The European Consortium of Organic-Based Fertiliser Industry has joined forces with EBIC and 10 other European industry and national associations, to release a joint position urging the European Commission to restore standard REACH (1907/2006) requirements for substances used in EU Fertilising Products. The current additional REACH+ provisions impose stricter obligations on substances produced in quantities under 10 tonnes per year, posing significant challenges for manufacturers.
Key Industry Concerns
ECOFI highlights the following issues from the current REACH+ framework that mainly affect Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and slows down the adoption of innovative products like organic-based fertilisers, which are vital for helping farmers transition toward more resilient and competitive agricultural practices, driving sustainable progress in the sector.
Smaller companies face significant practical challenges in meeting the increased data demands, particularly when suppliers are unwilling to share proprietary information or update their REACH dossiers. This situation is compounded by the substantial economic impact of upgrading registrations, which can raise the cost of key additives by up to 540%, forcing manufacturers to resort to less effective or less sustainable alternatives. Adding to these difficulties is the regulatory uncertainty created by the Fertilising Products Regulation’s (FPR) current wording, which does not clearly distinguish between main ingredients and trace impurities, resulting in inconsistent enforcement across the industry.
Recommendations to Restore Balance in Regulation
This paper recommends several practical changes to tackle the current challenges. First, it proposes returning to the original REACH regulation’s thresholds and data requirements, which are based on the amount of substance produced, to avoid unnecessary burdens, particularly on smaller producers. It also suggests that stricter registration requirements should only apply to substances that are officially classified as hazardous, ensuring that safety efforts are focused where they are needed. Additionally, it calls for clear legal exemptions for trace impurities, so that these minor components are not subjected to the full scope of REACH+ obligations. Finally, setting a specific threshold of 0.1% weight by weight below which the REACH+ rules would not be applied, reducing unnecessary paperwork and costs for substances present only in tiny amounts. These changes aim to maintain strong safety and environmental protections while offering clearer guidance and easing financial pressures on manufacturers.
This call is particularly relevant in the current push for the simplification of regulatory requirements in the agri-food sector in Europe, particularly those that do not enhance safety but constrain the ability of smaller manufacturers to place their innovative products on the Single Market. You can find out more about ECOFI’s work in this area in our simplification paper.
Join Us in Restoring normal REACH requirements
Let’s work towards rules that make sense for people, the planet and the industry. If you believe in smart, practical regulations, help us spread the word by sharing the paper with your network. If you want to support this joint position by adding your organisation’s signature, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
For more information about ECOFI and this position paper, contact Jessica Fitch on jessica@prospero.ag .