The Updated CAN/BNQ Draft Standard for Compost Quality. A Review of Proposed Changes and the Process of Public Consultation

Transcription

1 The Updated CAN/BNQ Draft Standard for Compost Quality A Review of Proposed Changes and the Process of Public Consultation

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4 Compost Standards in Canada Spearheaded by 4 organizations: 1.Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) 2.Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) ---> Each Province/Territory decides on their specifics 3.Standards Council of Canada ---> Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ) 4.Compost Council of Canada ---> Compost Quality Alliance (CQA)

5 Compost Standards in Canada By Regulation 1.CFIA (Fertilizer Act & Regulations) 2.Province/Territory (direct or adjusted from CCME)

6 Compost Standards in Canada Voluntary 1.Standards Council of Canada/BNQ 2.Compost Council of Canada s Compost Quality Alliance

7 Linkages with CFIA & CCME AAFC, Environment Canada/CCME & BNQ standards/regulations developed in mid 1990s with harmonization in mind - Criteria - Testing Protocols

8 Today s Discussion Standards Council of Canada Draft Standard D (BNQ)

9 Standards Council of Canada - BNQ Opportunity to develop voluntary industry standards for products In the history of the compost industry s development, BNQ was selected to champion the SCC standard for compost BNQ standard has a trigger option to be reviewed every 5 years

10 2005 BNQ Review & Public Consultation Input & Decisions/Updated SCC Document Updating of the CCME s Guidelines for Compost Quality (PIN1340)

11 BNQ review triggered by the combined support of Recyc-Québec, MAPAQ, Ville de Montréal and The Compost Council of Canada through the support of Green Manitoba and the Nova Scotia Department of Environment

12 Review Process 15 person committee representing industry, end markets and interest groups Multiple meetings Consensus-based decisions Public Consultation Process

13 Public Consultation Process Availability of Draft Documents www2.bnq.qc.ca/en/index.html

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16 Consultation Period Open until August 25, 2015 Sylvain Allard Normalisateur 333, rue Franquet, Québec (Québec) G1P 4C7 Tél , poste 2403 Sans frais , poste 2403 Courriel sylvain.allard@bnq.qc.ca

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19 Following input BNQ summarizes comments; one final meeting of the committee Draft docs finalized; internal BNQ/SCC process leading to issuance of updated standard

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21 SCOPE Organic Soil Conditioners - Compost This standard applies to compost from different sources used as organic soil conditioners, sold or distributed in bags or in bulk. This document was developed to serve as a reference document for conformity assessment activities of compost. NOTE: Conformity assessment is defined as the systematic examination of the extent to which a process fulfils specified requirements.

22 Definitions Compost (n) Solid mature product resulting from compost Composting (n) Managed process of biooxidation of a solid heterogeneous organic substrate including a thermophilic phase

23 Definitions Foreign Matter Any material greater than 2mm in dimension that has organic or inorganic components such as metal, glass, synthetic polymers. That results from human intervention and that may be present in compost, exlcuding mineral soil, woody material, shells and pieces of rock.

24 Definitions Mature Term used to designate a compost that, when used an an organic soil conditioner, does not have phytotoxic effects arising from, for example, nitrogen immobilization or anaerobioses

25 7 Specific Requirements 7.1 PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS Moisture content The moisture content shall not exceed 65% of mass, on a wet weight basis, when analyzed in accordance with the method indicated in Clause

26 7.1.2 Total organic matter content The total organic matter content, as a percentage of mass on a dry weight basis, shall not be less than the following contents when analyzed in accordance with the method indicated in Clause 9.1.2: Type AA: 40% Type A: 30% Type B: 25%

27 7.1.3 Foreign Matter Content Sharp Foreign Matter Foreign Matter

28 Sharp Foreign Matter Bagged compost shall not contain sharp foreign matter, whose maximum dimension is greater than 3 mm in a 500-ml test portion, when analyzed in accordance with the method indicated in Clause 9.2. Type A bulk compost shall have a sharp foreign matter content of less than or equal to 1 piece of sharp foreign matter per 500 ml, whose maximum dimension is greater than 3 mm and at most 12.5 mm, when analyzed in accordance with the method indicated in Clause 9.2. Type B bulk compost shall have a sharp foreign matter content of less than or equal to 3 pieces of sharp foreign matter per 500 ml, whose maximum dimension is greater than 3 mm and at most 12.5 mm, when analyzed in accordance with the method indicated in Clause 9.2. Compost shall be free of sharp foreign matter, whose maximum dimension is greater than 12.5 mm in a 500-ml test portion, when analyzed in accordance with the method indicated in Clause 9.2

29 Foreign Matter Total foreign matter contents of bagged and bulk compost shall comply with the following requirements when analyzed in accordance with the method indicated in Clause 9.2

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31 F.7 Sharp Foreign Matter (SFM) Bagged compost: the requirement of no SFM per 500 ml was kept. Type-A bulk: the content was lowered to 1 SFM per 500 ml (more lenient), but this SFM shall be at most 12.5 mm in dimension, and the compost directions for use shall contain a warning restricting the possible uses as a preventive measure (see Chapter 10)

32 7.1.4 Inorganic Trace Element Content

33 7.1.4 Inorganic Trace Element Content Types AA and A The Pb content was reduced and the Mo content was increased These modifications better match the best achievable approach concept. See Annex C for details. Type B Only more restrictive modifications were made. The maximum contents were reduced for the elements As, Hg and Pb. The committee re-introduced a maximum content for Cu and Cr. See Annex D for more details. Certain methods of analysis were also reviewed (see Clause 9.4).

34 7.2 MICROBIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS Escherichia Coli content The Escherichia coli content shall be less than 1000 MPN */g of total solids (dry weight basis) when analyzed in accordance with the method indicated in Clause MPN: Most Probable Number. A technique used in microbiology to count bacteria present in food products intended for human or animal consumption. Subject to the conservation period between the collection of increments and the start of the analysis (see Clause 8.4) and to the requirement of Clause 6.2, Escherichia coli analyses shall be done three times. Content results shall comply with the requirements of this clause for at least two of the results. NOTE The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has specific requirements on pathogen microorganisms for compost sold in Canada

35 7.2.2 Salmonella content The salmonella content shall be less than 3 MPN*/4 g of total solids (dry weight basis) when analyzed in accordance with the method indicated in Clause , or shall be less than 1 CFU in 25 g (dry weight basis) when analyzed in accordance with the method indicated in Clause Subject to the conservation period between the collection of increments and the start of the analysis (see Clause 8.4) and to the requirement of Clause 6.2, salmonella analyses shall be done three times. Content results shall comply with the requirements of this clause for at least two of the results.

36 7.3 MATURITY AND STABILITY Compost shall be mature and stable at the time of sale and distribution. To be considered mature and stable, compost shall meet one of the following four requirements: a) the respiration rate is less than or equal to 400 milligrams of oxygen per kilogram of volatile solids per hour when analyzed in accordance with the method indicated in Clause ; b) the respiration rate is less than or equal to 450 milligrams of oxygen per kilogram of volatile solids per hour when analyzed in accordance with the method indicated in Clause ; c) the carbon dioxide evolution rate is less than or equal to 4 milligrams of carbon in the form of carbon dioxide per gram of organic matter per day when analyzed in accordance with the method indicated in Clause 9.3.2; d) the rise in temperature of compost above room temperature is less than 8 C when analyzed in accordance with the method indicated in Clause NOTE The rise in temperature in this method of analysis has been lowered from 10 C to 8 C based on the analyses of preliminary data for the method. The committee recommends that a study be conducted in order to determine the most appropriate value to ensure the maturity of compost with this method. Subject to the conservation period between the collection of increments and the start of the analysis (see Clause 8.4) and to the requirement of Clause 6.2, maturity analyses shall be done three times. Content results shall comply with the requirements of this clause for at least two of the results.

37 10 MARKING, LABELLING, NOTICE AND WARNING Labels on bags of compost and the accompanying documents shall specify, in writing, the compost classification according to one of three types (AA, A or B) indicated in Chapter 5. NOTE It is important that manufacturers are aware that certification bodies may have marking and labelling requirements of their own such as the obligation to state the standard number, the number of the certificate of conformity and the registered mark of conformity of the certification body

38 10.2 NOTICE AND WARNING Labels on bags of compost and the accompanying documents shall specify, in writing, the compost classification according to one of three types (AA, A or B) indicated in Chapter 5. NOTE It is important that manufacturers are aware that certification bodies may have marking and labelling requirements of their own such as the obligation to state the standard number, the number of the certificate of conformity and the registered mark of conformity of the certification body. In addition to the above information, compost sold or distributed in bulk shall carry the following notice in full concerning directions for use: CAUTION THE APPLICATION RATE SHALL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH PROVINCIAL OR TERRITORIAL REGULATIONS RELATED TO FERTILIZER ELEMENT OR TRACE ELEMENT APPLICATIONS TO SOIL, AND THE FERTILIZERS ACT AND FERTILIZERS REGULATIONS. In addition to the above information, compost sold or distributed in bulk containing sharp foreign matter shall carry the following warning in full concerning directions for use, in French and English: ATTENTION CE COMPOST PEUT CONTENIR DES CORPS ÉTRANGERS TRANCHANTS. IL NE DEVRAIT PAS ÊTRE UTILISÉ SUR LES PÂTURAGES, LES PELOUSES ET LES JARDINS. POUR TOUTE AUTRE USAGE, IL DEVRAIT ÊTRE INCORPORÉ AU SOL OU RECOUVERT./CAUTION THIS COMPOST MAY CONTAIN SHARP FOREIGN MATTER. IT SHOULD NOT BE USED IN PASTURES, LAWNS AND GARDENS. FOR OTHER PURPOSES, IT SHOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO THE SOIL OR COVERED.

39 Consultation Period Open until August 25, 2015 Sylvain Allard Normalisateur 333, rue Franquet, Québec (Québec) G1P 4C7 Tél , poste 2403 Sans frais , poste 2403 Courriel sylvain.allard@bnq.qc.ca

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