National Fertiliser Database

The Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulations Act 2023 was signed by the President and became law on 11 July 2023. Secondary legislation was put in place to commence the provisions in the Act that relate to the establishment of a National Fertiliser Database (NFD), including registration of Fertiliser Economic Operators and Professional Fertiliser End Users and dates for data submission.

The database is being developed to:

• record fertiliser sales along the supply chain
• achieve better compliance with water quality and environmental ambitions
• help Ireland meet commitments to the European Commission arising from our 5th Nitrates Action Programme; and
• to simplify, in time, farmer’s reporting of fertiliser use under regulatory schemes and voluntary initiatives

Recording fertiliser sales to users within the NFD should encourage improved nutrient use efficiency on farms and support a reduction in fertiliser use in line with targets in Ireland’s Climate Action Plan.

The NFD will improve traceability in the fertiliser supply chain and the data will also inform future policy development regarding the use of chemical fertilisers and our national targets.

Secondary legislation provides the dates for when submission of data is required. The relevant timeline is as follows:

The timeline for the implementation of the provisions in the legislation is as follows:

There are two ways in which a Co-op or Agri-merchant will be able to provide data:

1. The data can be uploaded through an Application Programming Interface (API), facilitating automatic upload of data from the Co-op or agri-merchant’s IT system directly to the National Fertiliser Database

2. The data can be entered manually through the department’s digital online service www.agfood.ie.

Farmers will submit the data manually through www.agfood.ie.

This website, which contains relevant information, including a list of frequently asked questions and videos on how to register and submit data, will be updated regularly over the coming weeks as new information becomes available.

S.I. No. 377/2023 - Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Act 2023 (Part 3) (Commencement) Order 2023 :

S.I. No. 377 of 2023

NATIONAL FERTILISER DATABASE REGULATIONS 2023

S.I. No. 378 of 2023

A stakeholder consultative committee was established in April 2022 to facilitate communication between DAFM and all relevant stakeholders on the development of the database. This is a broad Committee consisting of all stakeholders involved in the distribution and use of fertiliser. It consists of:

• fertiliser industry (importers, manufacturers, wholesalers)
• fertiliser retailers - co-ops (ICOS) and independent agri-merchants (ACORN group)
• farm organisations (IFA, ICMSA, ICSA, INHFA, Irish Grain Growers Association, and Macra na Feirme)
• farm contractors
• farm advisers (Teagasc and the Agricultural Consultants Association)

2022

2022

The Product Catalogue is available to download when you log onto the National Fertiliser Database through Agfood.ie

User Videos for FEO (manufacturers/blenders, merchants, co-ops, importers)

1. Overview video for FEO’s

2. Product Catalogue and Transaction Reports

3. Submitting Transactions as a Fertiliser Economic Operator

4. Registration Checker of a FEU

5 Declaring Closing Stock

User Videos for FEU-(Farmers and Non-Farmers)

1. Registering as a Professional Fertiliser End User