Professional Documents
Culture Documents
STANDARD
279
First edition
2015-mm-dd
Reference number
© RBS yyyy
© RSB 2015
DRS 279: 2015
In order to match with technological development and to keep continuous progress in industries,
Standards are subject to periodic review. Users shall ascertain that they are in possession of the latest
edition
© RSB 2015
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without
prior written permission from RSB.
E-mail: info@rsb.gov.rw
Website: www.rsb.gov.rw
Contents Page
Foreword ............................................................................................................................................................ iv
1 Scope ...................................................................................................................................................... 1
4 Product description............................................................................................................................... 3
7 Contaminants ......................................................................................................................................... 5
7.1 Microbiological requirements .............................................................................................................. 5
7.2 Heavy metals .......................................................................................................................................... 5
8 Packaging ............................................................................................................................................... 5
9 Labelling ................................................................................................................................................. 5
9.1 Required information on the label ....................................................................................................... 5
9.2 Other labelling guidelines .................................................................................................................... 6
9.2.1 Testimonials/Endorsements ................................................................................................................ 6
9.2.2 Other Claims .......................................................................................................................................... 6
9.2.3 Nutrient guarantees............................................................................................................................... 6
9.2.4 Directions for use .................................................................................................................................. 6
9.2.5 Miscellaneous terms ............................................................................................................................. 7
9.2.6 Environmentally beneficial ................................................................................................................... 7
9.2.7 Slowly available plant nutrients ........................................................................................................... 7
9.2.8 Low leaching potential .......................................................................................................................... 7
10 Sampling ................................................................................................................................................ 7
10.1 Number of sample ................................................................................................................................. 7
10.2 Procedure for composite sampling ..................................................................................................... 8
10.3 Laboratory sampling (sample preparation for laboratory analysis) ................................................ 8
10.3.1 For samples with uniform fineness ..................................................................................................... 8
Annex A (normative) Allowed raw materials as inputs for organic fertilizer production .......................... 9
Annex B (normative) Prohibited and restricted raw materials as inputs for organic fertilizer ................ 10
Foreword
Rwanda Standards are prepared by Technical Committees and approved by Rwanda Standards Board (RSB)
Board of Directors in accordance with the procedures of RSB, in compliance with Annex 3 of the WTO/TBT
agreement on the preparation, adoption and application of standards.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare national standards. Final Draft Rwanda Standards
adopted by Technical committees are ratified by members of RSB Board of Directors for publication and
gazettment as Rwanda Standards.
DRS nnn-n was prepared by Technical Committee RSB/TC 007, Fertilizers, Pesticides and Agro-
Pharmaceutical Products.
In the preparation of this standard, reference was made to the following standards:
The assistance derived from the above source is hereby acknowledged with thanks.
Committee membership
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee on Fertilizers, Pesticides and Agro-
Pharmaceutical Products (RSB/TC 007) in the preparation of this standard.
Africhem
EM
ENAS
AGROPYL
UR-CST
RSB
INATEK
ALICOMEC
MINAGRI
TUBURA
1 Scope
This Standard specifies requirements and methods of sampling and test for solid organic fertilizers.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application 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.
ISO 10694, Soil quality — Determination of organic and total carbon after dry combustion (elementary
analysis)
ISO 11261, Soil quality — Determination of total nitrogen — Modified Kjeldahl method
ISO 11465, Soil quality — Determination of dry matter and water content on a mass basis — Gravimetric
method
ISO 14255, Soil quality — Determination of nitrate nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen and total soluble nitrogen in
air-dry soils using calcium chloride solution as extractant
For the purposes of this standard, in addition to the terms and definitions provided in ISO 8157, the following
apply.
3.1
Organic fertilizers
carbonaceous materials mainly of vegetable and/or animal origin added to the soil specifically for the nutrition
of plants.
raw materials
3.3
pathogens
organisms (microorganisms and infective parasites) that can cause negative effects on human health; crops
and soil
3.4
label
display of the written, printed or graphic information on the immediate container of any product
3.5
batch
organic fertilizer that is produced from the same type of organic materials, at the same time and location, by
the same manufacturer/producer, or made during the same cycle or period of manufacture.
3.6
sample size
3.7
fertilizer
substance containing one or more recognized plant nutrient(s), which is used for its plant nutrient content and
which is designed for use or claimed to have value in promoting plant growth
3.8
materials that are directly mined from mineral deposits and only subjected to physical processes such as
crushing and drying
3.9
green manure
plants which are mainly succulent and leafy legume crop which are grown for a short duration and then
ploughed in the same field and incorporated by ploughing
3.10
mainly leguminous plants, grown for a short duration and ploughed back into the soil at their succulent and
leafy stage.
3.11
compost
organic soil improver obtained by decomposition of a mixture consisting principally of various vegetable
residues, occasionally with organic materials of animal origin, and having a limited mineral content
3.12
microbial inoculant
biologically active products containing optimum population of one or a combination of active strains of
bacteria, actinomycetes, algae and fungi that are useful in different biological activities, such as but not limited
to: N2- fixation, decomposition of organic residues and enhancement of nutrient availability.
3.13
foreign matters
any matter which is not biodegradable such us glass, plastic and metal
3.14
4 Product description
Organic fertilizer comprises any product in solid form, of plant (except by-products from petroleum industries)
or animal origin that has undergone substantial decomposition that can supply available nutrients to plants.
This may be enriched by microbial inoculants and naturally occurring minerals but chemical or inorganic
fertilizer material shall not be added to the finished product to affect the nutrient content.
5.1 Only allowed raw materials shall be used (Annex A). Those restricted shall be used after having
undergone recommended treatment or quality control (Annex B)
5.2 For products with microbial inoculants, the genus shall be verifiable as natural source and be indicated
on the label.
5.3 Organic fertilizer shall be free from foul smell and foul odour
5.5 Organic fertilizer shall be fine enough for one hundred per cent thereof to pass through a 12 mm
standard sieve
5.7 Organic fertilizer shall be free from pathogens and contaminants such as residual hormones, antibiotics,
pesticides, heavy metals, in amount that may be a hazard to the soil, to the plants, to the applicant or to the
consumers of the harvested product
6 Specific requirements
7 Contaminants
8 Packaging
Organic fertilizer shall be packaged in such way that protect the product and do not impart undesirable
substances to the product.
9 Labelling
The packages shall be legibly and indelibly labelled with the following information:
f) Moisture content
g) Batch number
j) Date of packaging
k) Expire date
9.2.1 Testimonials/Endorsements
The public has no way of evaluating the status of the endorser in relation to a product. For this reason,
testimonials and endorsements will be viewed as claims and evaluated accordingly.
Any reference to the activity of a product containing plant nutrients that is not generally associated with its
nutritional value shall be substantiated with statistically significant efficacy data derived from field trials.
Any product represented as a source of plant nutrients shall carry a guaranteed analysis.
9.2.4.1 All specialty fertilizers shall carry instructions for use. These instructions shall specify both the rate
and time and frequency of application based on the growth stage and crop. Suggested rates of application
shall provide an adequate quantity of nutrients to the plants concerned.
8.2.4.1 Where the product does not contain all 3 major plant nutrients, the label should carry a statement
indicating that some plants may require an additional source of the nutrient(s) that are lacking.
8.2.4.1 Any product containing composted materials or plant nutrients may represent a potential hazard
when misused. In order to avoid giving the impression that reasonable precautions are unnecessary, blanket
statements suggesting that the product is completely safe and non-toxic to humans, animals or the
environment shall not appear on the label.
9.2.5.1 Words, such as balanced and healthy, shall be avoided as they are often misunderstood and
consequently misleading.
9.2.5.2 Also objectionable are comparatives such as best, superior, and greener, as they imply a comparison
without indicating the basis of this comparison
Any product represented as "environmentally sound", etc. shall identify the rationale for the claim and list all
ingredients in order to allow the consumer to determine the validity of the statement.
Only products providing at least 70% of a plant nutrient in a slowly available form may indicate this on the
label. Such a claim shall be accompanied by the associated guarantee.
Only products containing at least 70% of a nutrient in a slowly available form may indicate that nutrient will be
slowly available and thus unlikely to leach when used in accordance with label instructions.
10 Sampling
Sampling for Laboratory Analysis - all finished products should be subjected to lot sampling for laboratory
analysis using the following procedure:
Less than 50 2
51 - 100 3
101 - 300 8
301 - 500 15
501 - 1000 20
10.2.2 The selected bags shall be emptied into a clean area. All contents of the selected bags (maximum of
5 bags) shall be thoroughly mixed.
10.2.3 Submit five kilograms (5 Kg) of the composite sample to the laboratory.
10.2.4 Information relative to the sample taken shall be accurate and complete to allow traceability of the
sample back to the lot from which it was sampled.
10.4.1.2 Reduce sample to a quantity sufficient for analysis by quartering. Mix and store in air-tight container.
Annex A
(normative)
b) Vermi compost
e) Azolla
g) Kitchen waste
i) Mushroom beds
m) Seaweed
ICS 65.080