Review of Recent Legislation Affecting the Fertiliser Industry

Keywords: Fertilisers, EU legislation, Seveso II, EFMA.

Since the inception of the European Union (EU) in 1967 with the merging of the three existing European Communities: the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) which was established in 1951, the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) established in 1957 and the European Economic Community (EEC) established in 1957, many pieces of legislation in all imaginable areas have appeared. Fertilisers are not excluded from this.

This paper gives an overview of existing EU legislation related to fertilisers and the way the fertiliser industry is affected. The paper focuses on legislation in three main areas namely: Product Standards, Production and Storage and Transport. Legislation applicable to the actual use of fertilisers is not included in this paper. In addition examples are given as to how one country (the UK) has implemented Regulations which go beyond EU requirements.

David J Heather FIAM, Deputy Chief Executive & Head of Fertiliser Sector, Agricultural Industries Confederation, Confederation House, East of England Showground, Peterborough PE2 6XE, UK.

Dr Hans van Balken, European Fertiliser Manufacturers Association, Avenue E Van Nieuwenhuyse 4, Boite 7, B 1160 Brussels, Belgium.

28 Pages, 4 Tables, 67 References.