Opportunities and challenges for the fertilizer industry in view of the new EU fertilizer regulation 2019/1009

On 23 October 2019, a conference “Opportunities and challenges for the fertilizer industry in view of the new EU fertilizer regulation 2019/1009”was held in the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Technology in Warsaw.

The speakers at the conference were representatives of the European Commission, Fertilizers Europe and the European Consortium of the Organic-Based Fertilizer Industry (ECOFI), who participated in the work on the final concept of Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 laying down rules on the making available on the market of EU fertilising products and amending Regulations (EC) No 1069/2009 and (EC) No 1107/2009 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 and representatives of institutions responsible for correct implementation of regulations on the domestic market.

One of the speakers was a representative of the Polish Centre for Testing and Certification (PCBC) – Director for Certification, Testing and Development Ewa Rogowska, who presented issues related to conformity assessment procedures for EU fertilizers provided for in Regulation (EU) 2019/1009.

Speakers presented requirements and tasks in the scope of conformity assessment set by this regulation for producers and notified bodies. The applicable conformity assessment procedures and the differences between them as well as the principles of determining the applicable module for an EU fertilizing product were also presented.

The conference gathered many representatives of the fertilizer industry, scientific community, public administration, testing bodies, business environment institutions from Poland and abroad. Participants were very interested in the new requirements that they will be facing soon to affix the CE marking to fertilizer products. Regulation covers the requirements for the product and the procedures for conformity assessment of fertilizer products described in five modules for conformity assessment, i.e. A, A1, B, C, D1. The modules provide the manufacturers’ obligations and the degree of involvement of the conformity assessment body.

As of 16 April 2020, the rules for the assessment of bodies applying for notification will apply. Member States shall notify the Commission and the other Member States of bodies authorized to carry out third-party conformity assessment tasks under Regulation (EU) 2019/1009.

Each Member State shall designate a notifying authority (in Poland – Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Technology) that shall be responsible for setting up and carrying out the necessary procedures for the assessment and notification of conformity assessment bodies and the monitoring of notified bodies.

In Poland, the assessment and monitoring of conformity assessment bodies will be carried out by a national accreditation body within the meaning of Regulation (EC) No 765/2008, i.e. the Polish Centre for Accreditation (PCA). The PCA verifies the technical competence of bodies, their independence and impartiality, and their management system.

Within the next months, all bodies covered by Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 will be required to implement measures to meet the applicable requirements. Polish Centre for Testing and Certification is preparing to support the fertilizer market being an independent body participating in the conformity assessment, as a third party, independent of the manufacturer and the consumer, acting objectively and meeting the requirements set out in Regulation. Already now, the PCBC is taking the necessary steps to become a notified body under Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 in the future.