The Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission produced a technical report at the request of DG GROW to establish rules and technical criteria for the use of processed manure as a component material in EU fertilising products. The study was carried out in collaboration with the Commission Expert Group on Fertilising Products, which supplied scientific data and expert advice that underpinned the analysis. The JRC authors, led by Dr. Huygens Dries, drafted the report, while DG GROW provided the policy mandate and the European Commission funded the work. The project was conducted during 2023–2024, in line with the implementation of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1605 and the Fertilising Product Regulation (EU) 2019/1009.
The report focuses on processed manure that has reached the end point defined in Article 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009. It identifies that further processing is often required to reduce the presence of viable weed seeds that survive the digestive tract of livestock and to ensure a minimum level of stability when the material is used as a fertiliser component. Common processing steps, performed either before or after hygienisation, transform raw manure into a product suitable for high‑quality fertilisers. Additives may be incorporated during processing to achieve the desired characteristics.
A key technical finding is that processed manure can contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) at concentrations that pose risks to human health and the environment. The report therefore recommends that any product containing processed manure must meet specific limits for PAH, as well as for other contaminants such as metals, metalloids, biological pathogens, and antimicrobial resistance genes. The assessment also covers weed seeds, veterinary drug residues, air‑quality contaminants, and macroscopic impurities. In addition, the study evaluates agronomic efficiency, concluding that processed manure can provide significant fertiliser value when it meets the proposed criteria.
The JRC proposes a set of technical criteria for Component Material Category 10 (CMC 10) under Annex II of the Fertilising Product Regulation. These criteria require that processed manure be treated to reach the end point, that it be free from viable weed seeds, that it contain PAH below the established thresholds, and that it be stored under conditions that minimise odour nuisance. The criteria also call for labelling information on the material’s potential to release ammonia and on any herbicide residues that could affect susceptible crops. Compliance with Article 42(1) of the FPR and Article 3(d) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1605 is mandatory.
In summary, the report delivers a comprehensive scientific assessment of processed manure, outlining the necessary processing steps, contaminant limits, storage requirements, and labelling obligations. It provides a clear framework that enables manufacturers to incorporate processed manure into fertilising products while ensuring safety, quality, and agronomic performance. The collaboration between the JRC, DG GROW, and the Expert Group, supported by the European Commission, has produced a set of technical criteria that will guide the market placement of processed‑manure‑based fertilisers across the EU.