AgroPages-Fertilizers Europe welcomes new fertilizer regulation-Agricultural news

Fertilizers Europe has largely welcomed the vote of the European Parliament approving new fertilizer regulation. The European fertilizer industry has expressed support for a circular economy approach and the promotion of a resource efficient economy in the new regulation.

Fertilizers Europe is organising an implementation conference in Brussels on 28 May 2019 in order to help its member companies and other relevant stakeholders to understand the new rules and to adapt their current internal procedures to the upcoming ones.

The European fertilizer industry understands that even more can be achieved to further strengthen our role within it. The new Regulation will give fertilizers industry access to new resources of recycled materials, which will increasingly contribute in closing the nutrient loop. The new framework will also set a maximum limit of 60 mg/kg P₂O₅for the cadmium content in phosphorus fertilizers. This limit creates a challenge for the European phosphate industry, and Fertilizers Europe has emphasised that it recognises the drive behind this decision to seek compromise and try to find the balance between environmental, health and economic aspects, as well as access to raw material.

The compromise deal is expected to be adopted by the council of ministers in the coming weeks. Jacob Hansen stressed that “the transition between the current 2003/2003 regulation and the future framework will require a lot of efforts from mineral fertilizer producers to adapt. Our industry looks forward to further cooperate with the European Commission and the EU member states to facilitate the transition to ensure compliance with the new complex set of rules”.