The European Commission has today (Monday, February 28) adopted a proposal on the voluntary digital labelling of EU fertilising products.
In the EU, digital labelling is already used for some products containing chemicals, for instance batteries, and rules for digital labelling are under consideration for others, like for detergents, cosmetics and chemicals.
Suppliers of fertilising products that meet EU-wide health, safety, and environmental standards (CE-marked) will be allowed to provide information on a digital label.
The commission has said that this will better inform users, leading to a more efficient use of fertilising products.
Digital labelling
The commission added that it will also simplify labelling obligations for suppliers and reduce costs – €57,000 annually for a large company and €4,500 for a small or medium-seized enterprise (SME).
The digital labelling will be voluntary, meaning that suppliers and retailers can choose how to communicate the labelling information. This can be via a physical format, a digital format or a combination of the two.
Products sold in packaging to farmers and other fertiliser consumers will continue to have the most important information on a physical label, such as on safety for human health and the environment, in addition to the digital label.
This proposal has been sent to the European Parliament and the Council. Once adopted, the new rules will apply two and a half years after their adoption to allow for technical rules to be decided in the meantime.