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The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Community (BMLEH) intends to implement a system for fertilizing our fields and farmland that is more closely aligned with the "polluter-pays" principle – particularly in areas with high nitrate levels. The amendment to the Fertilizer Act will create the legal basis for the necessary impact monitoring under the Fertilizer Ordinance. The Cabinet has approved the draft presented by the Federal Minister of Agriculture, Food and Community, Alois Rainer.
The amendment to the Fertiliser Act is part of a multi-stage reform with which the BMLEH aims to future-proof fertiliser legislation. The planned nationwide monitoring will allow conclusions to be drawn about the effects of fertilization measures on water pollution and a review of the effectiveness of the Fertilizer Ordinance. Germany has also committed to this with the EU Commission in order to avoid further infringement proceedings.
With the amendment now presented, in addition to creating a legal basis for an ordinance on impact monitoring, regulations for the national implementation of the EU Fertiliser Products Regulation will also be incorporated into the Fertiliser Act. The amendment also creates the legal basis for a quality assurance system for the future phosphorus recycling from sewage sludge. The use of fertilizers in agriculture is important to ensure soil fertility, the provision of nutrients for plants, and thus the supply of high-quality food in Germany. Nevertheless, waterways in some regions of Germany continue to be polluted with high nitrate levels. Therefore, fertilizer regulations will be made more targeted, simpler, and more practical in the future.
April 29, 2026/ BMLEH/ Germany.
https://www.bmleh.de
