EU publishes roadmap for the revision of fertilizer regulation

On Oct 23, the EU Commission published its long awaited roadmap document covering the various options for the revision of the EU current Fertilizer regulation. This indicative roadmap is provided by the EU authorities for information purposes only and is subject to change. It does not prejudge the final decision of the Commission on whether this initiative will be pursued or on its final content and structure but will be seen as a positive sign by the entire industry.
 

As appears at page 4 of the document, (which can be downloaded from this link, http://ec.europa.eu/smart-regulation/roadmaps/docs/2012_grow_001_fertilisers_en.pdf) five different policy options have been examined in the Impact Assessment, ranging from 'no action’ to various levels of regulatory reform, all of them incorporating Biostimulants in their scheme. Option 1 is status quo, which is seen as unlikely. Option 2: The regulatory technique of the Fertilisers Regulation, i.e. type-approval, remains un-changed, and is extended to the harmonisation of fertilisers from organic raw materials and of other fertiliser-related products, such as 'plant biostimulants'. For the purpose of ensuring the safety of innovative fertilisers from waste and other secondary raw materials, limit values are introduced for heavy metals.
 

Option 3 highlights the possibility that harmonisation is extended to fertilisers from organic raw materials and to other fertiliser-related products, such as 'plant biostimulants', and achieved through approval of ingredients, leading to a positive, exhaustive list of materials eligible for intentional incorporation into a fertiliser. Limit values are introduced for heavy metals for all fertilising materials.
 

Option 4: Harmonisation is extended to fertilisers from organic raw materials and to other fertiliser-related products, such as 'plant biostimulants', and achieved through the 'New Legislative Framework', which builds on mandatory, essential quality and safety requirements and voluntary, harmonised technical standards. Under different sub-options, various levels of third party involvement in the assessment of conformity with the essential requirements apply across the board. One of the requirements is compliance with limit values for heavy metals.
 

Option 5: As under option 4, harmonisation is extended to organic fertilisers and to other fertiliser-related products and achieved through the 'New Legislative Framework' with essential requirements and standards. However, third party involvement in the assessment of conformity with the essential requirements varies between material categories, and is highest for waste and other secondary materials with potentially variable composition. One of the requirements is compliance with limit values for heavy metals.