2026: A Pivotal Year for Regulation in the Fertilizer Sector

The fertilizer sector is undergoing a regulatory transformation that goes far beyond the manufacturing and marketing of products. Sustainability, strategic autonomy, nutrient use efficiency, and market transparency are taking on increasing importance.

 

Here are six developments and initiatives that shaped the sector’s agenda in 2026 and the coming years:

 

1/ National Fertilizer Plan in Line with the EU Fertilizer Plan

The Spanish government has announced the development of a National Fertilizer Plan, with the goal of strengthening domestic production, reducing dependence on foreign sources, and improving the sector’s competitiveness.

The plan will be structured around three main pillars:

1. Precision agriculture: optimizing nutrient application through digital technologies, monitoring, and smart farming tools.
2. Strategic and Energy Autonomy: Reducing dependence on external raw materials and energy sources for fertilizer production.
3. Price Transparency: Improving information on the market, prices, and inventory levels to anticipate potential supply shortages.

Its approval is scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.

2/ New Royal Decree on Fertilizer Products in Spain

2026 is also proving to be an important year for updating Spain’s regulatory framework. The draft of the new Royal Decree, which was submitted for public consultation in March 2026, proposes to replace the current Royal Decree 506/2013 on domestic fertilizers and Royal Decree 865/2010 on growing media. Among its main changes are:

1. Updates to the categorization and classification of domestic fertilizer products.
2. Greater alignment with Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 on EU fertilizer products.
3. Revision of the technical requirements and nutritional characteristics of the products.
4. Strengthening of safety criteria for human health and the environment: Class C heavy metals are eliminated; new criteria for microorganisms are established; limits for contaminants and impurities are set; and CMR substances will not be accepted unless they are included in Annex I—such as boron—and are essential for plants.
5. Update of the registration system for certain fertilizer products, such as amino acid-based fertilizers.
6. Regulation on the mutual recognition of products marketed in other Member States: certain products must be registered.
7. MAPA proposes a 2-year transition period for all products already on the market without registration that must now be entered into the registry, so that manufacturers have sufficient time to adapt to the new requirements.
8. Establishment of a national control framework for fertilizer products marketed in Spain.
9. Adaptation of the annexes to scientific and technological advances.
10. RENURE: inclusion of a new category of fertilizers derived from processed manure.
11. MAPA proposes applying stricter criteria in the registration procedures by granting the applicant a maximum of 10 business days to correct deficiencies (extendable by 5 additional days) and limiting the number of corrections to 3. This measure has been taken due to the high number of incomplete and low-quality application files received by MAPA, which causes a bottleneck in the process and a significant delay in bringing these products to market.

The goal is to facilitate market access for effective and safe products, promote innovation, and support the circular economy. It is expected to be approved in the first quarter of 2027.

3/ Changes to EU Regulations, FPR Regulation: Omnibus VI

The main changes affecting the fertilizer sector in 2026 and 2027 are:

1. REACH+: It has been proposed to maintain the requirement only for CMC 1 if they are classified according to CLP as: CRM 1 or 1B, Tox. Cat. 1, Human Endocrine Disruptor Cat. 1, Environmental Endocrine Disruptor Cat. 1, PVT, or vPvB. The chemical safety report may be limited to scenarios related to agronomic use and the environment.
2. CMC7: The goal is to amend the regulation to include criteria and methodology. The National Authority will verify the results, although the requirements have yet to be defined. EFSA could assist in establishing these criteria.
3. New materials: Thirty-six months after the entry into force of Omnibus VI, the European Commission must adopt general and technology-specific criteria for evaluating new materials not listed in Annex II and microorganisms. This will take time, as Notified Bodies will also need to be certified in order to verify the results.
4. CMC10: The intention is to include several SANDACHs provided they meet the endpoint established in Regulation 2023/1605.
5. CMC7: The intention is to include new strains of microorganisms. The institute responsible for the evaluations, AIT (Austrian Institute of Technology), has already submitted its final report on each proposed new strain, with more than 10 strains having been notified and evaluated. The analyzed information ranges from taxonomy, historical use, and risks to humans, animals, and the environment to agronomic efficacy. Those strains deemed appropriate will be included as quickly as possible. As part of this work, AIT has established the methodology that will serve as the starting point for the criteria required by Omnibus VI.
6. RENURE: fertilizers derived from processed manure. The future implementation of Directive (EU) 2026/288 will allow, under certain conditions, an increase of up to 80 kg of nitrogen per hectare from these materials in vulnerable areas.

4/ Sustainable Nutrition of Agricultural Soils

Royal Decree 1051/2022, as amended by Royal Decree 934/2025, remains one of the cornerstones of Spanish regulations on fertilization. In 2026, the implementation of obligations related to fertilization planning and the recording of operations in the farm logbook will take on particular importance.

Among the aspects to keep in mind:

1. REGFER Registry: Creation of the electronic registry of fertilizer manufacturers and distributors to ensure traceability and the circular economy in the sector
2. Development and implementation of fertilization plans, generally effective September 1, 2026, with the exceptions and specific provisions set forth in the regulation.
3. Recording of nutrient and organic matter applications in the farm logbook.
4. Adjusting applications to crop needs and soil characteristics.
5. Environmental mitigation: Prevention of nutrient losses and reduction of water pollution.
6. Proper management of manure, organic waste, and other nutrient sources.
7. In 2027, the first year for submitting sales data.

The trend is clear: moving toward more efficient fertilization that is technically sound and compatible with soil and water protection.

 

5/ New European Regulation on Packaging and Packaging Waste

Regulation (EU) 2025/40 introduces a new European framework for packaging and packaging waste, with general application effective August 12, 2026. Its impact also extends to the fertilizer industry, particularly with regard to the packaging used to market, store, and transport these products.

Among the most relevant issues are:

1. Sustainability and recyclability requirements for packaging.
2. Reduction of packaging and the material used.
3. Progressive incorporation of recycled content into certain plastic packaging.
4. New labeling and information requirements.
5. Extended producer responsibility and waste management obligations.
6. Restrictions on certain packaging formats and substances.

Las empresas del sector deberán revisar sus soluciones de envasado, sus cadenas de suministro y sus obligaciones de cumplimiento distinguiendo en cada fase del proceso y por cada envase el papel del fabricante del envase y productor en un país, pues las obligaciones son distintas.

Companies in the sector should review their packaging solutions, supply chains, and compliance obligations, distinguishing—at each stage of the process and for each package—the roles of the packaging manufacturer and the producer in a given country, as their obligations differ.

6/ CBAM: The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism Enters Its Final Phase

Effective January 1, 2026, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will enter its final phase. The CBAM was created to prevent so-called carbon leakage; it aims to ensure that imports of certain products bear a carbon cost equivalent to that faced by European manufacturers (ETS; Emissions Trading Systems), taking into account the corresponding adjustment rules. Fertilizers are among the sectors affected by this mechanism, along with iron and steel, aluminum, cement, electricity, and hydrogen.

The measure aims to align the carbon cost of certain imported products with that borne by European producers subject to the emissions trading system.

For the fertilizer sector, this implies:

1. New obligations for importers of products covered by the CBAM.
2. The need to track and report embedded emissions in imported products.
3. Potential impact on import costs and competitiveness.
4. Greater importance of the carbon footprint and the decarbonization of production processes.

This change is particularly significant for companies that import nitrogen fertilizers and other goods covered by the mechanism. Since the European Commission has not yet certified any verification body to ensure compliance with the CBAM, importers in the fertilizer sector are currently basing their calculations on the default values established by the legislation and paying the corresponding CBAM cost. In the future, suppliers at the source will have to be verified, and realistic emission values will be available.

 

The future of the industry hinges on efficiency, traceability, and sustainability.

The regulatory changes coming in 2026 are shaping a new landscape for manufacturers, importers, distributors, and farmers. Understanding and anticipating these changes is not just a matter of regulatory compliance—it’s also an opportunity to innovate, improve competitiveness, and position yourself in an increasingly demanding market.

 

At KAELTIA, we can help you comply with the various regulations governing fertilizers—please don’t hesitate to contact us.