The recent publication of Order APA/1226/2025 marks a milestone in fertilizer management in Spain, developing the operation of the General Register of Manufacturers and Other Economic Agents (REGFER). The objective is twofold: to facilitate official control by the autonomous communities and to ensure a sustainable supply of nutrients in agriculture.
- Entry into force: January 1, 2026
- Transitional period: Established agents have until July 1, 2026, to formalize their registration in accordance with the new criteria.
The system is evolving towards a 100% digital environment, requiring all agents (including individuals) to interact with the Administration exclusively by electronic means.
Sections and Classification
The register is divided into six sections to identify each actor in the chain:
- Section 1: Producers or manufacturers (includes packagers in Spain).
- Section 2: Importers established in Spain.
- Section 3: Distributors (includes a subsection for cooperatives).
- Section 4: Fertilization service companies.
- Section 5: Fertilization advisors (individuals based in Spain with specific qualifications).
- Section 6: Other agents not included above.
Unique Identification (New Format)
Each registrant will receive a 14-character registration number with the following logic:
- Initial letter: “E” for companies (sections 1-4) and “A” for advisors (section 5).
- Geographic codes: Two letters for the Autonomous Community and two characters for the province.
- Numbering: Nine consecutive identifying digits.
Registration by means of a Responsible Declaration
To start the activity, a responsible declaration must be submitted to the autonomous community at least one month in advance. This declaration is sufficient to operate, allowing the start of professional activities to be expedited.
Maintenance and Reporting of Information
- Triennial continuity: The ten-year renewal has been eliminated. Now, every three years, agents must report the continuity of their activity (if no report is submitted, it is tacitly understood that they are continuing).
- Annual Market Report: Before March 31 of each year, information on sales, production, and imports for the previous year must be submitted. The first report will be made in 2027 with data from 2026.
- Reporting exemptions: Cooperatives that act only as distributors to their members are exempt from this annual submission.
In addition, adjustments have been made to Royal Decree 1051/2022 to optimize field operations and reduce bureaucracy:
Reorganized Farming Logbook (CUE)
- Specific section: The CUE includes a section exclusively for fertilization.
- Deadlines: Fertilization operations must be recorded within a maximum of one month of application.
- Flexibility: Both paper and digital formats are permitted to facilitate adaptation.
- Exemptions: Farms of up to 5 ha (or 1 ha of irrigated land), as well as unfertilized pastures and small greenhouses, are exempt from the CUE.
Technical and Environmental Requirements
- Protection zones: The minimum application distance from watercourses, beaches, and coasts is unified at 5 meters.
- Storage: Fertilizers must be located outside flood zones and at least 15 meters from wetlands.
- Organic matter: For organic materials and by-products, the minimum total organic matter content is increased to 25% of dry matter.
- Manure and SANDACH: Measures to prevent runoff on slopes are reinforced, and animal by-products (SANDACH) must be properly treated and authorized.
Overall, this amendment to RD 1051/2022 seeks to strike a balance between environmental requirements, technical feasibility, and reducing bureaucracy, which is especially relevant for small farms and those who work in fertilization management, manure, and organic by-products.
