Commission proposes strengthening the autonomy of the EU farm sector

On Friday 16 October, the European Commission presented a draft proposal designed to help lower costs for farmers and reduce our dependence on chemical fertilisers. By reducing this dependence, the proposal aims to make EU farmers less vulnerable to price shocks caused by geopolitical instability and to help close nutrient cycles. It would also increase the autonomy of the EU farm sector. As announced in the EU Fertiliser Action Plan and the Livestock Strategy, this targeted amendment of the Nitrates Directive would give Member States more flexibility to allow farmers to use certain liquid digestates derived from manure, while ensuring environmental protection. These nutrient-rich fertilisers, sufficiently similar to mineral fertilisers, could then be used as an alternative to chemical fertilisers, in a safe way that keeps protecting water and the environment. The rules on recovered nitrogen from manure (RENURE), adopted in March 2026, already allow RENURE fertilisers to be used above the limit for spreading manure and processed manure set by the Nitrates Directive. But as geopolitical tensions and disruption on global fertiliser markets continue to affect the affordability and availability of fertilisers for farmers, the proposed change would extend the derogations to certain types of liquid digestates that can also meet the RENURE criteria. The proposal is backed by a new report from the Commission's Joint Research Centre assessing the potential for the safe use of agricultural digestates as fertilising materials. Citizens and stakeholders -- including farmers, civil society, public authorities and researchers -- are encouraged to submit their views on the Commission's draft targeted amendment by 13 November 2026. After considering the feedback, the Commission will send its proposal to Member States in the Nitrates Committee. If the Committee votes in favour, it will then go to the European Parliament and the Council, which will have three months to raise objections.