Circular Economy Package: New Regulation

The re-use of raw materials that are now disposed of as waste is one of the key principles of the Circular Economy Package adopted in December 2015.

The European Commission is proposing a Regulation which will significantly ease the access of organic and waste-based fertilisers to the EU single market, bringing them on a level playing field with traditional, non-organic fertilisers.

  • This will create new market opportunities for innovative companies while at the same time reducing waste, energy consumption and environmental damage.
  • The market opportunities for companies producing organic fertiliser products are significant. Currently only 5% of bio-waste is recycled.
  • According to estimates, if more bio-waste was recycled, it could replace up to 30 % of non-organic fertilisers.
  • Currently, the EU imports around 6 million tonnes of phosphates a year but could replace up to 30% of this total by extraction from sewage sludge, biodegradable waste, meat and bone meal or manure.

The Regulation:

  • Sets out common rules on converting bio-waste into raw materials that can be used to manufacture fertilising products.
  • Defines safety, quality and labelling requirements that all fertilising products need to comply with to be traded freely across the EU.

Producers will have to demonstrate that their products meet those requirements, as well as limits for organic contaminants, microbial contaminants and physical impurities before affixing the CE-mark.

Once adopted, the Regulation will be directly applicable, without the need for transposition into national law, after a transitional period allowing companies and public authorities to prepare for the new rules.

Source: EC Press

More Information

FAQs: The Commission presents first deliverable of Circular Economy Package with new rules on organic and waste-based fertilisers in the EU

Proposal for a Regulation on the making available on the market of CE marked fertilising products and amending Regulations (EC) No 1069/2009 and (EC) No 1107/2009