Cadmium in fertilizers: lowering of permitted thresholds from 2027

Cadmium is a heavy metal found in certain phosphate rocks used for fertilizer production. Its toxicity and its ability to accumulate sustainably in soils make it an important health issue.

The Government is taking steps to progressively limit, starting from 1^er January 2027, the cadmium content in fertilizers. The maximum content must be aligned from 2027 on the threshold laid down in UE (EU) 2019/1009, i.e. 60 mg/kg phosphoric anhydride or P205 (against 90 mg/kg today); with a ceiling for the intake of cadmium from mineral fertilizers 3 g per hectare per year.

This decision takes into account recommendations of the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES) which advocates:

• limit the intake to 2 g of cadmium per hectare per year;
• a ceiling of 20 mg cadmium per kg P205 for phosphate fertilizers.

The timetable for reaching these thresholds is as follows:

• at 1^er January 2028, the maximum content shall be fixed at 40 mg cadmium per kg of P205;
• at 1^er January 2030, it will move to 20 mg of cadmium per kg of P205.