Fertilizers (recast Directives 76/116/EEC, 80/876/EEC, 87/94/EEC, 77/535/EEC)

The Commission amended proposal adapts the original proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to fertilizers in two respects: Article 33 is deleted and one change is made to Annex I that was introduced in the original proposal, is removed. More specifically, the Commission accepted the amendment concerning the bringing forward proposals on cadmium in fertilizers, subject to a favourable opinion of the Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment (SCTEE). It should be said also that the formulation of the Parliament in relation to the precise timing of the proposal for bringing forward the legislation to address the cadmium issue could not be accepted, in particular as the deadline proposed, namely 30 June 2002 is not compatible with the exercise of the Commission's right of initiative. �