On Thursday 13 July in Brussels, the European Parliament’s internal market and consumer protection committee adopted its position on the revision of the regulation on fertilisers. 594 amendments were submitted to the vote, without counting the compromise amendments ratified, for a text that should help promote the harmonisation of European standards and ensure that organic fertilisers, in particular, (from cattle effluence) can be marketed in the EU.
Current European rules on fertilisers mainly cover the traditional fertilisers extracted from mines or chemically produced products, which leads to high energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Due to the different national provisions that exist, organic fertiliser producers have experienced difficulties selling them and using them within the single European market.
By adopting (30 vote in favour, 3 against, with 4 abstentions) the report by Ildikó Gáll-Pelcz (EPP, Hungary) on this dossier, the committee in charge has effectively ratified a text that: promotes increased use of recycled materials for producing fertilisers, thus helping the development of the circular economy, while reducing dependency on imported nutrients; eases market access for innovative, organic fertilisers, which would give farmers and consumers a wider choice and promote green innovation; establishes EU-wide quality, safety and environmental criteria for “CE marked” fertilisers; provides for clearer labelling requirements to better inform farmers and consumers; keeps the option for producers not willing to sell their products on the whole EU market to comply with national rules.
The plenary vote will take place during the session from 2-5 October, before the beginning of negotiations with the Council. The latter will then have to adopt its position on the dossier.
Cadmium limits. The Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee, which covered the provisions on contaminants levels, agreed on 30 May on the limits for cadmium content in “CE marked” phosphate fertilisers (see EUROPE 11799). These would be tightened from 60 mg/kg to 40 mg/kg after three years and to 20 mg/kg after nine years, instead of 12 as proposed by the Commission. A review clause introduced by Internal Market MEPs requires the Commission to assess the application of restrictions on levels of contaminants, as well as the developments in decadmiation technologies 42 months after the date of application of this regulation. The Commission would also have to assess, within the same period, the impact on trade in raw material sourcing, including the availability of phosphate rock, and how the new rules impact the fertilising products market.
Currently, only 5% of waste organic material is recycled and used as fertilisers, but recycled bio-waste could substitute up to 30% of mineral fertilisers. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)