Overview
- France’s agriculture minister said the government has submitted a decree and an order to lower cadmium in mineral phosphate fertilizers, with a Council of State opinion expected in April.
- ANSES recently affirmed that diet is the main source of cadmium exposure for the public, including from organic products, and urged action on soils and inputs such as phosphate fertilizers.
- The health agency recommends a cap of 20 mg of cadmium per kilogram in phosphate fertilizers, compared with current limits of 90 mg in France and 60 mg in the European Union.
- The organic farmers’ federation (Fnab) has asked ANSES to revise parts of its report, arguing that organic rules already set tighter input thresholds and that use of mineral phosphates in organic farming is rare.
- Regional doctors’ unions called for urgent action over cancer concerns, while Green deputy Benoît Biteau said he will propose a law to ban phosphate fertilizers that contain cadmium.