Is an International Code of Conduct for the Use and Management of Fertilizers beneficial and useful? To whom, and why?
A: Yes, the International Code of Conduct for the Use and Management of Fertilizers is beneficial and useful for various stakeholders, including:
1. For governments and policy makers, the code offers a guideline for effectively administrate the fertilizer industry and market via standards, laws and regulations with the spirit of a better use and management of fertilizers in future, and thus assist them in the establishment of systems for monitoring the production, trade, distribution, quality control, management and use of fertilizers on the country level. For Chinese Government, specially, the National Development and Reform Commission and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is in charge of the policy making and standardization of fertilizer; the State Administration of Market Supervision is in charge of production and marketing activities of fertilizers; the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs is in charge of the distribution, use and management of fertilizers; the Ministry of Transport is in charge of the transport of fertilizers, they will all be benefit from the International Code of Conduct for the Use and Management of Fertilizers.
2. For fertilizer industry, the code encourages them to provide appropriate products in according with global principles of plant nutrient management such as integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) and 4R nutrient stewardship.
3. For academic & research institutes, agricultural extension & advisory services, the code encourages them to develop and promote new products, techniques and management stewardships based on the principles described in this code.
4. For nutrient recycling industry, the code's emphasizing on the nutrient reuse and recycling (Sec. 5) as well as the concerning of environment protection and sustainable growth globally will bring prosperity on the related field. For Chinese Government, specially, the Ministry of Ecological Environment is in charge of the nutrient recycling and environment protection, and they will be benefit from the International Code of Conduct for the Use and Management of Fertilizers.
5. For end users (farmers included), this code educated them on the effectively use and management of fertilizers by maximize the benefits from utilizing fertilizers while minimizing any negative impacts.
Does this Fertilizer Code of Conduct address all aspects necessary to ensure the responsible use of fertilizers, optimizing benefits while minimizing risks?
A: No; The importance role and engagement of national/international standardization systems in the responsible use of fertilizers, optimizing benefits while minimizing risks is not fully expressed in the code.
Are there any topics or subject matter missing from this Fertilizer Code of Conduct? If so, what are they?
A: Yes; The international standardization committee on fertilizers, such as ISO/TC 134 "Fertilizers, soil conditioners and beneficial substances" , CEN/TC 260 " Fertilizers and liming materials" have deeply engaged in the international fertilizer, soil conditioners and beneficial substances vocabulary\analytical methods\products unification and standardization for nearly 40 years, with more than 40 international standards published and 17 more ongoing, ISO/TC 134 and their national mirror standardization committees has great influence on the effective use and management of fertilizers. The emphasizes of the standardization unit as a individual stakeholders, or as a major representative of policy makers in the responsible use of fertilizers, optimizing benefits while minimizing risks should be mentioned in this International Fertilizer Code of Conduct.
Are there redundancies or unnecessary items or subjects within this Code of Conduct? If so, what are they?
A: No.
Do you have any other suggestions or comments not covered in the above questions? If so, please elaborate.
A: We suggest the editors (FAO and ITPS) to consult with ISO central secretary or ISO/TC 134 "Fertilizers, soil conditioners and beneficial substances" for more details on the engagement and contribution of national/international standardization systems in the responsible use of fertilizers, optimizing benefits while minimizing risks. of the standardization unit as a individual stakeholders, or as a major representative of policy makers in the responsible use of fertilizers, optimizing benefits while minimizing risks should be mentioned in this International Fertilizer Code of Conduct.
Dr. Deren Chu