, and
Indirect CO2 is the indirect CO2 emissions due to final energy consumption in the year i, and shall be calculated in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/331.
The applicant shall provide the competent body with a declaration that includes the following information: The following documents shall be provided together with the declarations:
ratio energy consumption (GJ)/product (tonne),
ratio CO2 emissions (tonne)/product (tonne),
direct CO2 emissions (tonnes) for each year of the period to calculate the average,
indirect CO2 emissions (tonnes) for each year of the period to calculate the average,
fuels consumed, consumption of each fuel (GJ), sub-process(es) of the manufacture process where they are consumed for each year of the period to calculate the average,
electricity consumption from the grid (GJ final energy) for each year of the period to calculate the average,
useful heat consumption from cogeneration (GJ final energy) for each year of the period to calculate the average,
electricity consumption from cogeneration (GJ final energy) for each year of the period to calculate the average,
reference efficiencies for separate production of heat and electricity,
primary energy saving (PES) (%) of the cogeneration for each year of the period to calculate the average, and
identification of fuels used in cogeneration and their share in the fuel mix, for each year of the period to calculate the average.
annual emissions report in accordance with Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2066, for each year of the period to calculate the average,
verification report finding the annual emissions report satisfactory in accordance with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2067, for each year of the period to calculate the average,
records of electricity consumption from the grid provided by the supplier, for each year of the period to calculate the average, and
records of the useful heat and electricity consumption from cogeneration, both on-site and purchased, for each year of the period to calculate the average.
Criterion 2.2 Sources of mineral extraction
This criterion applies to growing media and soil improvers. The extraction of minerals to be used as a component of an EU Ecolabel growing medium and soil improver shall only take place on sites that are covered by the following documentation: Regarding the last point above, in cases where extraction sites are located in Natura 2000 network areas, composed of special areas of conservation referred to in Article 3 of Directive 92/43/EEC and special protection areas as defined in Article 4 of Directive 2009/147/EC, extraction activities shall have been assessed and authorised in accordance with the provisions laid down in Article 6 of Directive 92/43/EEC and have taken into account the relevant European Commission guidance document. Also regarding the last point above, in cases where extraction sites are located outside the EU, if materials are extracted from areas officially nominated as candidates for or adopted as: areas of special conservation interest; part of the Emerald network pursuant to Recommendation No 16 (1989) and Resolution No 3 (1996) of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats; or protected areas designated as such under the national legislation of the sourcing/exporting countries, the extraction activities shall have been assessed and authorised in accordance with provisions that provide assurances equivalent to Directives 92/43/EEC and 2009/147/EC.
an environmental impact assessment and, where relevant, a report in accordance with Directive 2014/52/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council,
a valid authorisation for the extraction activity issued by the relevant regional or national authority,
a rehabilitation management plan associated with the authorisation for the extraction activity,
a map indicating the location of the quarry,
a declaration of conformity with Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council,
a declaration of conformity with Council Directive 92/43/EEC (habitats) and Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (birds).
The applicant shall provide a declaration of compliance with this requirement issued by the competent authorities, or a copy of the authorisations issued by the competent authorities, and any other required declarations and documentation. The rehabilitation management plan shall include the objectives for the rehabilitation of the quarry, the conceptual final landform design, including the proposed post-quarry land use, details on the implementation of an effective revegetation programme and details of an effective monitoring programme to assess the performance of rehabilitated areas. If industrial or construction mineral extraction activities have been carried out in Natura 2000 network areas (in the Union), the Emerald network or protected areas designated as such under national legislation of the sourcing/exporting countries (outside the Union), the applicant shall provide a declaration of compliance with this requirement issued by the competent authorities or a copy of their authorisation issued by the competent authorities.
Criterion 2.3 Mineral growing media use and after use
This criterion is applicable to mineral growing media only. The applicant shall offer customers a structured collection and recycling service, which may use third-party service providers. The collection and recycling service shall cover a minimum of 70 % of the applicant sales, expressed in volume, across the Union.
The applicant shall provide the competent body with a declaration that the mineral growing media are only offered for use in professional horticultural applications. A statement about the professional horticultural application of the product shall be included in the information provided to the end-user. The applicant shall inform the competent body about the option(s) on offer of structured collection and recycling services and the results of the options implemented. In particular, the applicant shall provide the following documentation and information: In the case of new entrants, an estimation of the annual overview of the total sales volume of growing media in the EU Member States, and an estimation of the annual overview of the sales volumes in areas of those Member States where collection and processing are on offer, shall be provided. Real data shall be provided one year after the EU Ecolabel licence is awarded.
contract documentation between the manufacturer and the service providers,
description of collection, processing and destinations,
annual overview of the total sales volume of growing media in the European Union Member States and an annual overview of the sales volumes in areas of those Member States where collection and processing are on offer.
Criterion 3 Organic components and recycled/recovered materials in growing media
This criterion applies to growing media only. Growing media shall consist of organic or recycled/recovered content, in accordance with either of the following:
(a) the growing medium shall consist of at least 30 % of organic components (expressed as volume of organic components per total volume of the product);
(b) the growing medium shall consist of mineral components manufactured from a process using at least 30 % of recycled/recovered materials (expressed as the dry weight of recycled/recovered materials per total dry weight of the input materials).
The applicant shall declare the following information: For case (b), the applicant shall also declare the following information about the mineral components:
for case (a): volume of organic components declared in Criterion 1 per total volume of the product,
for case (b): dry weight of recycled/recovered materials per total dry weight of the input materials.
identification of raw material inputs, reporting amounts as dry weight and origins,
identification of recycled/recovered material inputs, reporting amount and origin, which is to be supported by invoice or verification documents provided by the supplier of the material.
Criterion 4 Restricted substances
Criterion 4.1 Limits for heavy metals
This criterion applies to growing media and soil improvers.
Criterion 4.1(a) Limits for heavy metals in soil improvers Table 2 Heavy metals limits for soil improvers
The content of the following elements in the product shall be lower than the values shown in Table 2, measured in terms of dry matter (DM) of the product. Heavy metal Maximum content in the product (mg/kg DM) Cadmium (Cd) 1 Chromium total (Cr total) 100 Copper (Cu) 200 Mercury (Hg) 0,45 Nickel (Ni) 40 Lead (Pb) 100 Zinc (Zn) 300 Inorganic Arsenic (As) 10
Criterion 4.1(b) Limits for heavy metals in growing media Table 3 Heavy metal limits for growing media
The content of the following elements in the product shall be lower than the values shown in Table 3, measured in terms of dry matter (DM) of the product. Heavy metal Maximum content in the product (mg/kg DM) Mineral growing media Growing media other than mineral growing media Cadmium (Cd) 1,3 1,3 Chromium total (Cr total) 310 100 Chromium VI (Cr VI) 2 Not applicable Copper (Cu) 200 200 Mercury (Hg) 0,45 0,45 Nickel (Ni) 40 40 Lead (Pb) 100 100 Zinc (Zn) 300 300 Inorganic arsenic (As) 10 10
The applicant shall provide the competent body with the reports of tests conducted in accordance with existing EN standards or testing procedures that are performed in a reliable and reproducible manner. For chromium total content, the applicant shall provide the competent body with reports of tests conducted in accordance with the testing procedure indicated in EN 13650. In growing media of solely mineral components, the limit for nickel shall refer to its bioavailable content.
Criterion 4.2 Limits for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) Table 4 Limit for PAHs
This criterion applies to growing media and soil improvers. The content in the product of the following polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons shall be lower than the values shown in Table 4, measured in terms of dry matter of the product. PAH16 = sum of naphthalene, acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, dibenzo[a,h]anthracene and benzo[ghi]perylene. Pollutant Maximum content in the product (mg/kg DM) PAH16 6
The applicant shall provide the competent body with reports of tests conducted in accordance with the testing procedure indicated in EN 16181.
Criterion 4.3 Restrictions on substances and mixtures classified as hazardous under Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008
The criterion applies to soil improvers and growing media. The product shall not be classified in accordance with any of the hazard classes, categories and associated hazard statements codes, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, that are listed in the following paragraph. The product shall not contain intentionally added substances or mixtures in concentration greater than 0,010 % w/w (in terms of wet weight) that are assigned any of the following hazard classes, categories and associated hazard statement codes, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008: The hazard statement codes generally refer to substances. However, if information on substances cannot be obtained, the classification rules for mixtures shall apply. The use of substances or mixtures that are chemically modified during the production process, so that any relevant hazard for which the substance or mixture has been classified under Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 no longer applies, shall be exempted from the above requirement. This criterion does not apply to those components composed of: In order to determine if this exclusion applies, the applicant shall screen any intentionally added substances or mixtures present at a concentration above 0,010 % w/w (in terms of wet weight) in the product.
Group 1 hazards: Category 1A or 1B carcinogenic, mutagenic and/or toxic for reproduction (CMR): H340, H350, H350i, H360, H360F, H360D, H360FD, H360Fd, H360Df,
Group 2 hazards: Category 2 CMR: H341, H351, H361, H361f, H361d, H361fd, H362; Category 1 aquatic toxicity: H400, H410; Category 1 and 2 acute toxicity: H300, H310, H330; Category 1 aspiration toxicity: H304; Category 1 specific target organ toxicity (STOT): H370, H372, and
Group 3 hazards: Category 2, 3 and 4 aquatic toxicity: H411, H412, H413; Category 3 acute toxicity: H301, H311, H331; Category 2 STOT: H371, H373.
substances not included in the scope of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 as defined in Article 2(2) of that Regulation,
substances covered by Article 2(7)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, which sets out the criteria for exempting substances included in Annex V to that Regulation from the registration, downstream user and evaluation requirements.
The applicant shall provide a list of all relevant components and chemicals intentionally added in the production process, together with the relevant safety data sheets or chemical supplier declarations that demonstrate the compliance with the requirement. Any components or chemicals containing substances or mixtures classified under Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 shall be highlighted. The approximate dosing rate of the component or chemical, together with the concentration of the restricted substance or mixture in that component or chemical (as provided in the safety data sheet or supplier declaration) and an assumed retention factor of 100 %, shall be used to estimate the quantity of the restricted substance or mixture remaining in the product. Justifications for any deviation from a retention factor of 100 % or for chemical modification of a restricted hazardous substance or mixture must be provided in writing. For components or substances exempted from meeting the requirement of Criterion 4.3 (see Annexes IV and V to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006), a declaration to this effect by the applicant shall suffice to comply. In the case of mineral wool, the applicant shall also provide the following: The above evidence can also be provided directly to competent bodies by any supplier in the applicant’s supply chain.
(a) copy of a certificate awarded for the right to use the European Certification Board for Mineral Wool Products trademark as proof of compliance with Note Q of Annex VI to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008;
(b) copy of a test report under the terms of ISO 14184-1 Textiles – Determination of formaldehyde – Part 1: Free and hydrolysed formaldehyde.
Criterion 4.4 Restrictions on substances of very high concern (SVHCs) as identified under Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006
The criterion applies to soil improvers and growing media. The product shall not contain any intentionally added substance meeting the criteria referred to in Article 57 of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 that has been identified in accordance with the procedure described in Article 59 of that Regulation and included in the candidate list of substances of very high concern (SVHCs) for authorisation.
The applicant shall provide a declaration that they have not intentionally added any SVHCs during their production process. This applicant declaration shall be supported by declarations and safety data sheets of all supplied chemicals and materials used to produce the EU Ecolabel product(s) – to confirm that no SVHC has been intentionally added to those supplied chemicals or materials.
Criterion 4.5 Microbiological criteria Table 5 Limit value proposed for pathogens
This criterion applies to growing media and soil improvers, with the exception of mineral growing media. The content of primary pathogens in the product shall not exceed the maximum levels set in Table 5. CFU = colony-forming units Micro-organisms to be tested Sampling plans Limit n c m M Salmonella spp. 5 0 0 Absence in 25 g or 25 ml Escherichia coli or Enterococcaceae 5 5 0 1000 CFU in 1 g or 1 ml Where:
n is the number of samples to be tested,
c is the number of samples where the number of bacteria expressed in CFU is between m and M,
m is the threshold value for the number of bacteria expressed in CFU that is considered satisfactory, and
M is the maximum value of the number of bacteria expressed in CFU.
Assessment and verification Table 6 Standard test method for the detection of specific pathogens
The applicant shall provide the competent body with reports of tests conducted in accordance with the testing procedure indicated in Table 6. Parameter Test method E. coli CEN/TR 16193 or ISO 16649-2 or EN ISO 9308-3 Salmonella spp. EN ISO 6579 or CEN/TR 15215 Enterococcacea EN 15788 or EN ISO 7899-1 or BEA method
Criterion 5 Fitness for use
Criterion 5.1 Stability Table 7 Table 8 Stability requirements of soil improvers intended for non-professional applications and growing media intended for all applications Stability requirements of soil improvers intended for professional applications
This criterion applies to growing media and soil improvers, with the exception of mulches totally composed by lignocellulosic components and mineral growing media. Soil improvers for non-professional applications and growing media for all applications shall meet one of the requirements presented in Table 7. Stability parameter Requirement Maximum Respirometric index 15 mmol O2/kg organic matter/h Minimum Rottegrad, where applicable IV (self-heating test temperature rise of maximum 20 °C above ambient temperature) Soil improvers for professional applications shall meet one of the requirements presented in Table 8. Stability parameter Requirement Maximum Respirometric index 25 mmol O2/kg organic matter/h Minimum Rottegrad, where applicable III (self-heating test temperature rise of maximum 30 °C above ambient temperature)
Assessment and verification Table 9 Standard test method for the determination of stability parameters
The applicant shall provide the competent body with reports of tests conducted in accordance with the testing procedure indicated in Table 9. Parameter Test method Respirometric index EN 16087-1 Rottegrad EN 16087-2
Criterion 5.2 Macroscopic impurities
This criterion applies to growing media and soil improvers, with the exception of mineral growing media:
(a) no more than 3 g/kg dry matter of macroscopic impurities above 2 mm in any form of glass and metal, each;
(b) no more than 2,5 g/kg dry matter of macroscopic impurities above 2 mm in form of plastic; and
(c) no more than 5 g/kg dry matter of the sum of the macroscopic impurities referred to in point (a) and point (b).
Assessment and verification
The applicant shall provide the competent body with reports of tests conducted in accordance with the testing procedure indicated in the Technical Specification CEN/TS 16202, or another equivalent testing procedure authorised by the competent body.
Criterion 5.3 Organic matter and dry matter in soil improvers
This criterion applies to soil improvers. The organic matter as loss on ignition of the product shall not be lower than 15 % dry mass or 8,5 % of organic carbon (Corg) content by mass. The dry matter content of the product shall not be lower than 25 % fresh weight (% FW).
Assessment and verification Table 10 Standard test methods for the determination of dry matter, organic matter and total organic carbon contents (TOC)
The applicant shall provide the competent body with reports of tests conducted in accordance with the testing procedure presented in Table 10. Where compliance is assessed based on organic matter, the following conversion factor applies: organic carbon (Corg) = organic matter × 0,56 Parameter Test method Dry matter (% FW) EN 13040 Organic matter as loss on ignition (% dry mass) EN 13039 Total organic carbon (TOC) (% dry mass) EN 15936
Criterion 5.4 Viable weed seeds and plant propagules
This criterion applies to growing media and soil improvers, with the exception of mineral growing media. In the product, the content of viable weed seeds and plant propagules shall not exceed two units per litre.
Assessment and verification
The applicant shall provide the competent body with a report of a test in accordance with the testing procedure indicated in the Technical Specification CEN/TS 16201, or another equivalent testing procedure authorised by the competent body.
Criterion 5.5 Plant response
This criterion applies to growing media and soil improvers. Products shall not adversely affect plant emergence or subsequent growth.
The applicant shall provide the competent body with a valid test conducted in accordance with the testing procedure indicated in EN 16086-1.
Criterion 6 Growing media features
This criterion only applies to growing media.
Criterion 6.1 Electrical conductivity
The electrical conductivity of the product shall be below 100 mS/m.
The applicant shall provide the competent body with the report of the test conducted in accordance with the testing procedure indicated in EN 13038.
Criterion 6.2 Sodium content
The sodium content in water extract of the product shall not exceed 150 mg/l fresh product.
The applicant shall provide the competent body with the report of the test conducted in accordance with the testing procedure indicated in EN 13652.
Criterion 6.3 Chloride content
The chloride content in water extract of the product shall not exceed 500 mg/l fresh weight of the product.
The applicant shall provide the competent body with the report of the test conducted in accordance with the testing procedure indicated in EN 16195.
Criterion 7 Provision of information
This criterion applies to growing media and soil improvers. The information indicated under Criterion 7.1 or 7.2, as applicable, shall be provided. The information shall be provided with the product, either on the packaging or in accompanying documents. An EU fertilising product falling within the product function category 3(A) (organic soil improvers) or the product function category 4 (growing media) under the terms of Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 shall be deemed to comply with the requirement. For mineral growing media, the provision of information shall include a statement about the professional horticultural application.
Criterion 7.1 Soil improvers
(a) the name and address of the body responsible for marketing;
(b) a descriptor identifying the product by type, including the wording SOIL IMPROVER;
(c) a batch identification code;
(d) the quantity (indicated by mass or volume);
(e) range of moisture content or the dry matter content expressed as % by mass;
(f) a list of all components above 5 % by product weight or volume in descending order of magnitude by dry weight; where the component is a substance or a mixture, it shall be identified as specified in Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008;
(g) the recommended conditions of storage and the recommended use by date;
(h) guidelines for safe handling and use, including any relevant information on measures recommended to manage risks to human, animal or plant health, to safety or to the environment;
(i) instructions for intended use, including application rates, timing and frequency, and target plants or mushrooms;
(j) pH;
(k) electrical conductivity given as mS/m, except for mineral wool;
(l) organic matter content or organic carbon (Corg) content, expressed as % by mass;
(m) minimum amount of organic nitrogen (Norg), expressed as % by mass, followed by a description of the origin of the organic matter used;
(n) the ratio of organic carbon to total nitrogen (Corg/N). The following nutrients shall be declared, expressed as % by mass, if exceeding 0,5 % by mass: nitrogen (N), phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) and potassium oxide (K2O).
Criterion 7.2 Growing media
(a) the name and address of the body responsible for marketing;
(b) a descriptor identifying the product by type, including the wording GROWING MEDIUM;
(c) a batch identification code;
(d) the quantity:
for plugs of mineral wool, expressed as number of pieces and the two dimensions diameter and height,
for mineral wool having forms other than plugs, expressed as number of pieces and the three dimensions length, height and width,
for other pre-shaped growing media, expressed as size in at least two dimensions,
for other growing media, expressed as total volume,
except for pre-shaped growing media, quantity expressed as volume of materials with a particle size greater than 60 mm, when present;
(e) range of moisture content or the dry matter content expressed as % by mass;
(f) a list of all components above 5 % by product weight or volume in descending order of magnitude by dry weight; where the component is a substance or a mixture, it shall be identified as specified in Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008;
(g) the recommended conditions of storage and the recommended use by date and production date;
(h) guidelines for safe handling and use, including any relevant information on measures recommended to manage risks to human, animal or plant health, to safety or to the environment;
(i) instructions for intended use, including application rates, timing and frequency, and target plants or mushrooms;
(j) pH;
(k) electrical conductivity given as mS/m, except for mineral wool;
(l) a statement about the stability of organic matter (stable or very stable);
(m) nitrogen (N) extractable by CaCl2/DTPA (calcium chloride/diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid; CAT-soluble), if above 150 mg/l;
(n) phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) extractable by CaCl2/DTPA (calcium chloride/diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid; CAT-soluble), if above 20 mg/l;
(o) potassium oxide (K2O) extractable by CaCl2/DTPA (calcium chloride/diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid; CAT-soluble), if above 150 mg/l;
(p) Chromium total (Cr total), quantified as set in criterion 4.1(b), if above 200 mg/kg DM;
(q) a statement about the professional horticultural application, in the case of mineral growing media.
The applicant shall declare that the product complies with this criterion and provide the competent body with the text of the user information written on the packaging or on accompanying fact sheets.
Criterion 8 Information appearing on the EU Ecolabel
If the optional label with text box is used, it shall contain the following three statements: For soil improvers, the additional information shall be included: The applicant shall follow the instructions on how to properly use the EU Ecolabel logo provided in the EU Ecolabel Logo Guidelines: https://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecolabel/
promotes the recycling of materials,
promotes the use of materials produced in a more sustainable manner, thus reducing environmental degradation.
contributes to reducing soil and water pollution.
The applicant shall provide a declaration of compliance with this criterion, supported by a high resolution image of the product packaging that clearly shows the label, the registration/licence number and, where relevant, the statements that can be displayed together with the label
Appendix 1 Sampling and test frequency for the application year
Type of plant Criterion Annual input/output Test frequency Type 1: Waste/animal –by-product treatment plants Input (t) ≤ 3000 1 every 1000 tonnes input material rounded to the next integer 3000 < input (t) < 20000 4 (one sample every season) Input (t) ≥ 20000 number of analyses per year = amount of annual input material (in tonnes)/10000 tonne + 1 Input (t) ≤ 3000 1 3001 < input (t) < 10000 2 10001 < input (t) < –20000 3 20001 < input (t) < 40000 4 40001 < input (t) < 60000 5 60001 < input (t) < 80000 6 80001 < input (t) < 100000 7 100001 < input (t) < 120000 8 120001 < input (t) < 140000 9 140001 < input (t) < 160000 10 160001 < input (t) < 180000 11 Input (t) ≥ 180000 12 Type 2: Product manufacture plants using materials derived from waste/animal by-product, except those that are waste treatment plants Output (m3) ≤ 5000 Representative combined samples from 2 different batches in accordance with EN 12579 Output (m3) > 5000 Representative combined samples from 4 different batches in accordance with EN 12579 Output (m3) ≤ 5000 Representative combined samples from 1 different batch in accordance with EN 12579 Output (m3) > 5000 Representative combined samples from 2 different batches EN 12579 Type 3: Product manufacture plants NOT using materials derived from waste/animal by-product Output (m3) ≤ 5000 Representative combined samples from 1 batch in accordance with EN 12579 Output (m3) > 5000 Representative combined samples from 2 different batches in accordance with EN 12579 Regardless of the input/output Representative combined samples from 1 batch in accordance with EN 12579
4.1 – Limits for heavy metals
4.5 – Microbiological criteria
5.1 – Stability
5.2 – Macroscopic impurities
5.3 – Organic matter and dry matter in soil improvers
5.4 – Viable seeds and plant propagules
5.5 – Plant response
6 – Growing media features
4.2 – Limits for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
4.1 – Limits for heavy metals
4.5 – Microbiological criteria
5.1 – Stability
5.2 – Macroscopic impurities
5.3 – Organic matter and dry matter in soil improvers
5.4 – Viable seeds and plant propagules
5.5 – Plant response
6 – Growing media features
4.2 – Limits for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
4.1 – Limits for heavy metals
4.5 – Microbiological criteria
5.1 – Stability
5.2 – Macroscopic impurities
5.3 – Organic matter and dry matter in soil improvers
5.4 – Viable seeds and plant propagules
5.5 – Plant response
6 – Growing media features
4.2 – Limits for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
Appendix 2 Sampling and test frequency for the following years
Type of plant Criteria Annual input/output Test frequency Type 1: Waste/animal by-product treatment plants Input (t) ≤ 1000 1 Input (t)> 1000 number of analyses per year = amount of annual input material (in tonnes)/10000 tonne + 1 Minimum 2 and maximum 12 Input (t) ≤ 10000 0,25 (once every 4 years) 10001 < input (t) < 25000 0,5 (once every 2 years) 25001 < input (t) < 50000 1 50001 < input (t) < 100000 2 100001 < input (t) < 150000 3 150001 < input (t) < 200000 4 200001 < input (t) < 250000 5 250001 < input (t) < 300000 6 300001 < input (t) < 350000 7 350001 < input (t) < 400000 8 400001 < input (t) < 450000 9 450001 < input (t) < 500000 10 500001 < input (t) < 550000 11 Input (t) ≥ 550000 12 Type 2: Product manufacture plants using materials derived from waste/animal by-product, except those that are waste treatment plants Output (m3) ≤ 5000 Representative combined samples from 1 different batch in accordance with EN 12579 Output (m3) > 5000 Representative combined samples from 2 different batches in accordance with EN 12579 Output (m3) ≤ 15000 Representative combined samples from 1 batch in accordance with EN 12579, once every 4 years 15000 < Output (m3) < 40000 Representative combined samples from 1 batch in accordance with EN 12579, every two years Output (m3) ≥ 40000 Representative combined samples from 1 batch in accordance with EN 12579, every year Type 3: Product manufacture plants NOT using materials derived from waste/animal by-product Regardless of the input/output Representative combined samples from 1 batch in accordance with EN 12579 Regardless of the input/output Representative combined samples from 1 batch in accordance with EN 12579, once every 4 years
4.1 – Limits for heavy metals
4.5 – Pathogens
5.1 – Stability
5.2 – Macroscopic impurities
5.3 – Organic matter and dry matter in soil improvers
5.4 – Viable seeds and plant propagules
5.5 – Plant response
6 – Growing media features
4.2 – Limits for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
4.1 – Limits for heavy metals
4.5 – Pathogens
5.1 – Stability
5.2 – Macroscopic impurities
5.3 – Organic matter and dry matter in soil improvers
5.4 – Viable seeds and plant propagules
5.5 – Plant response
6 – Growing media features
4.2 – Limits for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
4.1 – Limits for heavy metals
4.5 – Pathogens
5.1 – Stability
5.2 – Macroscopic impurities
5.3 – Organic matter and dry matter in soil improvers
5.4 – Viable seeds and plant propagules
5.5 – Plant response
6 – Growing media features
4.2 – Limits for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)