2022-11-23 ANFFE expects concrete measures to be taken urgently to help the fertilizer sector

ANFFE hopes that concrete and immediate measures are urgently taken to help the fertilizer sector and that the effect of the high price of natural gas can be alleviated, so that this important input can continue to be supplied to farmers in the quantities and appropriate times. No specific measures have yet been proposed, either at the national or community level, regarding gas and other raw materials, although the Ministry of Finance is analyzing the possibility of reducing the tax bill for fertilizers in the 2022 Personal Income Tax Module Order and 2023.

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, has defended in the last Council of Ministers of Agriculture of the EU "the need for the European Commission to adopt urgent and ambitious concrete measures to ensure the supply of fertilizers to farmers, that these are essential products to guarantee crop yields and, with it, a sufficient supply of food for the population”.

On November 9, the EC published the Communication "Ensuring the availability and affordability of fertilizers", in which it leaves the adoption of concrete measures in matters such as prioritizing continuous and uninterrupted access to natural gas in the hands of the Member States. for fertilizer producers and states that it will continue to work with Member States to solve the current crisis.

For the Spanish minister, this Communication "constitutes a very good analysis of the situation, but it is not very ambitious and without a sufficient level of specificity", for which reason he has presented a complementary proposal, requesting an immediate action plan, with a comprehensive strategy to ensure the availability of fertilizers and has advocated for the Commission to seek support mechanisms. He also proposes medium and long-term aid that is based on the circular economy, technology, etc.

You can access the press release from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food through the following link: https://www.mapa.gob.es/es/prensa/ultimas-noticias/luis-planas-aboga-por-medidas-urgentes-y-ambiciosas-para-asegurar-la-disponibilidad-de-fertilizantes-para-los-agricultores-/tcm:30-636396