NZS 4454:2005

Prescribes compositional requirements, compliance requirements, sampling and testing methods for composts, soil conditioners and mulches. Based on the equivalent Australian Standard, AS 4454:2003, the labelling requirements have been modified to fall in line with the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health for potting mixes. Limits for heavy metal contaminants and organic contaminant residues have been included in alignment with the interim values of the Biosolids Guidelines issued by the New Zealand Water and Wastes Association, 2003 (Classification a, Table 4.2 of the guidelines). Limits for indicator organisms, have been included to ensure microbiological quality of certain categories of products.