Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 November 2021
722. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a specific import licence is required in cases in which a person or body wishes to import fertiliser from a third country, that is, Russia for resale in Ireland; the regulations that must be followed; if other criteria must be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54522/21]
View answerThere are no licence requirements for the import of fertiliser from third countries save for ammonium nitrate and certain fertilisers which contain ammonium nitrate in excess of 79% by weight.
These are deemed to be explosives under the Explosives Act and are, therefore, subject to the same security controls for licensing, importation and storage as conventional explosives.
All other fertiliser imports are subject to Fertiliser Regulations that relate to marketing standards for fertiliser products, that is labelling. Any fertiliser product placed on the market in Ireland must comply with the requirements that are set out in National legislation (S.I. 248/1978) and EU legislation (EC Fertiliser Regulation 2003/2003). Fertiliser products can also be placed on the market here through Mutual Recognition if they are sold or registered in another EU Member State.
In relation to ammonium nitrate and mixtures of urea and ammonium nitrate, there is an EU anti-dumping levy specifically on these products originating in Russia, based on a fixed amount of duty per tonne.
However, ammonium nitrate or mixtures of urea and ammonium nitrate (UAN) are fertilisers that are not widely used in Ireland or imported here from Russia.
Nevertheless, Russia is an important global player with regard to production and export of nitrogen and phosphate fertiliser and is a key supplier of fertiliser to Ireland. According to CSO data, Russian fertiliser imports accounted for 22% of total imports in 2020.
