Successor of Epagma will start on October 1
Epagma, the European Peat and Growing Media Association, has been looking forward to a proposal that would remove unnecessary trade barriers that are making it difficult for growing media and soil improvers to be freely traded in the EU. In this regard, they highly welcome and support the European Commission’s work towards a common legislative framework across the European Union. A successful harmonisation proposal that will ensure wider availability of growing media products to the European agriculture and horticulture sectors, will require adequate rules with clear definitions that will encourage the placing on the market of CE marked growing media and soil improvers, according to the association.
The current Commission proposal is an important first step, but more work is necessary to shape a clear and workable framework for the growing media industry. Epagma is concerned by parts of the text that seem to suggest that some common growing media materials such as certain coconut materials (coir pith) which have undergone so-called buffering processes would be treated as chemical substances under REACH. In Epagma’s view a plant based product such as coir pith is not within the scope of REACH registration.
Epagma Chairman Norbert Siebels commented: “Setting a framework for EU harmonisation without adequate definitions and rules that are not taking into account the unique nature of growing media and soil improvers will result in legal uncertainty and the continued placing on the market of these products via diverging national rules - ultimately failing to achieve the objective of improving intra-EU trade flows. Epagma will carefully study the proposal and will engage in a solution-oriented dialogue with the European Parliament, Member States and all stakeholders involved.”
“Our industry is firmly committed to contribute to the EU harmonisation of rules on growing media and soil improvers as well as to providing a wide range of products to the agricultural and horticultural supply chains”, Epagma Chairman Norbert Siebels confirmed.
For more information:
EPAGMA
37 Square de Meeûs
1000 Brussels, Belgium
Tel. +32 (0)2 743 6634
Fax +32.2.789.67.00
[email protected]
www.epagma.eu