Analytical Aspects of the Fertilisers (Sampling and Analysis) Regulations 1978

rs (Sampling and Analysis) Regulations 1978 J. F. C. Tvrm. Department of Industry, Laboratory of the Govemmmt Cltemist, Cornwall House, Stamford Steet, London SEl 9NQ The substance of a lecture given at a meeting of The Association of Public Analysts at Borwick Hall, Carnforth, Lancashire on l5 September 1978. Until 1970 legislation governing the composition and physical characteristics of lertilisers was embodied in the Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs Act 1926 and before that in the Act of 1906. Now this legislation forms Part IV of the Agri- culture Act 1970 and is contained wholly within the Act, in contrast to feeding- stuffs legislation, part of which is in the Medicines Act 1968. Although historic- ally, journalistically and legislatively, fertilisers and feedingstuffs have always been taken in conjunction there is now, as far as legislation goes, a tendency to treat them separately. It was ironic that the first regulations made under the Agriculture Act 1970, the Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs Regulations 1973,1came into force on I January 1974, exactly one year after the United Kingdom acceded to the European Community. At that time, however, there was no Community legislati