Fertilising products

From December 4th, 2021, PCBC S.A. is a notified body with the identification number 1434, assigned by the European Commission for the conformity assessment of EU fertilising products in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 for module B – EU-type examination and module D1 – quality assurance of the production process.

From March 6th, 2023 PCBC S.A. can also conduct inspection in module A1 – internal production control plus supervised product testing in accordance with the scope of accreditation issued for a inspection body No. AK 041 under PN-EN ISO/IEC 17020:2012.

As part of our competences, we evaluate the following products:

Information on the types and scope of certification processes is provided below:

• Scope of notification – powers to assess compliance – link

• Scope of accreditation – certification powers – link
• Scope of accreditation AK 041 – certification powers – link

• The conformity assessment process for EU fertilising products is conducted in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/1009
• Main stages in the process of EU fertilising products conformity assessment:
  • Submitting the application by the Manufacturer
  • Review of the submitted application
  • Registration of the application and preparation of a contract and cost estimate
  • Signing the contract
  • Settlement of the initial payment and delivery of product documentation to PCBC S.A. – indicated in the application
  • Assessment (included audit in module D1)
  • Review of information and assessment results
  • Decision on certification
  • Issuing the certificate

Certificates confirming compliance with the applicable requirements for an EU fertilising product specified in Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council are issued respectively under:

1. Module B – for a period of 3 years, unless the technical documentation of the EU fertilising product has changed.
2. Module D1 – for a period of 3 years, provided that the Manufacturer maintains the production quality assurance system and carried out annual surveillance audits confirm that the requirements of the QMS are met. After this period of time, the certificate may be prolonged for another 3 years.

Certificates  issued by PCBC S.A. are signed with a qualified electronic signature

Surveillance over the granted certification.

• The conformity assessment process for EU fertilising products is conducted in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/1009
• Main stages in the process of EU fertilising products inspection in module A1:
  • Submitting the application by the Manufacturer
  • Review of the submitted application
  • Registration of the application and preparation of a contract and cost estimate
  • Signing the contract
  • Settlement of the initial payment and delivery of product documentation to PCBC S.A. – indicated in the application
  • Inspection (in the form of a documentation review)
  • Review of information and assessment results
  • Decision on issuing the Certificate

Certificates of testing under the supervision of a notified body are issued for a period of 3 months, with an indication of the date of the next test

At the request of the notified body, the laboratory of PCBC S.A takes a sample and performs the tests referred to in Annex IV, part II, points 4.1 – 4.4 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1009

Certificates  issued by PCBC S.A. are signed with a qualified electronic signature.

How much does the conformity assessment cost?
The valuation will be prepared on the basis of a completed by the manufacturer and sent to PCBC S.A. application FBS-N-01

How long does the conformity assessment take?
The conformity assessment may take up to 180 days (in module B and D1), excluding the time needed for the Manufacturer to complete the documentation

The conformity assessment may take up to 50 working days (in module A1), excluding the time needed for the Manufacturer to complete the documentation

What is the time to submit the required documents?
From the signing of contract by PCBC S.A., the Applicant has 30 days to provide all the required documents specified in the application

What documents are needed to carry out a conformity assessment?
The required documents are listed on the penultimate page of the fertilising product conformity assessment application

Who is responsible for commissioning tests under module A1, B and D1?

• In the case of selecting the assessment according to module A1 – PCBC S.A. collects a sample and performs the tests referred to in Annex IV, part II, points 4.1 – 4.4 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1009
• As part of the EU-type examination in the B module – PCBC orders examinations and tests on samples obtained from the Manufacturer. The manufacturer shall agree with the notified body on the location where the sampling and testing will be carried out. In order to prepare an offer for sampling and testing, please send a list of the forms of individual nutrients with the declared content and other declared parameters characterizing a given fertilising product that require appropriate tests
• In the D1 module, the manufacturer provides a test report

Where can we commission tests of the EU fertilising products?
Fertilizer and Chemical Product Laboratory, Testing and Certification Branch Office in Piła, PCBC, contact: jfinster@pcbc.gov.pl

What reports and test results are accepted in module D1 by PCBC S.A.?
PCBC S.A. accepts in the certification process test results not older than 1 year on the date of documentation evaluation, made in an accredited laboratory (EN ISO/IEC 17025) or a non-accredited laboratory which has implemented the requirements of EN ISO / IEC 17025. The scope of the tests depends on the PFC and results from Reg. (EU) 2019/1009

How many samples and what size will be tested in the laboratory tests?
The number and size of samples are determined by test method. Before the test is performed, it is necessary to complete and submit an order for the laboratory tests. For more detailed information, please contact: jfinster@pcbc.gov.pl

When will we receive the certificate?
The certificate shall be send to the Manufacturer after issuing by PCBC S.A. the positive decision based on the carried out conformity assessment process and after all amounts of dues for the certification process are paid by the Manufacturer

Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 – the Fertilising Products Regulation Frequently Asked Questions

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION concerning the visual appearance of the label on EU fertilising products referred to in Annex III to Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2021/C 119/01)

Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 laying down rules on the making available on the market of EU fertilising products and amending Regulations (EC) No 1069/2009 and (EC) No 1107/2009 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003

Amended by:

• Commission delegated regulation (EU) 2021/1768 of 23 June 2021 amending, for the purpose of its adaptation to technical progress, Annexes I, II, III and IV to Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down rules on the making available on the market of EU fertilising products
• Commission delegated regulation (EU) 2021/2086 of 5 July 2021 amending Annexes II and IV to Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council for the purpose of adding precipitated phosphate salts and derivates as a component material category in EU fertilising products
• Commission delegated regulation (EU) 2021/2087 of 6 July 2021 amending Annexes II, III and IV to Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council for the purpose of adding thermal oxidation materials and derivates as a component material category in EU fertilising products
• Commission delegated regulation (EU) 2021/2088 of 7 July 2021 amending Annexes II, III and IV to Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council for the purpose of adding pyrolysis and gasification materials as a component material category in EU fertilising products
• Commission delegated regulation (EU) 2022/973 of 14 March 2022 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council by laying down criteria on agronomic efficiency and safety for the use of by-products in EU fertilising products
• Commission delegated regulation (EU) 2022/1171 of 22 March 2022 amending Annexes II, III and IV to Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council for the purpose of adding recovered high purity materials as a component material category in EU fertilising products
• Commission delegated regulation (EU) 2022/1519 of 5 May 2022 amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the requirements applicable to EU fertilising products containing inhibiting compounds and the postprocessing of digestate
• Commission delegated regulation (EU) 2023/409 of 18 November 2022 amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the minimum content of calcium oxide in straight solid inorganic macronutrient fertilisers