Representatives of the Moroccan phosphate mining group OCP, formerly the Office chérifien des phosphates, met by EUROPE in Morocco, expressed confidence in the ability of Europeans to “protect their own interests” vis-à-vis Russia, while the issue of limiting cadmium in phosphate fertilizers is currently the subject of interinstitutional negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council.
"Putin is trying to pull the strings, but it's not going to happen like that! “The sentence, spoken by a staff member of the Khouribga mine, the largest phosphate mine in the world, gives a good idea of the current state of mind of OCP employees.
On 17 March 2016, the Commission's proposal (see EUROPE 11515) for a regulation to gradually reduce the maximum levels of cadmium, the heavy metal contained in phosphate fertilizers, to 20 micrograms per kilogram within nine years caused astonishment within the group.
Moroccan phosphate has a content of between 40 and 80 µg of cadmium per kg depending on the depth at which it is extracted, according to the company, which has refused to give more precise figures, invoking "industrial secrecy".
Russian manoeuvres. The Commission's initial project, officially aimed at stimulating organic fertilizer production, was “unprecedented” according to another OCP employee, who pointed out Russian manoeuvres on the subject.
As Russian phosphate is naturally low in cadmium, Russia has a strong interest in strict EU regulation.
The EU imports 90% of the phosphate it uses, mainly from Morocco, Russia and Tunisia (whose resources are also high in cadmium).
Convinced of Russia's influence on the Commission's initial draft, this second source also cited the example of Safer Phosphates, a group presented as an environmental association, actually created by PhosAgro, the Russian phosphate mining conglomerate, as reported by the New York Times in an article published on 21 October 2018.
Scientific consensus. However, other organizations are warning of the danger of cadmium concentration in phosphate fertilizers, such as the Réseau Environnement Santé (RES), which brings together 28 French environmental protection associations.
Cadmium, considered an endocrine disruptor, has been shown to cause kidney, bone and cardiovascular disease.
Fourteen EU Member States have already introduced a limit of 60 µg/kg or less of phosphate - and even 20 µg/kg in Finland, Hungary and Slovakia.
There is a lot of scientific work on the subject with varying results.
A study by Professors Erik Smolders and Paul Römkens recently concluded that the cadmium content should be limited to 43 µg/kg phosphate to avoid its accumulation.
A reliable work according to Andrzej Nowakowski of the Greens/EFA group, who sees it as a “consensus between two blocks of scientists”. Mr Römkens had initially been hired by the Russian group PhosAgro, before starting to work with Mr Smolders, who had previously carried out an investigation for the European Parliament.
"Small subject". While the regulation on cadmium in phosphate fertilisers launched by the Commission is the subject of interinstitutional negotiations, OCP, owned by the Kingdom and the leading Moroccan company with an annual turnover of 4.4 billion euros and 32% of its turnover generated through its exports to the EU, does not show any concern.
Invited to speak, Otmane Bennani Smires, OCP's Executive Legal Director, simply recalled the company's official position on “this small subject that is in progress”. “Europe cannot choose to be dependent on the Russians both in terms of agriculture and energy, otherwise its independence no longer exists", he assured.
Mr Bennani Smires' optimism is based on the position adopted by the Council (see EUROPE 11930) to keep to a limit of 60 µg/kg for eight years after the the Regulation is entered into force. OCP supports this position.
Since 2015, the company has been trying to develop ‘decamniation’ processes that could allow all of its phosphate to remain up to standard within this time frame. However, these projects are only in the “experimental phase”, OCP insists.
For its part, Parliament wishes to gradually reach a limit of 20 µg/kg within sixteen years, i.e. seven years later than in the Commission's draft.
Fertilizer producers and farmers to the rescue. OCP also admits that it has conducted an “awareness campaign” with its customers, fertilizer producers and farmers.
The Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations of the European Union (COPA) and the General Committee for Agricultural Cooperation of the European Union (COGECA) have expressed their concern that excessive limitation of cadmium could lead to soaring fertilizer prices, in a joint statement issued on Friday 16 November.
Representatives of the three institutions are scheduled to meet on Tuesday 20 November to find a compromise. (Original version in French by Mathieu Solal)