A manufacturer of isomeric mixture of 2-(3,4-dimethylpyrazole-1-yl)-succinic acid and 2-(4,5-dimethylpyrazole-1-yl)-succinic acid (‘DMPSA’) has via the Czech authorities submitted a request to the Commission to include DMPSA as a new entry in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003. DMPSA is a nitrification inhibitor that used together with mineral nitrogen fertilisers reduces the risk of nitrogen losses in the form of N2O emissions that leads to a higher nitrogen efficiency of fertilisers containing DMPSA.

DMPSA fulfils the requirements laid down in Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003. It should therefore be included in the list of fertiliser types in Annex I to that Regulation.

Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 requires the control of EC fertiliser in accordance with the methods of sampling and analysis that are described in Annex IV thereto. The inclusion of DMPSA in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 requires the addition of an analytical method to be applied for the official controls of this fertiliser type in Annex IV to that Regulation.

In addition, Method 1 on Preparation of the sample for analysis should be further developed by including additional European standards on sampling in general, as well as on sampling of static heaps. Lastly, the current Methods 9 for micro-nutrients at a concentration of less than or equal to 10 % and Methods 10 for micro-nutrients at a concentration greater than 10 % in Annex IV are not internationally recognised and should be replaced by European standards recently developed by the European Committee for Standardisation.

Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 should therefore be amended accordingly.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established by Article 32 of Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003,