“In the market we are competitors, but in the industry we are together. Some believe that they will gain a commercial advantage through this process,” explained Nikos Koutsougeros, President and Managing Director of the fertilizer manufacturing and trading company Fitonutrition, in an interview with K in connection with the reluctance of the political leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture Ministry of Agriculture to immediately publish KYA (Joint Ministerial Decision) regarding the terms of fertilizer circulation in Greece and export. On July 16, 2022, a new EU regulation came into force (in connection with which the current EU regulation 2003/2003 was canceled). on Fertilizers (1009/2019), which establishes new labeling requirements, new procedures, new administrative structures and requires the establishment of new evaluation bodies. However, the application of the new regulation is optional and Member States have the option of establishing a national structure for fertilizers. Spain has already moved ahead with relevant legislation, while Portugal and Poland are also moving in the same direction to make their business easier.

At a press conference held yesterday by SPEL (Association of Producers and Traders of Fertilizers, in which 67 companies representing more than 85% of the fertilizers circulating on the Greek market) participate, the president of the association, Dimitris Rousseas, emphasized that the Ministry of Agricultural Development seemed to be positive a few months ago with in terms of developing national legislation. “Discussions about issuing KYA have been going on for 1.5 years,” he said. In fact, as of 02/25/2022, there is a ready-made ISA plan, which is based on the positive recommendation of the competent services of the Ministry of Rural Development, the State General Chemistry and the TEGEL Fertilizers Technical Advisory Committee. However, the political leadership of the FSAAT, at a meeting with representatives of the SPEL in July, reported that the corresponding MLA would be valid for a limited period of time, namely until the end of the year. Fertilizer companies will then have to follow the specifications of Community legislation.

As noted at the press conference, SPEL members are not against the introduction of the new regulation, but they need “time, flexibility and business opportunities.” Failure to issue KYA limits the ability of fertilizer producers and traders to find suppliers of raw materials and finished products, which leads to a shortage in the market.