EU Fertilising Product Regulation excludes phosphite biostimulant
The fertilising product regulation EC2019/1009 was applied on 16th July. For the first time, plant biostimulants are included, which is a great boost for the biostimulants industry. Unfortunately and to the great disappointment of phosphite manufacturers and distributors, phosphites have been specifically excluded. The background to this decision is that phosphites are already listed as an active ingredient for plant protection products and have no direct nutritional effect. However, there is a precedent for dual use components and a compelling body of evidence of the plant biostimulant properties of phosphite.
IntraCrop is a member of both EBIC (European Biostimulants Industry Council) and the PBSG (Phosphite Biostimulants Stewardship Group), both organisations that are advocating for an amendment to the regulation to include phosphites as a plant biostimulant. As a result of the fertilising product regulation, manufacturers cannot now supply phosphite under this regulation in Europe. Several member states are also likely to align their own national regulations to exclude it. Existing supplies can be sold by distributors and used indefinitely by farmers, but without amendment to the regulation phosphite will be unavailable for use by next spring. The position in the UK is somewhat different, as DEFRA is broadly supportive of phosphite as a plant biostimulant. Under national rules, phosphite biostimulant can continue to be manufactured and sold, with no restrictions on its use.
The key advantages of using phosphite as either a seed treatment or foliar applied plant biostimulant are the increase in root biomass, which is typically 30 – 40%, and the improvement in nitrogen assimilation due to a 10% increase in nitrate reductase activity. These two benefits combine to deliver improvements in nitrogen use efficiency, which is even more relevant to growers given current high fertiliser prices. Research by the University of Kiel shows that phosphite biostimulant allows growers to reduce nitrogen applications whilst still improving yield.
IntraCrop is actively supporting both EBIC and PBSG in their efforts to recognise phosphite in the regulation, but in the meantime we are also developing new data to support alternatives for growers in Europe. To read more about our biostimulant technologies, click here.
4th August 2022
