Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023
917. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will advise on the all-island monitoring mechanisms his Department has put in place with regard to the national fertiliser database; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47967/23]
View answerMy Department introduced a National Fertiliser Database to register all Professional Fertiliser End Users and Fertiliser Economic Operators and to record the movement of fertiliser from point of import or manufacture to end user.
There are highly integrated supply chains on the island of Ireland and the introduction of the National Fertiliser Database will not disrupt them. Farmers and other Professional Fertiliser End Users can continue to purchase fertiliser from Northern Ireland and vice versa and my Department is keen to ensure that trade carries on as normal.
My Department is including on-site inspections along the supply chain as part of its monitoring and verification programme to ensure compliance with the regulatory requirements, including in relation to trade with Northern Ireland.
Whilst there is no equivalent regulatory framework in place to record and track sales of fertiliser in Northern Ireland, there is regular communication with counterparts in Northern Ireland.
