European crop health specialist Olmix Micromix is one of the first companies to gain certification, enabling it to market products under the EU regulation 2019/1009 on fertilisers and biostimulants – which requires all products to be registered.
Grant James, marketing manager for Olmix Micromix, said that despite the UK leaving the EU, it was likely that similar regulations would be implemented by 2023.
“We’ve got to have some alignment in standards so that we can trade between the EU and UK,” he said. “But ultimately it’s good news for farmers; currently there are a lot of products on the market which aren’t necessarily formulated – or as effective – as described. These new regulations mean that manufacturers will have to state exactly what’s in the products and their efficacy on yield and quality.”
Mr James added that regulations in the biostimulant and micronutrient industry should add confidence and trust in the products, which have a beneficial role to play in crop health and productivity.
Further to this, the European standard is considered a reference to markets across the globe, so this recognition strengthens the company’s position in the export market. The certification guarantees to customers that the company’s processes comply with the regulation standards.
“Obtaining certification validates our commitment to quality and the methods we have put in place to ensure it,” said Fabien Le Corronc, Olmix’s quality, safety and environment manager.
Various certification options are available for the new regulations and the company chose the one framed by CerTrust’s module D1, based on the manufacturing process at the Olmix sites in France and Langar, UK.
“It was a choice dictated by our development strategy,” explained Rozenn Nevot, EMEA regulatory affairs manager for Olmix’s Plant Care business. “Obtaining this certification gives us more flexibility and possibilities because it allows us to market, with CE marking, all the product categories contained in its scope.”
The two industrial sites in France have already received CerTrust certification. This will soon be followed by certification of the Langar plant in the UK.
