In order to encourage fertilizer products made from nutrients or organic matter from bio-waste (including sewage sludge and manure), the European commission is considering bringing fertilizers made from organic materials under the scope of the Fertilizers Regulation, including conformity (CE) marking. The revised proposal applies to the entire catalogue of fertilizing products: organic, organo-mineral and inorganic fertilizers, liming materials, soil improvers, growing media, agronomic additives, plant bio-stimulants and fertilizing product blends. The proposal will not apply to raw waste products, to unprocessed animal by-products nor to plant protection products. The proposal also applies to fertilizing products containing animal by-products if they are processed in accordance with the Animal by-products Regulation to mitigate the animal and public health risk. Raw manure is not regulated by the proposal, but dried manures or digested manures (i.e. processed manure) fall within its scope. The requirements will only apply to finalized CE marked fertilizing products, including those imported into the EU and sold in the single market. The rules will not apply to imported raw materials (e.g. phosphate rock).
Thursday, March 17, 2016