The German Farmers’ Association (Deutscher Bauernverband) is pressing for substantial revisions to Germany’s second amendment to the Fertilizer Act (Düngegesetz), arguing that existing agricultural emission reductions render rigid new regulations unnecessary and bureaucratic.
Steffen Pingen Cites 42 Percent Drop in Nutrient Surpluses
According to Steffen Pingen, deputy general secretary of the German Farmers’ Association, nutrient surpluses across Germany dropped by 42 percent between 2000 and 2022. Pingen stated during a public hearing of the German Bundestag’s Committee on Agriculture, Food and Homeland that this reduction achieved the federal government’s 2030 National Sustainability Strategy target ahead of schedule in 2021. The DBV contends that future fertilizer laws must recognize these efficiency gains rather than imposing additional bureaucratic hurdles on domestic food production.
Pingen criticized the timing of the legislative changes, noting that they are advancing while negotiations regarding the overarching fertilizer law remain ongoing between the federal government, federal states, and the European Commission. The DBV maintains that lawmakers should not amend the Fertilizer Act in isolation from the upcoming Fertilizer Ordinance (Düngeverordnung) and Monitoring Ordinance, asserting that these rulebooks require coordinated review.
Demands for Polluter Pays Principle in Red Zones
The farmers’ association raised concerns over the legislative draft’s failure to introduce a polluter-pays framework. Pingen stated that the current text misses an opportunity to exempt farms that demonstrably employ water-friendly management practices from restrictive management requirements in designated “Red Zones.” Such exemptions align with existing coalition agreement terms and guidelines established by the European Commission, according to the DBV.
Addressing future regional regulatory structures, Pingen warned against blanket increases in restrictions. He argued that abandoning broad geographic criteria should not result in transferring previous operational constraints onto every farm nationwide. Instead, the DBV advocates for a regionalized approach allowing federal states to select between two equal options coordinated with the European Commission, which must collectively reduce the regulatory burden on agriculture.
Rejection of Nutrient Flow Balances and Monitoring Concerns
The DBV welcomed the proposed elimination of the mandatory nutrient flow balance (Stoffstrombilanz) authorization. Pingen characterized the instrument as ineffective for enhancing fertilization efficiency or providing environmental benefits, describing it instead as a driver of administrative overhead. However, the association objected to the federal government’s parallel plan to establish authorization for a new farm-level balance sheet, which Pingen called an unjustified national tightening beyond European Union requirements.
Regarding the monitoring framework designed to evaluate the effectiveness of fertilizer rules, Pingen identified significant unresolved questions. He highlighted deep concerns over broad authorizations permitting data collection and data exchange before authorities finalize specific operational details, emphasizing that data protection standards must remain fully enforced.
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