EU reduces farmers' dependency on imported fertilisers with new rules enabling the use of RENURE

New EU rules on RENURE, which will reduce costs for farmers, were formally adopted today (9 Feb), thereby increasing the strategic autonomy of the EU agricultural sector by lowering its dependence on imported fertilisers.

RENURE (REcovered Nitrogen from manURE) refers to fertilising products derived from processed livestock manure, in which nutrients are recovered and transformed into forms that can substitute mineral fertilisers. 

RENURE is based on innovative techniques and produced from processed animal manure so that it can be quickly absorbed by crops, with less risk of water pollution compared with raw manure.

At the same time, to make the use of RENURE sustainable, the law includes appropriate environmental safeguards to be implemented by Member States, particularly regarding the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources.

"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 safeguarding water and the environment.”

Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy

By allowing the use of RENURE fertilisers above the existing legal limit for the application of manure and processed manure, Member States and farmers will have the possibility to replace chemical fertilisers with RENURE fertilisers. 

The new rules take the form of an amendment to the Nitrates Directive. 

The adoption follows a vote on 19 September 2025 by Member States’ representatives in the Nitrates Committee to amend Annex III of the Nitrates Directive, and the subsequent scrutiny by the European Parliament and the Council in line with the comitology procedure.

The amendment will apply only to Member States choosing to authorise RENURE. They will be required to transpose the amendment into national law.

More information

Commission Directive amending the Nitrates Directive as regards the use of certain fertilising materials from livestock manure | European Commission

Nitrates | European Commission

Nitrates Directive | EUR-Lex