About the Working Group on Method Hamonization

(Updated: 17 February 2010)

Convenor Jan Chys Yara S.A. Belgium

With the acceleration of global fertilizer trade, IFA’s diverse membership has experienced an increasing number of contractual disputes due to the variable use of methods and procedures to sample and analyze international product shipments.

In a member-driven initiative, a broad-based working group was formed in early 2007 to address this matter. Company representatives from key global producers, traders and inspection companies participate in the working group in either one of two participation “levels”: 1) steering committee and 2) expert review.

The steering committee consists of 12-15 members that meet several times a year to discuss, coordinate, and plan working group action. Participants at the “expert review” level contribute to the compilation, review and “best practice” recommendation process via electronic means.

The Working Group's objectives are:

• To foster broad-based industry participation in the method review process to ensure transparency and representativeness;
• To develop a list of recommended voluntary “best practice” methods based on a balanced, structured, and collaborative assessment process;
• To develop and manage a communications plan to facilitate the wide spread adoption of the recommended practices in order to reduce trade inefficiencies and related economic losses.

Working Group white paper (PDF format)

Best Practice Recommendations