On Monday 14 July, the European Commission and the EU Member States’ agriculture ministers confirmed that the Nitrates Committee (Committee for the Adaptation to Scientific and Technical Progress and Implementation of the Directive on the Protection of Waters Against Pollution Caused by Nitrates from Agricultural Sources) could vote on 19 September in favour of a proposal authorising the use of nitrogen recovered from manure (RENURE) as a fertiliser.
On 19 April 2024, the Commission proposed amending the Nitrates Directive to allow the use of certain fertilising materials derived from livestock manure, in particular recovered nitrogen (RENURE), which, under certain conditions, functions in a similar way to “chemical fertilisers” (see EUROPE 13395/12, 13620/14).
At the Agriculture Council, the Netherlands, supported by Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Malta, Romania and Spain, expressed the hope that the committee would rapidly adopt this proposal. Poland was also in favour, as was Greece.
On the other hand, Austria and Slovakia have expressed reservations. France, for its part, suggested waiting for the conclusions of the Commission’s evaluation of the Nitrates Directive, with a view to simplifying the rules. The French minister, Annie Genevard, underlined the sensitivity of the subject.
The European Commissioner for Agriculture, Christophe Hansen, reiterated the need to reduce the EU’s dependence on fertilisers imported from third countries. He pointed out that the new rules will only apply to those Member States that choose to authorise the use of RENURE. The proposal contains “safeguards” with regard to environmental concerns, to avoid an “intensification” of animal production, Mr Hansen assured.
Link to the Netherlands note: https://aeur.eu/f/hvd (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)