The European Commission has formally adopted new rules on recovered nitrogen from manure (RENURE), which will help reduce farmers’ dependence on imported fertilisers.
This means that Member States and farmers will have the possibility to replace chemical fertilisers with RENURE fertilisers. The change will be implemented in a safe manner to ensure continued protection of water resources and the environment. It will also reduce costs for farmers and strengthen the EU agricultural sector’s strategic autonomy by decreasing reliance on imported fertilisers.
Following the meeting and vote of Member State representatives in the Nitrates Committee on 19 September 2025, the Commission’s proposal on RENURE was transmitted to the European Parliament and the Council for a scrutiny period. Neither institution raised objections to the amendment.
The amendment to the Nitrates Directive will enter into force twenty days after its publication in the Official Journal. It will apply only in those Member States that decide to authorise RENURE and that transpose the amendment into their national legislation.
Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, stated: “With the adoption of these new rules on RENURE, Europe is turning waste into value, reducing fertiliser imports, supporting farmers’ competitiveness and strengthening our strategic autonomy, while protecting water and the environment.”
Further information on the adopted amendment to the Nitrates Directive is available online.
