1. Revision of Ecolabel Decisions for Soil improvers and Growing media:
EUEB March 2014
Joint Research Centre (JRC)
IPTS - Institute for Prospective Technological Studies
Seville - Spain

2. Main issues under revision
Revision of mulch definition
Revision of the criterion on organic ingredients
Revision of the requirements for mineral constituents
Harmonization with ongoing revision of Fertilizers Regulation
Revision of methods and monitoring frequency of parameters
Additional quality requirements for digestates
5 February 2019

3. Revision of mulch definition
The product group "soil improvers, growing media and mulches" shall comprise:
organic soil improvers
growing media
organic mulches
Definitions
Mulch: means a material used as protective covering placed around plants to prevent the loss of moisture, control weed growth, and reduce soil erosion.
Organic mulch: means a mulch that only contains organic constituents
Organic constituent means a constituent that performs an organic matter content > 15% dry matter.
According last update about the Ongoing revision Fertilizers Regulation

4. Criterion on organic ingredients
Organic constituents: currently derived from the processing and/or re-use of waste.
Update according Waste Framework Directive
Materials derived from recycling or re-use
By-products, as defined in article 5 of WFD
Definitions from WFD
Recycled material means a material produced by mean of recycling
Recycling means any recovery operation by which waste materials are reprocessed into products, materials or substances whether for the original or other purposes
Re-use means any operation by which products or components that are not waste are used again for the same purpose for which they were conceived;

5. Revision of methods and monitoring frequency of parameters
Revised proposal on test frequency, to avoid overburden and to align to Fertilizers Regulation
CEN/TC 400 vs CEN/TC 223 Standards: comparison and evaluation to revise the initial proposal
Current Decisions it is set:
Testing and sampling shall where applicable be carried out in accordance with test methods developed by CEN/TC 223 ‘Soil improvers and growing media’ until relevant horizontal standards elaborated under the guidance of CEN Task Force 151 ‘Horizontal’ become available (current CEN/TC 400)
5 February 2019

6. Quality requirements for digestates
Some MS don't allow digestates in soil improvers and growing media
Some stakeholders propose to forbid or restrict digestates in growing media
Main issue related to digestates is the stability
Under revision
Proposed criterion on stability
Sampling during storage and transport
5 February 2019

7. Thank you for your attention
5 February 2019