New fertiliser product regulations & declarations of granular fertilisers

The EU fertiliser product regulations (EU2019/1009), also known as the Fertilising Products Regulation (FPR), introduce new rules for placing fertilising products on the European Union market. These regulations aim to harmonize the requirements for fertilisers, enhance product quality and safety, and promote circular economy principles.

Regarding the impact on nutritional declarations of granular fertilisers, the Fertilising Products Regulation introduces several changes. Here are some key aspects:

1. Nutrient Content Declaration: The regulation sets out specific requirements for declaring the nutrient content of fertilisers. It introduces a mandatory declaration of the content of both macronutrients and certain micronutrients. The primary macronutrients include nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), while the secondary macronutrients include calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and sulfur (S) and the micronutrients include iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), and boron (B). The nutrient content must be expressed as a percentage by weight or in grams per kilogram.
2. Secondary Nutrients and Trace Elements: The FPR includes provisions for declaring the content of secondary nutrients and trace elements in fertilisers. Previously, the declaration of these components was not mandatory but now must be included if present in significant amounts. The specific elements to be declared are mentioned in Annex III of the regulation.
3. Guaranteed Minimum Nutrient Content: The regulation requires fertilisers to have a guaranteed minimum nutrient content. This means that the declared nutrient content must be present and available to plants in a specified quantity. The regulation sets out tolerance limits for the guaranteed minimum nutrient content to ensure accuracy and consistency.
4. Labelling Requirements: The FPR introduces specific labeling requirements for fertilisers. The nutritional declaration, including the nutrient content and guaranteed minimum nutrient content, must be clearly indicated on the packaging or accompanying documents. The information should be easily understandable, visible, and legible.
5. Harmonized European Standards: The Fertilising Products Regulation paves the way for the development of harmonized European standards for different types of fertilisers. These standards will provide guidelines for the declaration of nutrient content, including test methods, calculation procedures, and additional requirements specific to certain fertiliser categories.

Due to the changes in the nutrient declaration regulations, it is possible that the nutritional content of certain granular fertilisers may appear different. These apparent changes might not be a result of alterations in the actual formulations of the fertilisers, but rather due to the revised declaration requirements under the new regulations (FPR).

It’s important to note that while these changes aim to enhance transparency and ensure consistency across fertiliser products in the EU market, there might be additional national or regional requirements that need to be considered.

Therefore, it’s advisable to consult the specific provisions of the Fertilising Products Regulation and any relevant guidance documents from the European Commission or national authorities for detailed information on the nutritional declarations of granular fertilisers.