Fertilizing the Future: EU Standards for Sustainable Fertilizers

Q: Who are the notified bodies in the new FPR and what is their role?

Notified bodies are chosen by EU countries to check fertilizing products for safety. They don't have set deadlines. The market decides if their checks are okay.

The European Union’s (EU) Fertilizing Products Regulation (FPR) is changing the fertilizer industry. It starts in summer 2022. This rule lets more fertilizers carry the CE marking and move easily in the EU’s market. This regulation now covers more types of fertilizers, including organic and bio-based ones¹.

Contents

This rule does more than just list more products. It sets strict safety and quality standards. It also groups fertilizers and limits certain harmful substances like cadmium. The goal is to help the environment, make farming safer, and give farmers more choices for plant food².

The European fertilizer market is worth about $20 billion, making up 10% of the world’s market³. With over 1.6 million farmers getting most EU farm subsidies³, the FPR will open the market to more products. These products could be worth over $5 billion³.

Key Takeaways

The EU Fertilizing Products Regulation (FPR) expands the range of fertilizing products that can bear the CE marking and circulate freely within the EU single market.
The FPR introduces strict safety and quality standards, categorizes different fertilizer types, and sets new limit values for contaminants.
Compliance with the harmonized rules remains optional, but the regulation aims to promote the circular economy and reduce health and environmental risks.
The European fertilizer market is valued at $20 billion and represents 10% of the global market, with the FPR set to open the single market to products worth at least $5 billion.
The regulation provides farmers with more options for sustainable plant nutrition solutions.

New EU Fertilizing Products Regulation

The new EU Fertilising Products Regulation (EU) is changing the game for the fertilizer industry⁴. It’s not just about the final product anymore. Now, it covers the materials used to make it too⁴.

A Paradigm Shift in Fertilizer Industry

The FPR was approved on June 5, 2019, by the European Parliament and the Council. It will start on the twentieth day after it’s published in the Official Journal of the European Union. From July 16, 2022, it will be the law⁴. But, it won’t change the rules for national fertilisers. Those are still up to each country⁴.

Notified Bodies: New Players in Conformity Assessment

Notified bodies are new to the FPR scene. They’re chosen by national authorities to check if products meet the rules⁴. They don’t have to stick to any deadlines. The market decides if their checks are good enough⁴.

The new rules make it easier for new kinds of fertilisers to enter the market. They want to encourage using organic and waste-based fertilisers⁴. The goal is to make the economy more circular and make people trust fertilisers more⁴. These rules set the same standards for all “EU” fertilisers across the EU⁴.

“The revised regulation for Fertilising Products, adopted in 2019, aims at fostering innovation, investment in the circular economy, and aligning with the 2015 Circular Economy Action Plan.”⁵

Starting tomorrow, the new EU rules on fertilisers aim to make the Single Market work better. They want to lessen environmental harm, cut health risks, and reduce the need for importing fertilisers⁵. These rules let more organic and waste-based fertilisers into the EU market⁵.

They set limits on harmful substances like cadmium, mercury, or arsenic in fertilisers for the first time. This is to protect the soil and reduce risks to health and the environment⁵. Companies can choose to follow EU rules or their own national rules to sell products in the Single Market⁵.

Expanding the Single Market for Bio-Based Fertilizers

The EU’s new Fertilizing Products Regulation aims to open the single market for bio-based fertilizers⁶. It sets the rules for these products to enter the EU market. This move is expected to increase the use of organic and recycled materials in making fertilizers. It supports the shift to a more circular economy⁶.

The regulation’s main goal is to make it easier for sustainable, bio-based fertilizers to enter the market⁶. It creates EU-wide standards for “EU” fertilizers. This boosts consumer trust in their safety and sustainability⁶. It also cuts costs by simplifying the recognition of national rules, ensuring the same level of health and environmental protection across the EU⁶.

The regulation sets new limits for contaminants in fertilizers, like cadmium and uranium⁶. These limits encourage the use of organic and bio-based materials. This reduces the environmental harm and health risks linked to traditional fertilizers⁶.

Distributors and importers will work with national authorities to check if products follow the new rules⁶. This teamwork will help enforce the regulation better. It creates a strong framework for the single market to grow for bio-based fertilizers⁶.

The EU’s move towards a circular economy is boosted by this new regulation⁶. It makes it easier for sustainable, innovative fertilizers to enter the market. By setting common rules, the regulation helps unlock the EU’s potential for these eco-friendly products⁶.

The new rules will set EU-wide standards for “EU” fertilizers, boosting trust in their safety and sustainability.⁶

“Harmonizing regulations across EU Member States is needed for a level playing field for biodegradable materials and to support innovation in agriculture.”⁷

Introducing Strict Safety and Quality Standards

The EU has set new rules for fertilizers to make sure they are safe and of good quality. These rules aim to make sure all fertilizers sold in the EU are safe for people and the planet. They do this by classifying fertilizers and setting limits for harmful substances⁸.

Categorization of Fertilizing Products and Component Materials

Now, fertilizers are split into different groups based on their purpose. This includes everything from organic fertilizers to materials that help plants grow. Each group has its own set of safety and quality rules⁹.

Companies must prove their products meet these standards. This means they have to check their products for things like nutrient levels and physical properties. They also have to make sure there are no harmful substances⁹.

New Limit Values for Contaminants in Fertilizers

The new rules also set strict limits on harmful substances in fertilizers. For example, there are limits on cadmium to protect soil and human health. These limits vary based on the type of fertilizer⁸.

This means the EU wants to use fertilizers that are good for the planet and safe for people. The goal is to use fertilizers that work well and don’t harm the environment or people⁹.

Fertilizer Type	Cadmium Limit (mg/kg)
Organic Fertilizers	1.5
Phosphate Fertilizers	60

This new rule is a big step towards using fertilizers responsibly. It helps protect the health of European soils and people⁹.

Fertilizer safety standards

Fertilizer regulations

The EU has new rules for fertilizers sold in the European Union. These rules are not mandatory, unlike many other EU laws¹⁰. Companies can choose to follow these rules or stick with their own country’s laws.

Compliance with Harmonized Rules Remains Optional

Manufacturers can pick whether to follow EU-wide fertilizer standards or keep to their country’s rules¹⁰. This choice helps ease the transition and keeps the fertilizer market stable while encouraging the use of EU standards.

Even though the EU’s new fertilizer rules aren’t required, they have big benefits for companies that follow them¹⁰. By CE marking their products, companies can move goods easily across the EU. This makes trading across borders simpler and opens up more customers for them.

The EU’s approach to fertilizer rules is thoughtful, balancing standardization with respect for national differences and varied fertilizer markets¹⁰. This flexibility lets companies pick the best strategy for their goals. It supports a step-by-step move towards better, more eco-friendly fertilizer production.

Advantages of the New Fertilizer Regulations

The European Union’s new Fertilizing Products Regulation brings many benefits for both producers and consumers. It makes it easier for organic and recovered fertilizer makers to sell their products in the EU. This gives farmers more options and helps the circular economy grow¹¹. Also, the new rules cut down on harmful substances in fertilizers, lowering health and environmental risks¹¹.

One big plus of the new rules is pushing for a circular economy. The law encourages using recycled stuff in making fertilizers. This cuts down on the need for imported nutrients and makes farming more sustainable¹¹. This move is good for the planet and helps European fertilizer companies do better.

Promoting Circular Economy and Reducing Health Risks

The new rules aim to lessen health and environmental risks from fertilizers. They set tighter limits on things like heavy metals. This helps protect our water and the life in it from fertilizer harm¹¹. It’s crucial because too many nutrients from fertilizers can cause big problems in our water bodies¹¹.

Also, the rules push for new kinds of fertilizers, like those made from organic or recycled stuff. These options are better for the planet and give farmers greener choices. They help move farming towards a circular economy¹¹.

Advantage	Description
Increased Market Access	The regulation makes it easier for producers of organic and recovered fertilizers to sell their products across the EU, providing farmers with more choices.
Circular Economy Promotion	The regulation encourages the use of recycled materials in fertilizer production, reducing reliance on imported nutrients and fostering a more sustainable approach to agriculture.
Health and Environmental Risk Reduction	Stricter limits on contaminants in fertilizers help mitigate the negative impact of fertilizer runoff on water bodies and drinking water supplies, addressing issues like eutrophication.

“The new Fertilizing Products Regulation is a significant step towards a more sustainable and circular economy in the agriculture sector, providing farmers with more choices and reducing the health and environmental risks associated with fertilizer use.”

The EU’s new Fertilizing Products Regulation has big benefits for the fertilizer industry. It promotes caring for the environment and helps farming become more sustainable¹¹¹².

Challenges and Gaps in Existing Fertilizer Regulation

The EU’s current fertilizer rules mainly cover mineral fertilizers, leaving many others unregulated¹³. This includes fertilizers made from organic waste or a mix of organic and inorganic materials¹³. The rules also don’t fully address safety issues, like cadmium and uranium in some fertilizers¹³.

Addressing Environmental and Material Safety Concerns

Over the past 40 years, the amount of fertilizer used per acre has gone up a lot. This has helped corn yield grow from 110 to about 300 bushels per acre¹³. Now, the U.S. uses over 40 times more nitrogen fertilizer than it did 75 years ago, more than the population has grown¹³. Studies show that nitrous oxide levels have risen by 55% since before industrial times, mainly because of more cropland and fertilizer use¹³.

Farms don’t face the same environmental rules as other polluters, like factories¹³. Agriculture is a big source of nitrogen pollution, releasing almost twice as much as fossil fuels and other industries together¹³. Nitrogen in fertilizers causes air pollution in many ways¹³.

The Netherlands is a big agricultural exporter, with sales of about $100 billion a year¹⁴. In Sri Lanka, 300,000 people protested in 2021 against a move to organic farming¹⁴. Agriculture is responsible for around 11% of greenhouse gas emissions, with fertilizers adding about 1.5%¹⁴. Organic farming often produces 40% less per acre than traditional farming methods¹⁴. Fertilizer use is being questioned in countries like Canada, the Netherlands, and Sri Lanka, causing protests¹⁴. We need a sustainable way to produce food, especially plant proteins, which could involve regenerative agriculture¹⁴. Using fertilizers wisely, enriching soil, and managing crops better is key for many farmers to make it¹⁴.

The new EU rules on fertilizers aim to fix these issues and ensure a sustainable approach to regulating fertilizers.

Feeding Life 2030: A Vision for the Fertilizer Industry

The European fertilizer industry has a big plan called “Feeding Life 2030.” It aims to feed more people with less energy and less harm to the environment¹⁵. They plan to do this by using smarter farming methods and better fertilizers¹⁵.

Applying More Knowledge per Hectare

The report talks about using more knowledge in farming¹⁵. By 2030, farmers will focus on using nutrients wisely to grow more food without harming the planet¹⁵. They will use new farming tech and data to apply fertilizers better and protect the environment¹⁶.

Supporting Professional Farmers of the Future

This vision also looks out for the professional farmers of tomorrow¹⁵. These farmers will be experts in using nutrients to grow food in a way that’s good for the planet and profitable¹⁵. They will use technology and data to make their farms more efficient, helping the industry use nutrients better and protect the environment¹⁶¹⁵.

By 2030, the world will have 8.6 billion people, up from 7.6 billion now¹⁷. The fertilizer industry must adapt to meet the demand for more food¹⁷. The European fertilizer industry is part of a global market. Policymakers need to make sure everyone has fair access to fertilizers, energy, and carbon costs to support sustainable farming¹⁵.

“The report encourages a focus on ‘applying more knowledge per hectare’ for the future of farming.”

Circular Economy and Ammonia as a Carbon-Free Energy Carrier

The European fertilizer industry is leading the way in using resources wisely and promoting a circular economy. It turns by-products into valuable plant nutrients 1. Looking forward, ammonia is set to be a key player in the EU’s move to reduce carbon emissions¹⁸.

Ammonia can be an energy storage and backup source, supporting the use of renewable energy like wind and solar¹⁸. It’s great for storing energy because it holds a lot of hydrogen in a small space¹⁹. But, storing it at the high temperatures needed for fuel cells is a challenge¹⁹.

The fertilizer industry is working with researchers to make better catalysts and improve how ammonia is made¹⁹. They’re also looking into using solids to separate ammonia from other gases¹⁹.

The goal for 2030 and beyond is for the fertilizer industry to be the most innovative and efficient in the world¹⁸. This will help the EU reach its goal of a zero-emissions economy by 2050¹⁸. To get there, they need lots of clean electricity and ways to move ammonia and hydrogen around¹⁸.

By focusing on the circular economy and ammonia, the European fertilizer industry is set to lead in a sustainable, decarbonized future¹⁸.

Key Considerations for Ammonia as a Carbon-Free Energy Carrier	Advantages	Challenges
Hydrogen Density	Ammonia has the highest volumetric hydrogen density of 10.7 kg H2 /100L and a high gravimetric hydrogen density of 17.8 wt%¹⁹	Ammonia requires relatively high storage temperatures, around 300°C, for fuel cell operation¹⁹
Fuel Cell Requirements	ISO 14687-2:2012 specifies a maximum concentration of 0.1ppm NH3 and 100 ppm N2, with a minimum H2 purity of 99.97% for fuel cell vehicles (FCVs)¹⁹	Ammonia cracking to nitrogen and hydrogen occurs at a reaction temperature of about 600°C or higher, close to the operating temperature of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs)¹⁹
Deployment Challenges	–	The deployment of fuel cell electric vehicles is impacted by the scarcity of hydrogen fueling stations and costs associated with hydrogen storage and transportation¹⁹
Catalysts and Separation	Research is focusing on improving the efficiency of the Haber-Bosch process for ammonia synthesis¹⁹	Adsorption of ammonia onto solids is explored for separation processes, particularly using ammines to selectively absorb ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen¹⁹

“The European fertilizer industry envisions becoming the most innovative and efficient globally by 2050, contributing to the EU’s goal of a net zero-emissions economy.”¹⁸

Conclusion

The new EU Fertilizing Products Regulation is changing the fertilizer industry. It lets more sustainable fertilizers into the EU market and sets strict safety and quality rules²⁰. This move supports a circular economy and lowers health and environmental risks²⁰. The industry plans for 2030 shows how fertilizers could help the EU go carbon-free by using ammonia as a clean energy source²⁰.

In Miami-Dade County, a fertilizer law from 2021 shows how local efforts can make a difference²¹. This law tells people not to use fertilizers when it’s raining, to use phosphorus-free ones, and to keep them away from water²¹. It also requires training for those who use fertilizers and suggests a program to spot and stop pollution²¹.

These changes are making Europe’s plant nutrition more sustainable. They focus on EU fertilizer rules, sustainable farming, the circular economy, and reducing carbon emissions. By adopting these changes, the industry can protect ecosystems, make communities prettier, and use plant nutrition in a greener way²¹.

FAQ

What are the key changes in the new EU Fertilizing Products Regulation (FPR)?

The new FPR now lets more fertilizers carry the CE mark and move freely in the EU. It includes organic, organo-mineral, and bio-based fertilizers. It also sets strict safety and quality rules, groups fertilizers by type, and limits contaminants like cadmium.

Who are the notified bodies in the new FPR and what is their role?

Notified bodies are chosen by EU countries to check fertilizing products for safety. They don’t have set deadlines. The market decides if their checks are okay.

How does the new FPR support the development of a more circular economy?

The FPR encourages using recycled and organic stuff in fertilizers. This helps move towards a circular economy and cuts down on imported nutrients.

What are the new safety and quality standards introduced by the FPR?

Fertilizers are now grouped by their function and must meet certain safety and quality rules. The FPR sets limits for contaminants like cadmium. For example, organic fertilizers can’t have more than 1.5 mg/kg cadmium.

Is compliance with the FPR mandatory for all fertilizer products in the EU?

No, it’s not mandatory to follow the FPR rules. Companies can choose to CE mark their products for EU-wide sale or stick to national laws.

What are the key advantages of the new FPR?

The FPR helps organic and recycled fertilizers get the same quality standards across the EU. It gives farmers more options and lowers health and environmental risks. It also boosts recycling in fertilizer making, helping the circular economy.

What were the gaps in the existing EU fertilizer regulation that the new FPR aims to address?

The old EU rule mainly covered mineral fertilizers, leaving many others unregulated. The new FPR tackles safety issues, like cadmium in fertilizers, which were ignored before.

How does the fertilizer industry’s vision for 2030 align with the new FPR?

The industry’s “Feeding Life 2030” plan focuses on using more knowledge and technology in farming. It sees ammonia as a key part of the EU’s move to less carbon emissions.

How does the new FPR support the use of ammonia as a carbon-free energy carrier?

The fertilizer industry believes ammonia could be a big help in reducing EU carbon emissions. It could store and provide energy, supporting more renewable energy use.