DAFM to establish a National Fertiliser Database

The Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) is in the process of establishing a National Fertiliser Database to track the movement of fertilisers. As proposed the new Database applicable to all farmers would require any organic farmer to register as a “Professional fertiliser end user” before purchasing manufactured organic fertiliser products permitted for use in organic production. This also includes inputs such as lime.

Farmers’ herd numbers will be assigned as their unique registration identification number to monitor sales, presented at the point of purchase in Ireland, which is then added to the database. In addition, farmers must declare closing stock from 14th September each year via AgFood.ie. Any fertiliser purchases from 15th September onwards will be part of the opening stock value for the following year. Information on fertilisers imported directly from outside Ireland and farm-to-farm transfers must also be declared.

Merchants and other distributors will also be required to register as “Fertiliser Economic Operators” to sell fertilisers. The database, which stems from the outcomes of the negotiations between DAFM and the European Commission on the EU Nitrates Directive, is expected to come into force once new the Irish legislation has been enacted.

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