New EU rules prepare the ground for more use of organic and waste-based fertilisers

Thanks to the new EU regulation on fertilising products which becomes applicable tomorrow, the new rules will boost the role of the Single Market, help reduce the environmental impact of fertilisers, limit their risk on human health, as well as reduce Europe’s dependency on imported fertilisers. Fertilisers made from organic waste material could replace 30% of mined fertilisers. New EU rules will soon make it possible to market more organic and waste-based fertilisers in the EU. The regulation covers a range of fertilising products, including liming materials, soil improvers, growing agents, plant bio-stimulants and blends. This is an important step towards sustainable agriculture, one of the objectives of the Green Deal. The new rules will open the Single Market to organic and waste-based fertilisers. They will establish limit values for toxic contaminants in fertilising products and allow optional harmonisation. A three-year transitional period since the adoption of the rules has helped companies to adapt their manufacturing processes and comply with the new rules. To support businesses, the Commission has also issued a Guidance document on the labelling of EU fertiliser products. Furthermore, based on the extensive scientific research of its Joint Research Centre, the Commission also: (i) extended the new rules to allow the marketing of additional fertilisers with components out of recovered waste and; (ii) adopted accompanying legislation on the safe use of by-products from other industries, such as petro-chemical or metal industries, in the production of EU fertilising products. For more information, please consult the Fertilising Product Regulation, the webpage on fertilising products and the news item.