National Fertiliser Database – Are you registered?

By Marion Fox, Drystock Adviser, Teagasc Galway/Clare

The requirements for farmers to purchase fertiliser including lime will change from 1^st September 2023. The Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Act 2023 became law on the 11^th July this year. This Act provides for the establishment of a National Fertiliser Database. The aim of the database is to better record the sale of fertiliser and lime in the country. Once you are registered on the database purchases of fertiliser will be automatically recorded.

Why was this legislation introduced?

The legislation was introduce to meet a commitment that Ireland agreed to during negotiations with the European Commission to secure the current extension to Ireland’s Nitrates Derogation. Currently, all EU Member States availing of a Nitrates Derogation have, or are in the process of establishing, a National Fertiliser Database. In addition, as part of its climate action plans, the Department seeks to encourage farmers and other professional fertiliser users to reduce their use of fertiliser products.

As part of the CAP Strategic Plan the Department will operate Schemes that will financially reward farmers who demonstrably reduce their fertiliser use. However, in order to roll out such schemes and verify compliance with Nitrates regulations, the Department first needs to introduce a system that will enable it to monitor the manufacture, importation, retail and use of fertiliser products in the State. The National Fertiliser Database will record fertiliser sales along the supply chain and will inform policy decisions on environmental and water ambitions with a view to achieving compliance.

To get to this stage farmers must follow some steps:

• If you wish to purchase fertiliser from the 1^st September you must be registered as a Professional Fertiliser End User with the Department. You or your agent can register for this on www.agfood.ie
• Also from 1^st September, all fertiliser transactions along the supply chain have to be recorded. This includes fertiliser dispatched from merchant’s premises to farms, moving farm to farm or imported directly by a farmer. The data on these transactions must be submitted to the database by a set deadline.
• When the fertiliser spreading season for nitrogen & phosphorus ends on the 14^th September, farmers have until the 15^th of October to submit details of the closing stock of fertiliser (including Nil stock) on the farm to the database. This will be your opening stock value for the following year

Having a record of opening stock, purchases and closing stock of fertiliser on farm will allow farmers to accurately and easily record overall fertiliser use during the year.

The establishment of the database will mean very little additional work for most farmers and will provide a number of benefits. During the year, each farmer will be able to view and download their records from the database, allowing them to easily verify their compliance with voluntary schemes or regulatory limits.

Penalties will apply to farmers or merchants who fail to comply with the requirement to register and fail to supply details required by a fertiliser operator or end user. Any farmer who provides information knowing it to be false or misleading commits an offence and is liable to a fine up to €5000.

What have been the historical level of sales of fertiliser in recent years?

It can be seen from the table above that sale of chemical fertiliser has reduced in the October 2021 to September 2022 this is due to the fact that costs have increased significantly.

What you need to do now:

1. If you wish to purchase fertiliser, including lime, from 1st September 2023 you must register as a Professional Fertiliser End User. You or your Agent can do this now by logging onto www.agfood.ie, select ‘National Fertiliser Database’ and follow the instructions provided on the videos and guides available on the website gov.ie - National Fertiliser Database (www.gov.ie)
2. You or your agent, from 15th September, must enter details on closing fertiliser stocks (even if you have no stock, i.e. nil declaration) on your farm at 23.59 on 14th September. This can also be completed on www.agfood.ie and the deadline is 15th October.
3. If you are involved in the import (such as from Northern Ireland), or farm-to-farm transfer of fertiliser, you must register as a Fertiliser Economic Operator on www.agfood.ie and additional requirements apply. Details on these, along with further information is available online at gov.ie - National Fertiliser Database (www.gov.ie)