Soil sampling requirements in France
National rules: Arrêté du 19 décembre 2011 relatif au programme d’actions national à mettre en oeuvre dans les zones vulnérables, as amended.
| Country / region | Purpose / programme | Time / frequency | Area per sample | Method | Depth | Cores | Status and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | |||||||
| FranceNational rule for nitrate vulnerable zones. Each regional action programme sets the sampling protocol. | Annual soil nitrogen or organic matter analysisNitrates Directive national action programme (programme d’actions national), vulnerable zones |
| Not specified | At least one field (îlot cultural) for one of the three main crops grown in the vulnerable zone. The regional prefectoral order sets the protocol, including minimum depths and the number of horizons by soil type. | Not specified | Not specified | ConditionalArrêté du 19 décembre 2011, programme d’actions national (Légifrance, version in force 30 October 2026) |
Who it applies to, the exact wording and every source
The wording in the sourceTiming
Method
Who it applies to
Outside the rule
Laboratory and analysis
SourcesSources re-checked every two months, last update October 2026. Reviewed by GeoPard editorial team. | |||||||
Soil sampling regulations in every country
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A planning reference built from official sources, not legal advice. Rules apply by jurisdiction, nutrient, land use and programme: check the current official text and your laboratory’s instructions before fieldwork.