The Spanish Government opposes the EU move to limit a toxic element present in fertilisers because of adverse economic affects.

The Ministry for Agriculture considers that such a move would push them out of the international market for this sector – that is the official stance.

Interestingly, the Minister for Agriculture, Isabel García Tejerina, who took up the post in 2012, worked precisely in that private sector as a director or one of the main fertiliser companies in Spain, Fertiberia.

Another interesting point that the Chairmanship of Fertilisers Europe is occupied by Fertiberia

The EU is negotiating a reduction in the cadmic content because of its toxic nature: the inhalation of cadmium fumes can result initially in ‘metal-fume fever’ but may progress to chemical pneumonitis, pulmonary edema, and death. Apart from that Cadmium is also an environmental hazard.

Therefore, the aim of the EU is to reduce its ratio in phosphate fertilisers to 20 micrograms per kilo over a period of twelve years. Spain wants to keep it at 75 micrograms

Fertiberia accounts for 75% of Spanish production and 100% of Portuguese production. The company acquires its Cadmium from Morocco phosphate rocks, which have a higher content than Russian, Egyptian and the Middle East.

Spain, Poland and the UK are blocking this EU initiative whilst Germany, Finland, Denmark and Italy are backing it.

Editorial comment: Who, you may wonder, is defending economic interests and who is defending the environment?

(News: Spain)