Biostimulants legislation
Scientific regulatory affairs
Regulatory support for biostimulants
Belgium
Last update 12 06 2023
Fertilisers, biostimulants and soil amendments based on animal by-products
Any fertiliser product based on animal by-products must have been processed in line with Regulation 1069/2009 and Regulation 142/2011. The manufacturer will be required to request the evidence from its suppliers that this is the case and to provide that evidence in case it processes itself any animal by-products.
Only category 2 and 3 (see Regulation 1069/2009) animal by-products are allowed for the production of fertiliser products.
With the exception of horns (and horn products), hooves (and hoof products), slurry, digestive tract content, compost, digestate, milk, milk base, milk derivatives, colostrum, colostrum products, blood, fat, eggs, hydrolyzed protein and dicalcium phosphate, tricalcium phosphate and collagen, animal by-products must be transformed or converted as follows (annex XI, chapter II, section 1, 1. of Reg. 142/2011):
a) method 1 (pressure sterilization) if a category 2 material is used as raw material;
b) method 1 to 7 if a category 3 material is used as raw material.Many more details, as well as other details as regards to transport and storage and the processing of such by-products which have to respond to certain criteria are found here (source document).
Source: Circulaire relative aux engrais/ amendements du sol/ substrats de culture contenant des sous-produits animaux (November 2018)
***
Biostimulants based on waste or waste products require a somewhat complex authorisation at several levels: An authorisation at federal level is required, as well as an authorisation for every region (Vlaanderen, Wallonia, Brussels). Without the consent of the regions, an authorisation at federal level can not be obtained.
This procedures entails an application with the federal authorities AND the individual regions. Data requirements across these regions are not the same and the procedure is rather lengthy, also due to the work load of the respective competent authorities.
(end of update for 06 12 2022)
* * *
As for many other European countries, "biostimulants" is not an official term used by the authorities and it is not found as such in the respective legislation. Rather, biostimulants would fall under so-called "produits connexes", which would be translated as "related products". "Related products" would not fall into one the recognised Belgian Fertiliser categories and they have a specific plant stimulating effect. In this little summary, and in order to maintain some common wording on this site, we will refer to these "related products" as "biostimulants".
Belgium considers as fertilisers soil improvers, which it divides into two main groups: organic amendments and physical amendments.
Fertilisers, soil improvers and treated growth media may container pesticidal active substances. However, these must be authorised (that refers to Regulation 1107/2009) before they can be placed on the market and they must be labelled as such.
Biostimulants can be placed on the market if they comply with at least one of these conditions:- Be listed on Annex I. of Royal Decree of 28 January 2013, or
- Be authorised through derogation
- Be authorised through mutual recognition (also through derogation)
In order to be exempted, you need to request an exemption, a so-called "dérogation", providing the information on your product's composition, labelling, use intention, but also an analysis of contaminants (heavy metals, PCBS). Efficacy studies are not required. However, there must be a clear link between the different components and the claims made.
More details can be found on the website of the Belgian authorities: https://fytoweb.be/en/fertilising-products
In case you are wish to see which types of products have been granted a derogation to be placed on the Belgian market (though not compliant with Annex I of Royal Decree of 28 January 2013, have a look at this list.
Biostimulants
legislation
Scientific regulatory
affairs
Regulatory support for
biostimulants
Biostimulants legislation | Regulatory support for biostimulants | email me >