Plant Biostimulants under the Fertilising Products Regulation (FPR) 2019/1009

Plant Biostimulants under the Fertilising Products Regulation (FPR) 2019/1009

At the recent Dublin PPP Symposium held by Kerona Scientific, Dr. Stefania Lombardi and Alessandro Nerini from the Italian consultancy SILC Fertilizzanti, offered a very informative presentation on Plant Biostimulants under the Fertilising Products Regulation (FPR) 2019/1009. The new FPR will enter into force on 16 July 2022 and will replace Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003, which is the current legal framework applicable to fertilizer products in the EU.

Biostimulant products act by neutralizing abiotic stress, unlike PPPs that act directly on biotic stress caused by fungi, diseases and insects, etc. Under the new regulation, these products are grouped into seven categories according to their function: i) fertilisers; (ii) liming material; (iii) soil improvers; (iv) growing mediums; (v) inhibitors; (vi) plant biostimulants; and (vii) fertilising product blends. Another important change that will be introduced by the new FPR is the definition of contaminant limit values for biostimulant products, which are currently determined by each member state. From 2022 onwards, the MS limits may continue to apply at national level if they are more conservative than those defined in the FPR. New changes are yet to come, as the technical specifications for plant biostimulant assays/trials are still under discussion and not yet official.

With regards to labeling and placing on the market, it is important to emphasize that under the new FPR the conformity assessment body will examine the label design, therefore the label information must be supported by evidence and be scientifically substantiated.

For assistance with all aspects of the plant protection regulations, contact Kerona’s expert team at info@kerona.ie