To be able to use the CE marking on mulch films, companies must register their products with a notified body13 that performs a conformity assessment to ensure that all the requirements of the FPR are met. To prove conformity with certain requirements, the companies can provide already existing test reports from accredited labs in [...]
Yes, “contrary to most other products harmonisation measures in Union law, the FPR does not replace national legislations and does not prevent non-harmonised fertilising products from being available on the single market in accordance with national legislations. Compliance with the harmonised rules as laid down in the FPR remains optional.”14 However, the biodegradable mulch [...]
Yes, other labels and claims can be applied as long as companies can prove what they are claiming. Thus, it is possible to include both the CE marking as well as labels to prove soil-biodegradability certification. Related link: Q&A on certified soil-biodegradable mulch films
The use of the CE marking is independent of current certifications for soil- biodegradability. It requires fulfilling the criteria which are set out in the Delegated Regulation 2024/278712. To fulfil the requirements for the CE marking, in addition to the tests required by certifications, the CE-marked mulch films need to pass a chronic earthworm [...]
The inclusion of certified soil-biodegradable mulch films in the FPR opens a single market for producers and users (i.e., growers), guaranteeing by law a high level of soil protection. Related link: Q&A on certified soil-biodegradable mulch films
According to the FPR, a fertilising product is defined as: „a substance, mixture, micro- organism or any other material, applied or intended to be applied on plants or their rhizosphere or on mushrooms or their mycosphere, or intended to constitute the rhizosphere or mycosphere, either on its own or mixed with another material, for [...]
Biodegradable mulch films (according to the biodegradability criteria defined in the Delegated Regulation 2024/2787 of 23 July 2024) are included in the FPR as SOIL IMPROVER (PFC 3), and in particular as INORGANIC SOIL IMPROVER (PFC 3B). A soil improver is defined as „an EU fertilising product, the function of which is to maintain, [...]
Certified soil-biodegradable mulch films are a specific type of mulch film used in agriculture to positively impact factors like temperature, moisture and weed growth to increase the crop yield and quality. They are made from certified soil-biodegradable materials in compliance with the biodegradability and ecotoxicity requirements as well as the technical specifications outlined [...]
Mulch films made from cerified soil-biodegradable plastics provide significant benefits where retrieval and recycling of conventional plastics pose serious problems. They are specifically designed to biodegrade effectively in situ and can therefore be incorporated into the soil postharvest. Due to their soil-biodegradability, certified soil-biodegradable mulch films help to stop leakage and the accumulation [...]
Certified soil-biodegradable mulch films do fully biodegrade in soil. This can be proven by testing and referring to the standard EN 170339 (9) (or ISO 23517) (10), which specifies the requirements and test methods for biodegradable mulch films used in agriculture and horticulture. Products complying with that standard can get certification by DIN [...]