AS 4454-2003

Specifies requirements for composts, soil conditioners and mulches. This edition includes requirements for vermicast. It specifies minimum requirements to be met prior to labelling a product as a composted or pasteurized product. It also specifies physical and chemical requirements and documentation which includes information to be supplied to the consumer and health warnings. Guidance is given on best practice for composting and vermicast systems designed to produce a quality product achieved by following an approved process.

This Standard applies to organic products and mixtures of organic products that are to be used to amend the physical and chemical properties of natural or artificial soils and growing media. It specifies physical, chemical, biological and labelling requirements for composts, mulches, soil conditioners and related products that have been derived largely from compostable organic materials and which meet the minimum requirements as set out in this Standard. It covers materials marketed or distributed both in bags and in bulk. This Standard applies to organic products and mixtures of organic products that have been treated by pasteurizing or composting procedures as defined by this Standard. This Standard does not apply to home composting end products for self-use, nor does it apply to organic fertilizers such as blood and bone. Also excluded are liquid organic wastes, liquid seaweed products, non-organic mulches (e.g. gravel), non-organic soils and soil conditioners (e.g. gypsum and sand), non-compostable organic materials (e.g. plastics) and materials variously described as ‘compost starters’ and ‘activators’. Shredded garden organics (sometimes referred to as ‘green waste’, ‘green organics’, ‘garden wastes’ or ‘yard wastes’) that have not been subjected to either a pasteurization or composting procedure are specifically excluded from this Standard, mainly because they have a high probability of containing plant propagules and pathogens. Vermicast that has not been subject to pasteurization or composting before or after being worked by worms may conform with this Standard if they pass the provisions of Appendices L and M, along with all the other criteria in Table 3.1. Test methods for the analysis of these materials are set out in Appendices A to M. NOTE: Appendices N and O give guidance on best practice. Adherence to the criteria given in the ‘best practice’ guidelines should lead to the production of quality compost or vermicast that will not spread plant propagules or pathogens. Appendix P gives guidance on the determination of compliance with this Standard.

First published as AS 4454-1997.
Second edition 1999.
Third edition 2003.