Products from processed animal manure will soon be freely traded and usable within the European Union (EU). This was decided by the European Parliament (EP) on Tuesday 24 October.
The current fertilizer regulation ensures free trade of non-organic fertilizers, such as artificial fertilisers. This did not apply to fertilizer products based on animal manure and waste. That is now changing.
Vote in European Parliament
It has been decided by a vote in the EP that products from processed animal manure will also fall under the regulation and can be traded and used throughout Europe. The regulation will be amended for this, probably as of January 1, 2018. In the Netherlands, this mainly concerns mineral concentrate and sludge.
These products have not yet been approved for use above the standard for animal manure. A working group must come up with conditions for marketing and use within 1 year after the amended Fertilizer Regulation comes into effect.
Jan Huitema, MEP for the VVD, has been arguing for some time to use fertilizers made from animal manure as a replacement for artificial fertilisers. As a result, farmers would have to remove less manure and would become less dependent on fertilizers.
Pros and cons
The European Commission will draw up criteria so that products from processed animal manure can be included in the regulation. This would offer advantages for livestock farmers, because the thin fraction from manure separation could then also be used as fertilizer. This can then be calculated using the space available for fertilizer on the farm.
Opponents have many objections, because the quality of the surface water would be endangered and the livestock will grow.
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