FAQS

Some of your Questions:

1) What is the objective and scope of the study?

This study arises from the European Commission's Regulation (EU) No. 2019/1009)(*) which details the biodegradability criteria for the commercialisation of EU fertiliser products on the market from 16th July 2022.

This Fertiliser Product Regulation sets specific requirements for relevant polymers that form part of certain fertilisers with regard to both their function and safety for animal and plant health and the environment. In particular, from 16th July 2026, relevant polymers(**) will have to comply with biodegradability criteria to be set by the Commission. In the absence of such criteria, EU fertiliser products containing such polymers may no longer be placed on the market (point 2 of CMC 9, “Component Material Category”). The Commission must assess the biodegradability criteria for these relevant polymers and the corresponding test methods used to ensure the polymers must comply with this criteria by 16th July 2024.

In addition, Article 50 of the Fertiliser Products Regulation requires the Commission to also assess the biodegradability criteria for mulch film in order to verify whether these materials can be added to CMC 9.

We would like mulch film or fertilizer manufacturers to participate as stakeholders in this study.

(*)Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council established on 5th June 2019 states that EU fertilising products will be available on the market, amending Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 and (EC) No 1107/2009 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 PE/76/2018/REV/1. OJ L 170, 25.6.2019, p. 1–114 (http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/1009/oj).

(**) Both coating agents and formulation additives (polymers referred to in the point 1 (a) and (b) in Component Material Category (CMC) 9: “Polymers other than nutrient polymers in Annex II to the Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 (**) (hereinafter “The Fertilising Products Regulation” or “FPR”).

2) How do we ensure confidentiality?

The names of the companies involved in the project will not be published unless the companies give their consent. The information will be treated confidentially. The data will be processed anonymously, and where possible organised by process type. Ranges will be established for each of the study variables.

Furthermore, participating organisations will have the opportunity to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with AIMPLAS.

3) What information do we need?

Different sources will be used to collect primary and secondary data and information during the contract process.

This data collection will be done to gather information on variables that will later form part of the data analysis. Detailed questionnaires will be used to extract the information (please refer to the "STAKEHOLDERS DATA COLLECTION" section). These questionnaires will ask for:

  • Information on relevant polymers and mulch films (biodegradable or not) and how they are used in different Member States  Linked to polymer mapping proposals and market studies.
  • Information regarding the characteristics of the relevant polymers (coating agents and formulation additives in fertilising products and mulch films)  Linked to the identification of polymer-dependent factors affecting the biodegradation process.
  • Information regarding the characteristics of soil and aquatic environment  Linked to the identification of environment-dependent factors affecting the biodegradation process (representative edaphology mapping and hydrology properties across the European Union). It is important to highlight that AIMPLAS has experienced professionals in the hydrology and edaphology fields. CAJAMAR (the subcontracted company) provides and simplifies data and databases for the main representative parameters of the European Union using mapping conditions.
  • Information regarding the biodegradation tests of relevant polymers in (coating agents and formulation additives in fertilising products and mulch films)  Linked to the validation of the proposed/developed model and the prediction of results calculated using the model (the objective is to establish a set of criteria to assess related testing models).

Three main data source types will be used:(a) Stakeholder consultation, (b) techno-scientific literature, standards and legislation sources and (c) research data repositories and default values.

Please download the template that applies to you and send it to the following email address: databiodegradability@aimplas.es

4) How is the data collected?

You should complete a specific questionnaire. There are two ways to access the questionnaire.

  • a) By email: You may contact us via databiodegradability@aimplas.es
  • b) Online: Download the detailed questionnaire directly on our website. Please, refer to the "STAKEHOLDERS DATA COLLECTION" section.

5) What results will be obtained from the study?

The data analysis will be used to develop a model that considers the different environments and their associated factors (polymer/product or environment-dependent) that can be found across Europe and can affect biodegradation.

The developed model will be backed by data from literature. A sensitivity analysis of the model will also be carried out. This will establish the different times it takes for the polymers to completely biodegrade (>90%). The polymers behave differently in standard and natural conditions. The test will be carried out in standard conditions to see how it degrades.

Once the biodegradation rate of each relevant polymer/product on the fertiliser and mulch film market has been predicted, a biodegradation criteria can be established under EU environmental conditions (soil and aqueous media).

This means that the models predicting the biodegradation rate can be observed to meet the current criteria. This current criteria states that 90% of the polymer needs to biodegrade, depending on the environmental conditions of the territory.

This will make possible to establish a new degradation rate criteria that is linked to the conditions of different environments and territories in the European Union. The method used by ECHA to assess polymer biodegradability will serve as a model for the project. The time periods for the relevant polymers are set out in the Fertilising Product Regulation. However, this could be valid only for mulch films, where there is more flexibility.

6) What are the deadlines?

AIMPLAS requests all stakeholders complete the detailed questionnaire by 8th of August at the latest, so that all the data can be analysed and validated.