Minister discusses proposal for rules governing certified fertiliser products
18 January 2017
The EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee holds a one off evidence session with the Minister for Agriculture George Eustice MP to explore the Government's position as to the European Proposal for a Regulation of certified fertilising products.
- Parliament TV: certified fertilising products
- European Commission Proposal for a Regulation on CE marked fertilising products (PDF)
- UK Government Explanatory Memorandum on the Proposal (PDF)
- Council of the European Union - CE marked fertilising products Proposal (PDF)
- Correspondence between the Sub-Committee and UK Government
- EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee
Background
The CE marked fertilisers Proposal aims to broaden the scope of the existing Regulation to cover organic fertilisers, produced from materials such as animal or other agricultural by-products, or recycled bio-waste from the food chain. The Proposal also seeks to harmonize the regulation of fertilisers placed on the European market.
Committee Scrutiny
The Committee began scrutinising the Proposal in May 2016, writing to the Government requesting clarification on the following:
- the proposed quality, safety and labelling requirements in the Proposal;
- the Government's position on plans to achieve a reduction of heavy metal cadmium in fertilisers without an EU maximum level; and
- the possible impact of this reduction on UK fertiliser producers.
Witnesses
Wednesday 18 January in Committee Room 2, Palace of Westminster
At 10.30am
- George Eustice MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, DEFRA
- Sarah Church CB, Director, Future Farming and Land Use, DEFRA
Possible Questions
Questions likely to be covered include:
- What is the Government's assessment of the Proposal as it stands?
- What scientific assessments are ongoing to inform the negotiations?
- What assessment has the FSA made of the risk of human exposure to cadmium in the light of the proposed limits on cadmium in phosphate fertilisers?
- Is scarcity of supply a driver for favouring an 80mg/kg limit rather than 60mg/kg?
- Does the Minister advocate a shift to a more risk-based approach to regulating fertilisers (and other substances) as the UK leaves the EU?
Further Information
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