Centre Standardizes Micronutrient Concentrations via Fertilizer (Control) Order Amendment

The Central Government has notified significant revisions to the nutrient composition standards for specialized fertilizers, mandating precise concentration levels for essential micronutrients like Sulfur, Zinc, and Iron. This update to the national fertilizer regulatory framework ensures standardized quality across the agricultural supply chain by refining the specifications previously outlined in early 2026.

Background

The notification, S.O. 5497(E) dated October 7, 2026, was issued in exercise of the powers conferred by the Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985. The amendment follows a previous notification, S.O. 1570(E), which was published on March 25, 2026. The current instrument serves to substitute specific entries within the regulatory schedules to streamline the technical specifications for micronutrient-rich fertilizer blends under the overarching regulatory regime for agricultural inputs in India.

Stakeholders Impacted

The amendment directly impacts fertilizer manufacturers and importers who must now ensure their products strictly adhere to the revised nutrient concentration limits. It further affects agricultural distributors, quality control laboratories, and Fertilizer Inspectors responsible for testing and enforcement. The regulation primarily targets entities dealing with micronutrient-fortified products containing Sulfur, Magnesium, Zinc, Iron, Copper, Boron, and Manganese.

Key Provisions

Substitution of Micronutrient Specifications:

The notification introduces a precise list of mandated percentages for various nutrient components. Under the new guidelines, the concentration for Sulfur (S) is fixed at 31.5%, while Magnesium (Mg) is set at 8.0%. Zinc (Zn) and Iron (Fe) are standardized at 6.0% and 8.0% respectively.

Trace Element Benchmarks:

In addition to primary micronutrients, the order establishes specific limits for trace elements essential for soil health. Copper (Cu) is capped at 0.5%, Boron (B) at 1.15%, and Manganese (Mn) at 1.0%. These specific values substitute the previous technical parameters to ensure uniformity in chemical composition.

Practical/Compliance Impact

Fertilizer manufacturers must immediately recalibrate their production and blending processes to ensure that every batch aligns with these exact percentage thresholds. Quality control officers and analytical labs must update their internal testing protocols to match the 31.5% Sulfur and 6.0% Zinc benchmarks. Products that fail to meet these specific composition standards may be classified as non-compliant or sub-standard under the Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985, potentially leading to regulatory action or restrictions on sale. Entities should review their labeling to reflect these standardized concentrations accurately.

Effective Date

The notification was signed on October 7, 2026, and published in the Official Gazette on October 8, 2026. As the document does not specify a separate commencement date, the revised specifications are deemed effective from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.