End to fertilizer effectiveness testing surprises agribusiness group

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

By DAVE PINK

The Ottawa-based Canadian Fertilizer Institute is working closely with the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and the Canadian Grain Growers to determine the new fertilizer testing guidelines that will be needed next year, says Kristian Stephens, the CFI’s director of stewardship.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has announced that beginning in 2013 it will no longer test fertilizer for effectiveness and will focus only on verifying that products are safe for humans, plants, animals and the environment.

“The existing system of testing for efficacy has worked, and we see no need to change,” says Stephens.

But, he adds, “We’re working to ensure this will not have too much impact on farmers.”

He says four working groups with representatives from the fertilizer institute, the federation and the grain growers have just started meeting to discuss new industry standards for fertilizer testing. Stephens says it is hoped a consensus will be reached no later than October.

“From our perspective testing for efficacy was an important part of the package we provide to farmers,” says Dave Buttenham CEO of the Ontario Agribusiness Association. “We were a little surprised. We don’t see the need for change.”

He attributed the changes in CFIA policy on government cutbacks.

“It’s going to put more pressure on the companies to make sure they do testing and that they make the products that meet the demands of the farmers,” he says.    

The CFIA says it will work with industry and other stakeholders to develop an implementation plan, and that the changes will mean greater flexibility, reduced costs and less red tape for the fertilizer industry. The CFIA has been working since 2005 to increase regulatory compliance, and promote active stakeholder engagement in policy and program development, writes agency spokesperson Lisa Gauthier in an email earlier this month.

The CFIA will continue to ensure that regulated fertilizer and supplement products are safe for humans, plants, animals, and the environment. Safety assessments will continue to examine all ingredients in a fertilizer or supplement including the active components as well as the formulants, carriers, additives, potential contaminants and by-products that might be released into the environment as a result of a product's use and application to soil. These products must continue to be properly labelled to avoid product misrepresentation in the marketplace and protect consumers, she writes.

The changes are to be implemented over the next two years. BF