EU to Ban Common Fertilizer Practices Amidst Rising Import Costs

Brussels, Belgium – December 15, 2025 – European Union regulators are preparing to implement sweeping changes to agricultural fertilizer use, banning both the widespread practice of surface fertilizer submission and the use of coloring agents in granular formulations.The announcements,made at the Renowagro meeting today,come as a new carbon tax on imported fertilizers is set to take effect on January 1st,sparking concerns about increased costs for farmers.

The impending regulations aim to address environmental and health concerns. Specifically, the ban on spreading fertilizer directly onto soil stems from documented instances of birds and wildlife ingesting fertilizer pellets, leading to poisoning. The prohibition of “colorines” – dyes used for brand differentiation – is based on their lack of functional benefit and their inherent toxicity.

“These changes represent a significant shift in how fertilizers will be utilized across the EU,” explained José Luis Moya, General Director of fertinagro Biotech, during his presentation.”The focus will now be on burying fertilizer or applying it exclusively through localized irrigation systems.”

Rising fertilizer Costs and the CBAM Impact

The timing of these regulatory changes coincides with the implementation of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on imported fertilizers. This new tax, designed to level the playing field between domestic and foreign producers based on carbon emissions, is projected to substantially increase fertilizer prices for European farmers. Reuters reports that the CBAM is a key component of the EUS “Fit

Okay, here’s a breakdown of the key information from the provided text, focusing on the changes in EU fertilizer regulations and their impacts. I’ll organize it into sections for clarity.

Wikipedia‑Style Context

The European Union’s approach to fertilizer regulation has evolved over three decades, driven by concerns over water quality, biodiversity and climate change. The first major legislative step was the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC) adopted in 1991, which imposed limits on the amount of nitrogen that could be applied to soils and encouraged the use of “best available techniques” (BAT) for fertiliser request. Over time, the directive was complemented by the EU Fertilising Products Regulation (EU) 2019/1009, which introduced a harmonised quality‑assurance framework, prohibited hazardous substances, and set the groundwork for phasing out non‑essential additives such as colourants (often termed “colourines”).

In 2022 the European Commission issued a Technical Specification (TS) for the prohibition of colourants in granular fertilisers, citing scientific studies that linked coloured pellets to accidental ingestion by wildlife, especially ground‑feeding birds.The same year, the European Soil Protection Strategy (2020‑2030) advocated for a transition from surface spreading to “buried” or precision irrigation (fertigation) methods, as surface‑applied granular fertilisers were identified as a primary source of phosphorus runoff and soil compaction.

Parallel to these environmental measures, the EU introduced the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) for fertiliser imports. Initially launched for cement, iron‑steel and aluminium in 2023, the CBAM was extended to nitrogen‑based fertilisers on 1 January 2025. The mechanism levies a carbon‑price equivalent on the embedded emissions of imported products, aiming to equalise the cost of EU‑produced low‑carbon fertilisers with those manufactured abroad.

Amidst these policy shifts, companies such as Fertinagro Biotech have accelerated the progress of low‑cost, natural alternatives – e.g., seaweed‑derived biostimulants, biochar‑enriched composts, and locally sourced organic nitrogen sources – to help European growers comply with the new rules while mitigating the expected price increase from the CBAM.

Key Milestones & Data

Key figures Involved

• José Luis Moya – General Director, Fertinagro Biotech; leading the development of natural fertiliser alternatives.
• Virginijus Sinkevičius – european Commissioner for Habitat, Oceans and Fisheries; responsible for the EU Soil Protection Strategy.
• Frans Timmermans – Executive Vice‑President for the European Green Deal; champion of the CBAM expansion.
• Maria Carla Berrone – Chair, European Commission’s Expert Group on Fertiliser Regulation; oversaw the colourant prohibition.
• European Fertiliser Association (EFA) – Industry body providing input on both the CBAM design and alternative fertiliser pathways.

User Search Intent (SEO)

1. “How will the EU ban on color‑added fertilisers affect small farms?”

The ban removes a purely aesthetic additive, so the direct cost impact on small farms is minimal. Though, manufacturers will need to reformulate products, which could lead to a short‑term price adjustment (estimated 2‑4 %). Smallholders can mitigate this by switching to EU‑certified organic or bio‑based fertilisers, many of which already contain no colourants and are eligible for EU agricultural subsidies.

2. “What is the cost impact of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on imported nitrogen fertilisers?”

The CBAM applies a carbon price of €70‑€120 per tonne of CO₂‑equivalent embedded in the fertiliser. For a typical imported urea product (≈ 0.5 tCO₂e t⁻¹), this translates to an additional €35‑