Copa-Cogeca, the farming and agri-cooperative organisations in the EU, approved a common position on Friday 23 September critical of the proposal tabled by the European Commission on the review of fertiliser legislation.
The main aim of the Commission text is to increase the market share of organic fertilisers used in Europe by creating European standards that allow them to be marketed freely on the markets of all member states with no national restrictions (see EUROPE 11515).
A number of points of the proposal are of concern to Copa-Cogeca. Chief among these is that, if mineral fertilisers are not strictly defined, the quality of the product will be reduced. “We want a clear definition of mineral fertilisers which sets higher standards for nutrient content”¸ the organisation says.
A further worry is the proposed cadmium level in phosphate fertilisers. Copa-Cogeca wants to keep these key fertilisers in the market but, if cadmium levels fall too far, availability could be threatened, it warns. “There is no scientific evidence to justify the levels proposed by the Commission”, it says.
Another point of concern for Copa-Cogeca is the increased competition between farm manure and organic fertilisers marked EC. It calls for stronger standards for organic fertilisers and tighter labelling rules.
Negotiations on the text could be concluded by March 2017, under Maltese presidency of the Council, and come into force in 2018. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)