AFCOME is a professional organization that brings together cooperatives and private companies working in the field of fertilizer distribution and blending (Bulk Blending). It represents about 75% of the market for mineral fertilizers distributed in France.
We highly welcome the project of a code of conduct for fertilizers. Having a common framework to support use and management of fertilizers worldwide is a real opportunity.
But, as it has a very high potential, the elaboration of this document needs in-depth analysis which takes time. It is very important to ensure that each topic developed in this code of conduct is accurate, complete and relevant as it will serve as a valuable guide for fertilizer management.
This zero-draft is a good starting point but it needs to be verified and completed. For example, non-accurate parallels are made between fertilizers and pesticides which could lead to misunderstandings and would not serve fertilizers. Precise and clear definitions and the use appropriate vocabulary are also a very important as this code will provide a common baseline internationally.
Ms. Estelle VALLIN