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EUROPEAN COMPOST NETWORK
ECN e.V.
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Network for Organic Resources and Biological Treatment
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ECN E-BULLETIN No. 3_2024
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EU Commission | Fertilising Product Regulation I Delegated act on processed manure
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The delegated act for processed manure has been adopted on 4 March 2024.
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This act lays down the conditions under which processed manure could be used as a component material in EU fertilising products.
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Click here for more information.
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The delegated act for processed manure has been adopted on 4 March 2024.
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This act lays down the conditions under which processed manure could be used as a component material in EU fertilising products.
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Click here for more information.
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The delegated act for processed manure has been adopted on 4 March 2024.
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This act lays down the conditions under which processed manure could be used as a component material in EU fertilising products.
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Click here for more information.
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EU Public consultation | EU FPR Delegated Acts I Deadline 5 April 2024
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Draft delegated acts on biodegradability criteria, enterococcus and presuming conformity for EU Fertilising Products without verification
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The European Commission – DG Grow – has published for feedback 5 draft delegated acts amending the Fertilising Products Regulation, as follows:
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- delegated act + annexes on biodegradability criteria for coating agents and water retention polymers;
- delegated act + annexes on mulch films;
- 2 delegated acts on biodegradability and other requirements for polymers belonging to component material categories 1 and 11 (other technical additives);
- delegated act + annexes on other requirements, more precisely, enterococcus, assuming compliance for certain requirements in Annex II and tolerances for quantity of inorganic fertilisers and for the content of inhibiting compounds in inhibitors.
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ECN welcomes the proposal of the draft delegated act (Annex 5b) amending Annex II for compost
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(CMC3) and digestate other than fresh crop digestates (CMC5) that testing of PAH16 is not obligatory for conformity assessment.
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The draft delegated acts can be accessed here. The feedback period is open until 5 April 2024.
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Call for evidence for an Evaluation on ‘Protecting waters from pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources’
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The ECN welcomes the evaluation of the EU Nitrates Directive and expresses its support for sustainable agricultural management practices that promote the use of recycled nutrients from organic resources, especially bio-waste. There is a need for a proper assessment of fertilisers from organic resources, such as compost, with a high content of stabilised organic carbon and organically bound nitrogen. When calculating nutrient balances in crop production, both soil quality and plant nutrition need to be considered together in order to improve soil health by building soil organic carbon and to ensure adequate fertilisation of crops.
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Click here to read the full feedback.
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Trilogues | Packaging and packaging waste
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Co-legislators strike a deal on revised packaging and packaging waste rules
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The Co-legislators reached common ground on rules governing packaging and packaging waste.
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Sticky labels on fruit and vegetables, as well as permeable coffee and tea units will have to be compatible with industrial composting standards, whereas flexibility is accorded to Member States in requiring mandatory compostability for non-permeable beverage single serve units, lightweight and very lightweight plastic carrier bags. The regulation includes a call for the revision of standard EN 13432, and the development of harmonised standards for home composting. Labelling rules to better inform consumers on compostable packaging are laid down.
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The Parliament and Council will have to formally approve the agreement before it can enter into force. Parliament is expected to cast its final vote on April 24.
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European Parliament | Soil Monitoring Law
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ENVI Committee adopts report on SML, vote in plenary awaits
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MEPs of the ENVI Committee adopt the draft report on the Soil Monitoring law, redefining the monitoring system design and soil health assessment proposed by the EU Commission.
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The monitoring system foresees three different tiers, while soil ecological quality is classified through 5 different categories based on soil descriptors laid down in the mentioned tiers. According to the report, Member States shall implementation implement sustainable soil management practices, being guided by a list of principles included in annex III, which has been turned into a non-binding index compared to the initial proposal. The report calls on the Commission to develop a sustainable soil management toolbox publicly available free of charge containing recommendations and best practices, to be included in the digital soil health data portal.
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The text will now be put to a vote at the EP plenary session scheduled for 10 April.
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European Parliament | Certification Framework for Carbon Removals
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ENVI Committee endorses provisional agreement, final vote foreseen in April
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The Committee responsible for the work on certification of carbon removals within the European Parliament has endorsed the provisional agreement which now includes two types of carbon farming units: soil emissions reduction and carbon farming sequestration.
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The text will be voted in Plenary on April 10, and needs the final green light from the Council as well before entering officially into force.
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European Parliament | Waste Framework Directive
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European Parliament strengthens food waste reduction commitments in plenary vote
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The targets for food waste reduction have been increased to 20% for the consumption level (retail, distribution, restaurants and food services as well as households) and to 40% for food processing and manufacturing.
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These targets are 10% higher than the ones proposed by the EU Commission, still not living up to the commitments taken by the EU in the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and in the previous amendment of the same directive (2018). The Parliament has broadened the scope of the revision, including provisions encouraging MSs to pre-sort municipal mixed waste and requiring them to ensure sufficient infrastructure for separate collection.
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European Commission | Common Agricultural Policy
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EU Executive proposes CAP targeted review to address Farmers’ complaints
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The proposal is aimed at relaxing rules on good agricultural and environmental condition standards (GAECs), eco-schemes and foresees adjustments of the CAP Strategic Plans Regulations to simplify their implementation.
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The review relates to conditionalities on non-productive features (GAEC 8), on conversion of arable land to permanent grasslands (GAEC 1), on crop rotation (GAEC 7), as well as on soil cover during sensitive periods (GAEC 6). Additionally, the Commission is proposing to exempt certain types of crops, soils and farming systems from complying with requirements on tillage (GAEC 5), soil cover and crop rotation.
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You can find the full proposal here.
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European Environment Agency | Climate risk assessment
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Europe not prepared for growing climate risks, EU independent agency says
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According to the report published by the European Environment Agency, growing climate risks are putting in danger, among others, ecosystems and food security in Europe. A key action recommended in this respect is the development and application of sustainable and transformative agricultural practices that also enhance ecosystem resilience, such as measures improving soil quality, enhancing water retention and reducing soil erosion.
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Call for abstracts on external organic matters for circular economy
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Australia published its National Soil Action Plan 2023 to 2028
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The National Soil Action Plan is the first of four action plans to be developed under the National Soil Strategy of Australia, released in 2021. It was endorsed by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry on 28 November 2023.
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The action plan sets out 4 priority actions. These guide the focus and design of support to action on soil by governments at all levels and partners over the next 5 years.
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All priority actions are linked to the 3 broader goals of the National Soil Strategy:
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- Prioritise soil health
- Empower soil innovation and stewards
- Strengthen soil knowledge and capability
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The Australian National Soil Action Plan can be accessed here.
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ECNs Annual Meeting
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We are delighted to announce that ECNs Annual Meeting for 2024 will take place during the week of the World Circular Economy Forum in Brussels. We are pleased to inform you that our meeting will be held in conjunction with a seminar co-organized with CIC as part of the EU FER-PLAY project, focusing on 'Alternative Fertilisers for Circularity & Soil Health,' scheduled for April 18, 2024.
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Kindly mark your calendars for this important occasion. We will provide you with further details regarding the final time schedule in the upcoming weeks.
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FER-PLAY - Circular Fertilisers for healthy soils
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The in-person seminar is to discuss the drivers and barriers (from the technical, economic, social, legislative and environmental point of view) for the uptake of circular fertilisers in the market from producers' perspective. It will take place on 18th of April 2024 (13:30 - 17:00 CET) and is co-organized by ECN in collaboration with the Italian Composting and Biogas Consortium (CIC) within the frame of the EU funded FER-PLAY project.
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ICAW 2024 I 05 -11 May 2024
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COMPOST... Nature’s Climate Champion!
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The 2024 International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) theme is truly a collaborative and international effort. Again this year, we teamed up with the International Compost Alliance (ICA), which includes compost associations from around the world, to select: COMPOST... Nature’s Climate Champion!
Please celebrate the International Compost Awareness Week with us and please start to plan your event now!
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S.O.S Save Organics in Soil
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This international initiative S.O.S. SOIL – Save Organics in Soil, led by the European Compost Network (ECN) and the Italian Composting and Biogas Association (CIC), aims to highlight the importance of soil organic matter to encourage policy makers to develop instruments to move Europe towards implementing sustainable, climate proof soil management practices.
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Sign the manifesto 'Save Organigs in Soil' here.
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ECN-QAS Trade Mark No 011007168
Trade mark for certified quality assurance
organisations, compost and digestate products
according to ECN-QAS
Website: www.ecn-qas.eu
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