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BT N 10621

Draft BT C12/2017

TECHNICAL BOARD

CEN/BT by correspondence

For vote Issue date: 2017-01-19

Simultaneous circulation to CENELEC/BT Deadline: 2017-04-18

SUBJECT

Proposal to create a new CEN/TC ‘Plant Biostimulants and Agricultural Micro-Organisms’

BACKGROUND

On 19 December 2016, AFNOR submitted a proposal to CCMC for the creation of a new Technical Committee entitled ‘Plant Biostimulants and Agricultural Micro-Organisms’, for which the details are provided in Annex 1.

The proposal to establish this new Technical Committee should be seen as the opportunity to standardize denominations, specifications (including safety requirements), marking and test methods of Plant Biostimulants. Plant Biostimulants have not been a subject for standardization yet, nor has there been any regulation at European level.

The European Parliament and the European Council are currently considering a draft regulation regarding the placing on the market of fertilizing products (2016/0084 COD). This draft EU regulation clearly distinguishes Plant Biostimulants from fertilizers, liming materials, soil improvers and growing media. Therefore it is proposed that this new Technical Committee be in charge of developing the needed European Standards for Plant Biostimulants in support of the forthcoming EU regulation.

The proposed work programme will be attuned to a possible future Standardisation Request for deliverables on Biostimulants from the European Commission in support to EU draft regulation 2016/0084 COD.

The Technical Committee will concentrate primarily on developing European Standards in the following sectors:

• Sampling of Plant Biostimulants; • Characterization, measurement and verification of the effects of Plant

Biostimulants; • Safety parameters: determination and quantification.

The proposed work does not impact other existing works; Plant Biostimulants are distinct from other fertilizing products, already covered by CEN/TC 223 ‘Soil improvers and growing media ‘ and CEN/TC 260 ‘Fertilizers and liming materials’. Currently ISO does not develop standards for Plant Biostimulants. The European Standards foreseen in this proposal may be proposed to ISO at a later stage.

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PROPOSAL(S)

BT,

• having considered the proposal for a new field of technical activity (Form A) submitted by AFNOR as included in Annex 1 to BT N 10621;

• considering that the following members have expressed commitment to participate: - <members>

• decides to create a new CEN/TC xxx with the following preliminary title and scope: - Title:

CEN/TC xxx ‘Plant Biostimulants and Agricultural Micro-Organisms’ - Scope:

Standardisation of denominations, specifications (including safety requirements), marking and test methods allowing the verification of product claims for Plant Biostimulants, including Agricultural Micro-Organisms. Plant Biostimulants are products meant to stimulate plant processes to use nutrient more efficiently and to make plants more vigorous to withstand harsh growing conditions. Excluded are fertilizing products, growing media and soil improvers which are already covered by standardisation at European level.

• allocates the Secretariat of CEN/TC xxx to AFNOR;

• asks the new CEN/TC xxx to submit its final title and scope for BT approval by October 2017.

2017-01-12 – CKO

By Resolution BT C75/2009, BT decided that both of the following criteria are to be met for acceptance of such a proposal for new work (in a new area):

• A two-thirds majority of the votes cast (abstentions not counted) are in favour of the proposal (or more);

• At least 5 members express commitment to participate. As a consequence, BT Members are requested to state explicitly, by means of the commenting field provided in the BT-balloting tool, whether or not they are committed to participate in the work.

Informative Annex 3 – Initial analysis for consideration by the TC when developing its work

program

A/ Plant biostimulants

Issue Std reference

Cadmium content (max: 3 mg/kg dry matter)

Cr VI content (max: 2 mg/kg dry matter)

Lead content (max: 1020 mg/kg dry matter)

VERIFICATION OF CLAIMS

Nutrient use efficiency

Tolerance to abiotic stress

Quality traits

SAMPLING

Sampling of different types of plant biostimulants

B/ Microbial plant biostimulants

Issue Std reference

SAFETY

Mercury content (max: 1 mg/kg dry matter)

Nickel content (max: 50 mg/kg dry matter)

Salmonella spp – absence in 25 g or 25 ml sample EN ISO 6579 – Part II

Escherichia Coli – Absence in 1g or 1 ml ISO 16649-2

Escherichia Coli EN ISO 9308-3

Escherichia Coli CEN/TR 16193

Enterococcaceae – max: 10 CFU/g fresh mass

Listeria monocytogenes – absence in 25 g or 25 ml

Vibrio spp– absence in 25 g or 25 ml

Shigella spp – absence in 25 g or 25 ml

Staphylococcus aureus absent in 1g or1ml

Aerobic plate count: max 105CFU/g unless the microbial is an aerobic bacterium

Yeast and mould: max 1000 CFU/g or ml sample unless the microbial is a fungus

pH : min 4

Determination of shelf-life: min 6 months

C/ List of authorised micro-organisms

Issue Std reference

Presence of Azobacter spp

Presence of Mycorrhizal fungi

Presence of Rhizobium spp

Presence of Azosprillum spp

D/ Organic non-microbial plant biostimulants Issue Std

Reference SAFETY

Mercury content (max: 1 mg/kg dry matter)

Nickel content (max: 50 mg/kg dry matter)

Salmonella spp – absence in 25 g or 25 ml sample EN ISO 6579

Escherichia Coli – max 1000 CFU/g fresh mass CEN/TR16193

Enterococcaceae – max: 1000 CFU/g fresh mass EN 15788

E/ Inorganic non-microbial plant biostimulants Issue Std

reference SAFETY

Mercury content (max: 2 mg/kg dry matter)

Nickel content (max: 120 mg/kg dry matter)

Arsenic content (max: 60mg/kg dry matter)

F/ General labelling requirements (other than the determination of a quantity and the chloride content)

Issue Std reference

GENERAL LABELLING REQUIREMENTS Verification of claims such as 'sustainable', 'environmentally friendly' or any similar claims

Physical form

Manufacturing and expiry date

Storage conditions

Application methods

Dose, timing (plant development stage) and frequency of applications

Effect claimed for each target plant

Any relevant instructions related to the efficacy of the products, including soil management practices chemical fertilisation, incompatibility with plant protection products, recommended spraying nozzles size and sprayer pressure

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Introduction to biostimulants

1 December 2016

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Why do we need biostimulants?

They help ensure sustainable food production for a growing population, in the face of:

• Climate change• Soil degradation• Finite land resources

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Biostimulants are innovative products that contain diverse formulations of substances and microorganisms

Common components are amino acids, humic acids, and plant/ seaweed extracts, but research has identified many more biostimulant substances.

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Biostimulants stimulate plant processes to:

• use nutrients more efficiently• make plants more vigorous to withstand harsh

growing conditions

Resulting in improved crop qualityand yields:

Untreated Treated

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Plant biostimulants contain substance(s) and/or micro-organisms whose function when applied to plants or the rhizosphere is to stimulate natural processes to enhance/benefit nutrient uptake, nutrient efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress, and crop quality.

EBIC’s definition:

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An example of how biostimulants work

• Plants can access more nutrients(+ efficiency & crop quality)

Stimulating root growth:

• Plants have more water available to get them through dry spells(+ resilience & crop quality)

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Potential impact

A 5% improvement across the entire EU would mean 550,000 fewer tonnes of nitrogen lost to the environment per year

Biostimulants can increase fertilizer use efficiency by 5-25%

That would mean a cost savings to EU farmers of 165 mn euros annually (assuming an average price of €300/t N), improving farm profitably and competitiveness

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Biostimulants : un atout pour mieux utiliser les intrants

Introduction aux biostimulants

30 décembre 2016

www.biostimulants.eu 1External

Conseil européen de l’industrie des biostimulants (EBIC)

• Créé en juin 2011

• Représente les producteurs des « biostimulants » (plant biostimulants) actifs en Europe

– +50 adhérents producteurs et/ou metteurs en marché dans l’Union Européenne mais aussi présents sur d’autres marchés à travers le monde

– L’activité des membres couvre la transformation des matières premières simples jusqu’à la fabrication de produits complexes

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Activités de l’EBIC

1. Poser la fondation du secteur et du marché européen:

• Une définition commune du “biostimulant”

• Meilleures pratiques pour les essais, la mise en marché, etc.

• Lutter contre la concurrence déloyale

2. Contribuer à un cadre règlementaire adapté aux produits, promouvant l’innovation et protégeant les usagers et les consommateurs

3. Aider les adhérents à gérer la période avant la réglementation européenne

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Quelle est l’utilité des biostimulants?

Ils nous aide à produire assez de nourriture pour une population croissante malgré de gros défis de durabilité tels que :

• Le changement climatique

• La dégradation des sols• Une superficie arable

limitée

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Les biostimulants sont des produits innovateurs qui contiennent de diverses formulations des substances et des microorganismes

Des composants communs sont les acides aminés, les substances humiques, les extraits de plantes et d’algues, mais la recherche a identifié beaucoup d’autres substances avec des effets biostimulants.

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Les biostimulants stimulent les processus dans et autour des plantes pour :

• améliorer la disponibilité et utilisation des nutriments

• rendre les plantes plus vigoureuses pour mieux tolérer des conditions hostiles

Le résultat : une meilleure qualité et un rendement augmenté

Non traité Traité

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Comment fonctionnent les biostimulants ?

• Les plantes peuvent atteindre plus de nutriments(+ efficience & qualité)

L’exemple de la stimulation du développement racinaire

• Il y a plus d’eau accessible pour aider les plantes à tol

• erer la sécheresse(+ résilience & qualité)

La place des biostimulants dans l’économie circulaire

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Principes de l’économie circulaire

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Reconceptualiser les systèmes de production

Utilisation augmentée des ressources renouvelable

Meilleure utilisation des ressources

Distinction entre les matières d’origines biologiques et techniques

Des systèmes plus résilients

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Impacts potentiels

Une augmentation de 5 % généralisée à travers l’UE serait l’équivalent de 550,000 tonnes moins de pertes en azote par an

Les biostimulants peuvent augmenter l’efficience d’utilisation des engrais de 5 % à 25 %

Les agriculteurs pourraient alors économiserquelques € 165 million par an (si le prix moyen = € 300/t N) augmentant la rentabilité et la compétitivité de leurs exploitations

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www.biostimulants.eu

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Secrétariat

c/o Prospero & Partners

Kristen Sukalac

kristen@prospero.ag

+33 1 40 91 05 70