On Tuesday 24 February, the European Commission announced a series of measures designed to preserve the availability and accessibility of fertilisers in the European Union, in response to soaring costs.
Specifically, the Commission is proposing to suspend ‘most-favoured nation’ (MFN) customs duties for one year on imports of several essential nitrogen fertilisers and on certain inputs needed to manufacture them, notably ammonia and urea. This decision follows the commitment made at the meeting of European agriculture ministers on 7 January (see EUROPE 13781/4).
The tariff suspension will apply to all third countries, with the exception of Russia and Belarus, through the introduction of duty-free tariff quotas. Imports in excess of these quotas will continue to be subject to standard MFN duties.
According to the Commission, the measure will reduce costs for European farmers and the fertiliser industry, with an estimated saving of around €60 million in customs duties. It also aims to speed up the reduction of the Union’s dependence on Russia and Belarus, while encouraging the diversification of supply sources, which is considered essential for the security of European agriculture.
In December 2025, the Commission also introduced a derogation from the rules for calculating the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). Fertilisers have thus become the only sector to benefit from a reduced mark-up rate of 1%, compared with 10% for other products, with a gradual increase planned up to 30%. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)