2022-05-29 Fertilizers Europe statement on the application of the new Fertilizer Products Regulation

Before the next application of Regulation 2019/1009 of fertilizer products, scheduled for July 16, the European Association of Fertilizer Manufacturers (Fertilizers Europe – FE) has published a press release in which it indicates that it wants to reiterate its commitment to providing farmers with all the quality nutrients they need to feed the world's growing population and supporting the implementation of the new Fertilizer Products Regulation. However, taking into account the current situation, it emphasizes that it will not be possible to apply it correctly next July due to the difficulties in achieving full compliance with what is required therein.

For this reason, FE asks the European Commission and the national authorities to grant a minimum period of 12 months so that the sector can adapt correctly. Said term would grant the industry the necessary flexibility to be able to guarantee a continuous supply of nutrients and therefore food security. The European Association highlights the following existing obstacles for the immediate application of the Regulation:

• The current lack of accredited Notified Bodies, which will be obliged to carry out the conformity assessment of some products, makes it impossible for these products to be evaluated and for continuous marketing to be maintained.

• In the same way, the set of harmonized standards that will be necessary for the evaluation of the conformity of fertilizer products are not yet fully developed.

• Greater difficulties than initially anticipated have been detected in obtaining the required information on component materials (CMCs) from international suppliers.

• The delay in the publication of some amendments to the Regulation (for example, on by-products), still leaves interpretation difficulties, such as those relating to tolerances.

• The process of implementing the Regulation is slowing down as a result of the war in Ukraine, which is affecting the entire sector.



Link to FE Press Release: https://www.fertilizerseurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Fertilizers-Europe-statement-on-FPR_May-2022.pdf