ESPP regulatory activities
- EU Integrated Nutrient Management Action Plan (INMAP)
The European Commission has announced that it will prepare in 2021 an Integrated Nutrient Management Action Plan (INMAP). After wide consultation of our members and network of stakeholders, ESPP has prepared and submitted to the European Commission proposals for the objectives, content and implementation tools of such an Action Plan.- ESPP input to INMAP 27_3_2021 here
- EU Farm-to-Fork Strategy, COM(2020)381, 20_5_2020
- EU new Circular Economy Action Plan, COM(2020)98, 11_3_ 2020
For information: input (from seven Masters students), I. Stammes, T. Maassen, F. Miller Kerins, G. Votano, D. Palma Munguia, Z. Yuan, M. Gereadts, Amsterdam University, 30_6_2020
- New EU Fertilising Products Regulation (FPR)
- ESPP comments on by-products and certain recovered minerals (CMCs 11 and 15) 14_1_2021
- ESPP comments on Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) guidance 14_12_21
- ESPP proposals for additional new CMCs 14_12_21
- ESPP draft input to public consultation on CMCs 11 and 15, 15_12_21
- ESPP – EBA comments on post-processing digestates and composts (15_11_2021)
- JRC’s third report and draft criteria on “By-Products” under the FPR (CMC11 and CMC-WW, including gas stripping recovery materials), 14_6_2021
- ESPP comments input on JRC 3rd By-Products report 24_7_2021
- ESPP input to JRC on the By-Products CMC-WW proposal, 7_5_2021
- ESPP letter to European Commission concerning Animal By-Product End-Points for STRUBIAS materials (16_4_2021)
- Joint industry letter to DG GROW concerning additives, polymers, reactions between CMCs and REACH for EU Fertilising Products, and European Commission answer of 21_1_2021
- JRC report on “By-Products” under the FPR (CMC11): for comments. ESPP comments submitted 4_6_2020 here.
- Second JRC report on by-products (27_11_2020)
- Final published text EU Fertilising Products Regulation (25_6_2019)
- List of proposed standards to be developed (10_5_2019)
- ESPP summary of which materials will / will not be authorised for use in EU Fertilising Products (21_12_18)
- ESPP summary in SCOPE Newsletter 120 (27_3_2016)
- ESPP table of materials currently not included in the FPR as input materials (CMCs). This ESPP table for discussion was circulated by the European Commission to the Fertilising Products Expert Group 11_11_2020.
- Joint (cross-industries and stakeholders) letter on additives, REACH and other implementation challenges, 16_11_2020
- Mandate to EFSA on Animal By-Products for inclusion into the FPR, mandate 2020-0088, 30_4_2020 – 5_5_2020
- STRUBIAS - EU Fertilising Products Regulation criteria for phosphate salts and struvite, biochars and pyrolysis materials, and ashes
- ESPP input to the public consultation on STRUBIAS criteria, 11_2_2021
- Proposed STRUBIAS annexes to the EU Fertilising Products Regulation, v. 7_11_2019: here
- Final published JRC STRUBIAS report:, 13_9_2019
- Report of final STRUBIAS Expert Group meeting, JRC Seville, 25-27_9_2018
- Outcomes ESPP stakeholder meeting on STRUBIAS and EU Fertilisers Regulation (5_9_2018)
- STRUBIAS full “Pre-Final Report and Appendix & Annexes”, circulated 13_8_18. NOTE: replaced by final report of September 2019 (above)
- ESPP letter to DG SANTE concerning use of Cat1 ABP ash as fertiliser (22_1_2018) and reply (9_2_2018)
- Draft STRUBIAS market study (20_12_2017) - NOTE: replaced by final report of September 2019 (above)>
- STRUBIAS Interim report & annexes and “nutrient recovery rules” (24_05_2017) - NOTE: replaced by final report of September 2019 (above)
- ESPP comments on the STRUBIAS draft report and proposed “nutrient recovery rules” (14_9_2017)
- EU End-of-Waste status for materials recovered from waste waters
- ESPP - EABA – Eureau letter to the European Commission concerning End-of-Waste for algae grown using waste inputs (17_11_21)
- ESPP input to the EU JRC consultation on selecting priority materials for definition of EU End-of-Waste Criteria, 10_10_2021
- Joint letter requesting inclusion of waste water in the priority streams for End-of-Waste status under the Circular Economy Action Plan, 3_4_2021 – further signatories welcome (contact )
- DG ENVI studies on contaminants in composts, digestates, fertilisers
- AMEC study carried out in 2019 for DG ENVI on possible bans or REACH “Restrictions” on composts and digestates (Ramboll – Peter Fisk – WOOD ref. 40039CL00313, 8_2_2019)
- Joint letter criticising the study and requesting its withdrawal (11_2_2020)
- Currently ongoing study into risks of contaminants in fertilisers
- Nitrates Directive / recycled nutrient products from manure (SAFEMANURE)
The EU Nitrates Directive specifies lower application limits for manure “even in a processed form” than for mineral fertilisers. Depending on application by Member States/Regions, this can discriminate against recycled nutrient products made from or partly from manure in Nitrates Vulnerable Zones. The European Commission has commissioned a study to JRC (“SAFEManure”) to assess the agronomic performance and environmental impacts of recycled nutrient products produced (partly or wholly) from manures, and input is invited to this (relevant data, publications …).- Explanation of the issues and context: see SCOPE Newsletter n° 100 (26_3_2016)
- ESPP proposals (15_7_2017)
- ESPP presentation to ManuREsource 2017 Nitrates Directive discussion (28_11_2017)
- ESPP letter 10_3_2020 and reminder 27_12_2021 requesting action on mineral fertilisers derived from manure
- SafeManure documents
- JRC call for data to input to SafeManure study here (20_12_2018)
- JRC DRAFT “Safemanure” (RENURE) Interim Report, 18_11_2019, proposing criteria for recycled manure products under the Nitrates Directive
- ESPP input to the draft “Safemanure” report (18_12_2019) will be discussed at the 28-30_1_2020 JRC expert group
- Common Agricultural Policy
- European Commission proposal for new CAP: COM(2018) 392 final and 2018/0216 (COD), 1_6_2018, and the presentation page.
- European Commission presentation of FaST (Farm Sustainability Tool for Nutrients) 12_4_2019 and online “demonstrator”
- ESPP summary of FaST in ESPP eNews n°25 (29_8_2018)
- Joint position supporting that FaST tool be maintained in the CAP, 17_2_2019
- ESPP input to thematic consultations:
- EU Taxonomy (Green investment funding criteria) (28_9_2021)
- Microplastics EU consultation (22_9_2017)
- Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD) evaluation (9_11_2017)
- Water Framework Directive (WFD) evaluation (17_11_2017)
- Pharmaceuticals in the environment (18_2_2018)
- EU funds in the area of investment, research & innovation, SMEs and single market (4_3_2018)
- Revision of the Bioeconomy Strategy (20_3_2018)
- Second Environmental Implementation Review (26_11_2018)
- Impacts of EU farm policy on water (27_8_2019)
- Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD) evaluation (19_10_2018)
- HorizonEurope orientations document: ESPP input (7_9_2019)
- HorizonEurope Circular Bio-Based Europe roadmap (27_8_2019)
- HorizonEurope Circular Bio-Based Partnerships (5_11_2019)
- Circular Economy Roadmap (20_1_20)
- EU Farm-to-Fork strategy consultation (16_3_2020)
- Industrial Emissions Directive roadmap (21_4_20)
- Aquaculture Roadmap (21_4_20)
- Research on Green Deal – sustainable farm to fork (3_6_20)
- Sewage Sludge Directive Roadmap (25_8_2020)
- Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (8_9_2020)
- PRTR (Pollutant Release & Transfer Register) (26_10_2020)
- EU Soil Strategy (8_12_2020)
- Algae Sector consultation (18_1_2021)
- Animal Feed Additives consultation 1831/2003 (25_1_2021)
- Zero Pollution Action Plan (10_2_2021)
- EU Sewage Sludge Directive – targeted stakeholder consultation – 26_2_2021
- Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (21_7_2021)
- Authorisations of struvite / recovered phosphates as fertilisers in different EU countries:
- General summary see SCOPE Newsletter n° 124 (1_2_2017)
- Summary of Netherlands regulations for use of recovered phosphates as fertilisers - Reststoffenunie (29_3_2016)
- Denmark authorisation of struvite as fertiliser (English translation) - Aarhus Water (11_08_2014)
- Japan authorisation of struvite as fertiliser (with English translation) - Swing Corporation (25_4_2019)
- Flanders (Belgium) authorisation of struvite as fertiliser (English translation) - Agristo (17_04_2009)
- Phosphorus recycling legislation at national level in Europe:
- Switzerland: obligation to recover phosphorus from all sewage sludge and slaughterhouse waste (adopted), see SCOPE Newsletter n° 118 (page 13) (7_1_2016)
- Germany: obligation to recover phosphorus from larger wastewater treatment plants (in adoption process), see eNews no. 7 (9_2_2017) and no. 6 (16_1_2017) and SCOPE Newsletter n° 122 (23_11_2016)
- Austria: proposed mandatory phosphorus recovery from sewage sludge (2016, in adoption process), see ESPP news item
- Sweden: proposed national ordinance on sustainable phosphorus recycling by EPA (2013, no follow up yet), see SCOPE Newsletter n° 123 (page 11 - 11_01_2017) and n° 97 (page 2 - 29_9_2013)
- Information note on regulatory status of recovered struvite (REACH, Fertiliser Regulation, End-of-Waste) and see SCOPE Newsletter n° 124 (1_2_2017)
- Organic Farming Regulation
- EGTOP (EU expert committee on Organic Farming) Opinion on recovered struvite and calcined phosphates, 2_2_2016
- Proposed validation of recycled P products (struvite, calcined phosphates) - see ESPP eNews n° 4 (1_10_2016)
- Joint letter IFOAM Eu and ESPP to the European Commission, 17_6_2020
- Fact Sheet template, for recycled nutrient products candidates for Organic Farming (15_1_2020)
- FiBL “Reflections on the acceptability of recycled P fertilisers for European organic agriculture”, 29_9_2021
- REACH (EU chemicals regulation):
- Application of Art 2(7)d “recovered” substances, by-products
- EU Commission letter 7_12_2015 confirming that recovered struvite, when subject to REACH, benefits from Art 2(7)d
- Link to REACH dossier for struvite: see EC# 232-075-2 in search at https://echa.europa.eu/search-for-chemicals -> “Registration Dossier”
- ESPP input to REACH REFIT consultation, 26_1_2017
- Application of Art 2(7)d “recovered” substances, by-products
- Composts and digestates: REACH and proposed "restrictions"
- Best available techniques (BAT) BREFs (Industrial Emissions Directive):
- BAT for waste incineration – objective: take into account the recovery of phosphorus from ashes, including inciting separative incineration of high-P streams to generate ash with P-recovery potential (mono-incineration of sewage sludge, not mixing with industrial sludge or municipal solid wastes)
- BAT for intensive pig & poultry production – see SCOPE Newsletter n° 116, see also ESPP letter to EID Forum 30_9_2015
- The finalised BAT BREF for the “Food, Drink and Milk” industries (FDM) published 12/2019 specifies that “Phosphorus recovery as struvite” is BAT for “waste water streams with … high total phosphorus content ..." and also specifies anaerobic digestion, appropriate use of residues in animal feed, appropriate use of wastewater in agriculture to valorise nutrients and/or water.
- Best management practices (BEMPs): EMAS (EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme Regulation) “agriculture” – see SCOPE Newsletter n° 116 (14_9_2015)
- EU Critical Raw Materials list: - see SCOPE Newsletter n° 104 (30_4_2014) and SCOPE Newsletter n° 119 (26_6_2016)
- EU phosphorus MSA update
- EU phosphorus MSA update
- Quality standards:
- CEN (European Standards Organisation) recommendations on standards developments needed to support phosphorus recycling (10_11_2015), adopted by CEN January 2017
- ISO 13065 “Sustainability Criteria for Bioenergy” see SCOPE newsletter 117 (1_9_2015)
- ISO 275/TC (International Technical Committee) “Sludge recovery, recycling, treatment and disposal” including a specific working group on “Inorganics & nutrients recovery” see SCOPE newsletter 112 (12_4_2015)
- Phosphorus in food, health, animal by-products
- EFSA (European Food Safety Agency) Acceptable Daily Intake for phosphorus in food, 12_6_2019
- ESPP letter to EU Commissioner for Health & Food Safety concerning nutrient stewardship in animal feed regulation, animal by-products, diet, food products (20_10_2020)
- ESPP letter to DG SANTE concerning obstacles to nutrient recycling in the Animal Feed Regulation 767/2009 Annex III (7_5_2021)
- EFSA study “Food and feed safety vulnerabilities in a circular economy”, ESPP input 10_12_21
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