News & InsightsNewsletterLegislation Hub

Foresight

Foresight
AboutContactBook DemoLog in
Start free trial
Foresight logo
All News & Insights

European Commission Adopts New Biodegradability Criteria for Polymers in Fertilising Products

General
18
July 2024
•
420
Dr Steven Brennan
The regulation stipulates that these new criteria will come into effect from 17 October 2028.
Polymer coated fertiliser
Quick prompts

AI Generated

Get to the point quicker with prompts - a smarter way to get the information you need from our articles.

Summarise this article

AI Assistant

This feature and much more is available on our platform. If you would like early access, please leave your email and we'll get in touch.

We'll be in touch when the Assistant is ready.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Mountains

The European Commission has officially adopted a new set of biodegradability criteria for polymers used in EU fertilising products, marking a significant step towards enhancing environmental sustainability within the EU's agricultural sector. The new criteria are encapsulated in a delegated regulation that amends the existing Regulation (EU) 2019/1009.

Purpose and Scope of the Regulation

This initiative, which has been under consultation and review since October 2022, aims to introduce stringent biodegradability standards for polymers used as coating agents, water retention agents, mulch films, and other technical additives in fertilising products. These standards are designed to ensure that such polymers, once used in agricultural applications, do not persist in the environment, thereby mitigating potential pollution and harm to ecosystems.

Key Elements of the Regulation

The newly adopted regulation lays out specific biodegradability criteria that polymers must meet to be included in EU fertilising products. According to the regulation:

  1. Environmental Compartments: Polymers must demonstrate biodegradability in two main environmental compartments: soil and aquatic environments (fresh, estuarine, or marine water).
  2. Degradation Requirements: In soil, polymers must achieve at least 90% ultimate degradation or mineralisation over a period of 48 months, plus the functionality period (FP). In aquatic environments, polymers must show progressive degradation within 12 months, with specific targets depending on the functionality period.
  3. Testing Methods: Compliance with these criteria must be demonstrated using standardised testing methods such as EN ISO 17556:2019 for soil and EN/ISO 14851:2019 for aquatic environments.

Consultation and Feedback

The development of these criteria involved extensive consultations with member states and stakeholders, including three expert group meetings and a public feedback period from 8 March to 5 April 2024. A total of 49 contributions were received, reflecting diverse perspectives from non-governmental organisations, industry representatives, and private citizens. While some stakeholders expressed concerns about the stringency and feasibility of the criteria, the majority supported the Commission's direction.

Implementation and Impact

The regulation stipulates that these new criteria will come into effect from 17 October 2028, providing manufacturers with ample time to adapt their products to meet the new standards. This transitional period aligns with other EU regulations, ensuring coherence and a smooth transition for all stakeholders involved.

Environmental and Economic Benefits

By setting these biodegradability standards, the European Commission aims to significantly reduce the environmental footprint of fertilising products. This move is expected to contribute to the broader goals of the EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy, which targets a 50% reduction in nutrient losses by 2030 while ensuring no deterioration in soil fertility. Furthermore, it supports the sustainable use of water in agriculture, which is crucial for adapting to climate change and protecting water resources.

For more details, stakeholders can access the full text of the regulation and the associated annexes on the European Commission's official website.

Read the source story

Read this article now for free!

You have read 3 articles.
Create a free account
or
Log in
to finish reading this article now.

Subscribe to our weekly digest

Sign up to receive our newsletter every Tuesday and get access to all of our content.

By creating an account, you agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
This is some text inside of a div block.

Trusted by professionals at

Dupont
ECHA - European Chemicals Agency
Energizer
Chemours
This is some text inside of a div block.

Get Foresight Today

Stay compliant, reduce risk, and protect your business with our AI-powered chemical policy monitoring—tailored just for you.

Global monitoring of 1,200+ sources
Expert-reviewed, trusted regulatory alerts
Instant risk identification for 350k+ substances

Ready to supercharge your policy monitoring workflow?

We’ll be in touch soon with more details and support to help you get started.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Share with a friend
Copy link

Related Articles

European Parliament EU Faces Scrutiny Over Inaction on Chemicals Strategy Commitments

June 26, 2025

EU ParliamentCommission’s Surprise Move on Green Claims Directive Sparks Industry Uncertainty

June 25, 2025

China flagChina’s Draft Environmental Code Proposes Stringent Controls on Chemicals

June 20, 2025

Foresight regulatory experts
Streamline your chemical compliance
Easy-to-use product compliance management for small and mid-sized manufacturers — mitigate risk and protect market access.
Get started
Subscribe to Foresight's newsletter
Stay ahead with the latest news & insights
Join 1,000s of compliance professionals getting the latest insights right to their inbox for free, every Tuesday.
100% free. No spam. Unsubscribe any time.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Stay ahead with the latest news & insights
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter covering news, events, and expert insights.

Related articles

European Parliament

EU Faces Scrutiny Over Inaction on Chemicals Strategy Commitments

A European Parliament report highlights the EU’s failure to deliver key chemicals strategy actions, affecting policy certainty across sectors.

26

Jun 2025

General
EU Parliament

Commission’s Surprise Move on Green Claims Directive Sparks Industry Uncertainty

EU Green Claims Directive faces uncertainty after Commission signals withdrawal, raising concerns for manufacturers, retailers, and sustainability stakeholders.

25

Jun 2025

General
China flag

China’s Draft Environmental Code Proposes Stringent Controls on Chemicals

China's draft environmental code introduces sweeping chemical controls. Learn how it affects compliance and risk across your manufacturing value chain.

20

Jun 2025

General
Foresight
Providing critical insights, analysis, and guidance to help businesses anticipate changes, make informed decisions, and stay ahead.
News & Insights
Newsletter
Legislation Hub
Coverage
Contact
About
© 2025 Foresight. All rights reserved.
SitemapTerms of servicePrivacy policyCookie policy