On Friday 19 September, the Nitrates Committee (Committee for the Adaptation to Scientific and Technical Progress and Implementation of the Directive on Protection of Waters Against Pollution Caused by Nitrates from Agricultural Sources) voted in favour of a proposal authorising the use of nitrogen recovered from RENURE manure as a fertiliser.
In 2024, the Commission proposed amending the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC) to allow the use of certain fertilising materials derived from livestock manure, including recovered nitrogen (RENURE), which, under certain conditions, functions in a similar way to chemical fertilisers (see EUROPE 13680/19).
“By allowing RENURE fertilisers to be used above the limit set by the Nitrates Directive for the application of manure and processed manure, Member States and farmers will be able to replace chemical fertilisers with RENURE fertilisers”, according to the Commission.
RENURE stands for ‘REcovered Nitrogen from ManURE’ and is made from processed manure.
The Commission’s RENURE proposal will be sent to the European Parliament and the EU Council for a three-month examination period. If they have no objections, the Commission will be able to adopt this amendment to the Nitrates Directive.
This amendment would only apply in Member States choosing to authorise RENURE, which would have to transpose it into their national legislation.
Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall said that the proposal “offers flexibility to Member States wishing to use RENURE fertilisers, while ensuring that pollution-sensitive areas can be catered for”.
Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen described the news as “positive for our farmers and for the planet”. As set out in the ‘Vision for Agriculture and Food’, “reducing our dependence on imported fertilisers is a strategic priority, and RENURE is a key part of that. By adopting recycled nutrients such as RENURE, we are delivering for farmers through more reliable supply, while supporting sustainable, domestic fertiliser production and protecting our environment”. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)