Cadmium governance in Europe's phosphate fertilizers: Not so fast?

Abstract

The European Union has been concerned about cadmium (Cd), because of its toxic nature, since the 1970s. While many anthropogenic sources of Cd were regulated early on at the community level, and most member states later established national limits, Cd content in widely used mineral fertilizers remains uncontrolled across the EU. In 1997, the European Commission first suggested phased Cd limit values in mineral fertilizers as a promising approach to reducing Cd content in soils and harmonising national measures. For over 20 years, however, no harmonised measures have been adopted because confusion remains about the basis for, and level of, such limits. We comment on the latest deadlock over the revision of the Fertilisers Regulation and strengthen assumptions as to why such limits are timely, pertinent, and possible.