Commission Regulation (EC) No 2076/2004 of 3 December 2004 adapting for the first time Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to fertilisers (EDDHSA and triple superphosphate)Text with EEA relevance

• Published date: 04 December 2004
• Subject Matter: Technical barriers
• Official Gazette Publication: Official Journal of the European Union, L 359, 04 December 2004

4.12.2004 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 359/25

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COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2076/2004

of 3 December 2004

adapting for the first time Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to fertilisers (EDDHSA and triple superphosphate)

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 relating to fertilisers (1), and in particular Articles 31 (1) and (3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 provides that a fertiliser belonging to a type of fertiliser listed in Annex I thereto and complying with the conditions laid down in that Regulation may be designated ‘EC FERTILISER’.

(2) Among the phosphatic fertilisers listed in table A2 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 is Triple superphosphate (TSP) and one of the criteria for its labelling is ‘phosphorus expressed as P2O5 soluble in neutral ammonium citrate, at least 93 % of the declared content of P2O5 being water soluble’.

(3) The higher the water solubility of the TSP fertiliser, the better is its agronomic efficiency. In the past, European soils were in general deficient in phosphorous and a high minimum value of 93 % water solubility was justified in order to correct this deficiency.

(4) Today, the situation has changed in that many soils are no longer deficient in phosphorous and while there are soil conditions or crops for which TSP with a minimum of 93 % water solubility is still desirable, TSP with a minimum of 85 % of water solubility will be equally effective for many European soils and crops.

(5) TSP users should therefore be allowed to choose between a TSP with a minimum water solubility of 85 %, or one with a higher solubility, to suit the local soil and crop requirements. The entry concerning TSP in table A2 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) 2003/2003 should be adapted accordingly.

(6) Sodium salt of EDDHSA and its condensation products (EDDHSA) have been in use, particularly in Spain, France and Italy for 15 years as an organic chelating agent for micro-nutrients. Experience shows that it is an efficient fertilising agent and that it poses no risk to the environment.

(7) In particular, iron

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