At a meeting of their ambassadors to the EU (Coreper) on Wednesday 20 December, the Member States adopted a position for entering into negotiations with the European Parliament on the revision of the European regulation on fertilisers (see EUROPE 11829).
This draft regulation: promotes the use of recycled materials in the production of fertilisers reducing dependence on nutrients imported from third countries; facilitates access to innovative organic fertilisers; establishes EU-wide quality, safety and environmental criteria; demands clearer information on labels. Manufacturers who do not sell their products throughout all of the European single market will be able to continue to comply with national rules.
One of the most complicated issues is the admissible cadmium level in fertilisers. Brussels has proposed a very strict cap of 20 mg/kg after 12 years of implementation of the rules. Parliament adopted its position on this matter in October and is calling for a reduction from 60 mg/kg to 40 mg/kg after 6 years and to 20 mg/kg after 16 years. The Council wants a limit of 60 mg/kg 8 years after the regulation comes into force.
Bulgaria, which will hold the presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2018, will try to find a compromise with Parliament and the European Commission. (Original version in French)