EU farmers have again expressed concern over the European Commission's plan to place increased tariffs on fertiliser from Russia and its ally Belarus.

In light of the commission's proposal on "trade defence measures" against fertiliser imports from those two countries, EU farming organisation Copa Cogeca said a "medium-term strategy is crucial for EU food security".

The group also called for "urgent fixes" to mitigate economic harm for farmers.

According to Copa, the move from the commission "could lead to extensive harm for EU agriculture".

"The current proposal leaves European farmers and their co-operatives up against a wall without viable or alternative solutions, while no prior impact assessment has been conducted to evaluate its effects on food security and the economy," Copa said.

At a recent meeting, both wings of the organisation - Copa, which represents farm organisations, and Cogeca, which represents agricultural co-operatives - recognised current "geopolitical challenges" and the need to reduce the EU's strategic dependencies.

However, the organisation also outlined "concrete measures" to limit the immediate shock on the EU fertiliser market, and a medium-term diversification strategy.

The group said that the EU needs to diversify its suppliers; boost its own production; develop more environmentally friendly alternatives for fertiliser sourcing; and recognise the role of the circular economy, including on-farm solutions such as manure and digestate.

Copa is calling on the commission to speed up the removal of import duties on fertilisers from non-EU countries (with the exception of Russia and Belarus), and to prioritise the use of manure by allowing derogations to the limit set by the nitrates directive.

The group is also calling on the EU to postpone by one year the proposed tariff increase on Russian and Belarussian fertiliser, and to limit the scope of the increase to nitrogen fertiliser only.

The farm organisation is also calling for enhanced price monitoring and safeguard measures in case fertiliser prices in the EU reach certain levels.

"Fertilisers are essential for crops and pastures and present a central cost factor for European farmers. The matter is of vital importance for food security and sovereignty," Copa said.

The group said that an impact assessment is "also urgently needed as the EU cannot afford to play deadly games with its agriculture".

"Copa and Cogeca urge all EU institutions to address this matter as a priority, as the commission's current proposal risks having damaging effects as early as summer 2025," the organisation said.