The EU reduces farmers’ dependence on imported fertilisers

On 9 February, new EU rules on RENURE were formally adopted, which will reduce costs for farmers, thereby increasing the strategic autonomy of the EU agricultural sector by reducing its dependence on imported fertilisers.

RENURE (Nitrogen recovered from manure) refers to fertiliser products derived from processed livestock manure, in which nutrients are recovered and transformed into forms that can replace mineral fertilisers. 

RENURE is based on innovative techniques and is produced from processed animal manure so that it can be quickly absorbed by crops, with less risk of water contamination compared to raw manure.

At the same time, to ensure that the use of RENURE is sustainable, the law includes appropriate environmental safeguards to be implemented by Member States, in particular with regard to the protection of water against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources.

By allowing the use of RENURE fertilisers above the current legal limit for the application of manure and processed manure, Member States and farmers will have the possibility to replace chemical fertilisers with RENURE fertilisers. 

The new rules take the form of anamendmentto theNitrates Directive. 

The adoption follows the vote on 19 September 2025 by Member State representatives in the Nitrates Committee to amend Annex III to the Nitrates Directive, and subsequent examination by the European Parliament and the Council in accordance with the comitology procedure.

The amendment will apply only to Member States that choose to authorise RENURE. They will have to transpose it into their national legislation.

More information: European Commission.