asked the Minister for Agriculture the main changes in our law effected by the recent fertilisers, feeding stuffs and mineral mixtures regulations, if these regulations will have any effect, direct or indirect, on the cost of the products to farmers; and if the regulations have been specifically discussed with farming organisations.
Written Answers. - Agricultural Regulations.
469.
The Fertilisers, Feeding Stuffs and Mineral Mixtures (Methods of Analysis) Regulations, 1978, (S.I. No. 249 of 1978), which were made by me on 1 September 1978, amended the analytical methods in respect of feeding stuffs laid down in the Fertilisers, Feeding Stuffs and Mineral Mixtures Regulations, 1957, so as to bring them into conformity with agreed Community methods of analysis. There is no direct or indirect effect on the cost of feeding stuffs to farmers.
Three sets of regulations which made some changes in the provisions of the Fertilisers, Feeding Stuffs and Mineral Mixtures Regulations, 1957, relating to the marketing of fertilisers, were also made this year, namely:
1. European Communities (Marketing of Fertilisers) Regulations, 1978 of 19 January 1978 (S.I. No. 13 of 1978).
2. European Communities (Sampling and Analysis of Fertilisers) Regulations, 1978 of 19 January 1978 (S.I. No. 12 of 1978).
3. Marketing of Non-EEC Fertilisers Regulations, 1978 of 1 September, 1978 (S.I. No. 248 of 1978).
The first two sets of these regulations implemented the provisions of Council Directive No. 76/116/EEC of 18 December 1975 and Commission Directive No. 77/535/EEC of 22 June 1977 which lay down quality, packaging and labelling standards for straight and compound NPK solid fertilisers designated as EEC fertilisers. The third set similarly provide for such standards for all fertilisers which are not designated as EEC fertilisers.
The implications of these regulations were discussed with farming organisations before implementation.
The main changes in the new regulations are:
(a) quality standards are laid down.
(b) labelling standards are laid down for all fertilisers so as to provide a more extensive set of declarations as to the nutrient content of the fertilisers. This information, together with the name or trade name or trade mark and address of the manufacturer must be shown on the bag or, in the case of bulk fertilisers, on documents accompanying the fertilisers.
(c) the licensing provisions relating to fertiliser manufacture have been abolished.
(d) regarding ground limestone, provision has been made for metrication of standards.
(e) the methods of sampling and analysis have been brought into line with Community methods which include tolerances which are in many respects more exacting than previous tolerances.
These regulations should not have any direct or indirect effect on the cost of fertilisers to farmers.