A new technical control system for imported fertilisers and locally produced mineral fertilisers will be proposed by a reduced committee formed on Tuesday of representatives of the Ministries of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries and Energy, Mining and Renewable Energy and Trade, in order to guarantee the respect of the quality standards, according to a statement of the Ministry of Agriculture.

The committee was formed at a meeting held between officials of the three departments to discuss the draft law on the organisation and control of trade in agricultural fertilisers and to agree on a final version of this project in two weeks, according to the same source.

The meeting discussed the regulatory framework for locally produced fertilisers, namely Ammonitrate, Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) and Super 45, as well as ways to ensure that farmers receive subsidies of the State on these products estimated at nearly 150 million dinars, served by the Chemical Group (GCT).

The meeting chaired by the Secretaries of State in charge of Agricultural Production, Trade and Mines also adopted urgent measures on the preliminary control of local companies specialized in the manufacture of mineral fertilisers, and the establishment of the list of these units and communication with customs concerning the technical inspection of fertilisers imported by the Ministry of Agriculture.

According to the GCT, as mentioned in the press release, the liberalisation of production and storage of fertilisers from 2003 onwards has caused several problems in terms of distribution and respect for the profit margin, which has become difficult due to the change in tariffs of transport.

source: TAP