Organic fertilizer products going global: detailed explanation of certification process and policy subsidy guide

In the agricultural product export business of large planting groups, the compliant application of Organic Fertilizers is the core hub for opening up the international market. To establish a compliant foundation for the application of organic fertilizers from the source, it is necessary to accurately match the certification standards of the target market (such as EU 2019/1009, OMRI in the United States, etc.), and fully activate the benefits of supporting policies. Only by working together can we promote the steady expansion of export business. This article will deeply dissect the core certification points and subsidy policy dividends of organic fertilizer going global, providing practical solutions with both guidance and implementation for large planting groups and related export enterprises, helping them build compliance advantages and reduce cost pressures in international market competition.
1、 Compliant application of organic fertilizers: the "quality lifeline" of exported agricultural products
In recent years, the global organic agriculture market has shown a rapid expansion trend, creating vast market space for organic fertilizers to go global. According to relevant industry data, the global organic fertilizer market size has exceeded 80 billion US dollars in 2024, with export trade accounting for over 25% and a compound annual growth rate of over 12%.
From a regional distribution perspective, the European Union and North America remain the traditional main markets, with a combined annual import volume of over 10 million tons; The demand growth rate in Southeast Asia and the Middle East markets is the fastest, with an annual increase of 15% -20%; Emerging markets such as Africa and South Asia are in a rapid rise stage, with organic fertilizer imports increasing by 22% year-on-year in 2024, becoming a new blue ocean for many planting enterprises and organic fertilizer manufacturers to layout.
Compliance "is the" passport "for agricultural products to open the door to the international market, and the selection and application of organic fertilizers are the core components of this passport. Taking the EU market as an example, its requirements for heavy metal content in organic fertilizers are extremely strict, with a clear requirement that the total amount must be ≤ 10mg/kg. If the fertilizer selection is improper, even if the crops grow well, they may still face returns due to excessive pesticide residues and heavy metals, resulting in all previous inputs being wasted.
Among various organic fertilizers, humic acid chelated trace element organic fertilizer is a high-quality choice that can withstand international standard testing. On the one hand, humic acid can help crops efficiently absorb nutrients and improve fertilizer utilization efficiency; On the other hand, chelated trace elements have stable properties and can ensure crop quality from the source, laying a solid foundation for the quality of agricultural product exports.
For large planting groups, the compliant use of organic fertilizers can also be combined with "dual policy benefits":
Export tax rebate for agricultural products: When applying, it is necessary to organize core materials such as organic fertilizer purchase vouchers and crop planting fertilizer records in advance. These are key evidence to prove that the product meets export standards, which can effectively accelerate the tax rebate process and avoid approval detours.
Subsidies for organic fertilizer application: It is necessary to closely monitor the application notices from the agricultural department, submit information on planting scale, organic fertilizer usage, export crop types, etc. as required, and some regions may also require compliance reports issued by third-party testing institutions. Prepare all materials in advance to successfully apply.
Actual case: When a large planting group used traditional fertilizers, the qualification rate of exported agricultural products was only 90%, and there were often returns due to quality issues; After switching to organic fertilizers that meet international standards and combining them with scientific fertilization management, the product qualification rate soared to 98%, customer complaints were almost zero, and export volume directly increased by 15%, which is equivalent to adding a stable order channel. From this, it can be seen that the application of organic fertilizers meets international standards, which is not only a mandatory requirement for export compliance, but also an important addition to enhancing the international competitiveness of products and seizing market share.
2、 Core requirements for organic fertilizer certification in mainstream overseas markets
（1） There are three mandatory indicators for EU organic fertilizer certification in the EU market, all of which are indispensable:
Regulatory compliance: It is necessary to comply with two core regulations, EC834/2007 and EC889/2008. The new regulations will be implemented in 2025, and documents must be submitted when applying to prove that the product meets current standards and is ready for the implementation of the new regulations.
Raw material and labeling requirements: If the raw material contains biological waste, the product must be affixed with a CE label not less than 3 centimeters, and a pollutant detection report issued by a third-party organization must be submitted.
Carbon footprint accounting: Carbon footprint data must be calculated by an EU accredited institution, covering the entire process of carbon emissions from raw material procurement to production and transportation, and accompanied by a professional accounting report. Without this report, certification cannot be obtained.
At the compliance level, the EU has clear limits for heavy metals: lead ≤ 10mg/kg, cadmium ≤ 0.5mg/kg. Customs will randomly sample and test during customs clearance. Once the limit is exceeded, the goods will be seized and the company may face fines. In addition, companies need to improve their product related systems such as raw material traceability systems in advance before the implementation of the new regulations in 2025. If adjustments are not completed during the transition period, the implementation of the new regulations will directly affect the customs clearance of goods. （2） There are two types of organic fertilizer certification in the US market, and companies can choose according to their product positioning:
100% Organic Certification: All raw materials are required to comply with US organic standards, and an organic certificate must be provided for each batch of raw materials. No non organic additives must be added during the production process.
Organic certification: The standards are relatively loose, allowing the proportion of organic raw materials in the product to be ≥ 95%. When applying, a raw material ratio table must be submitted, clearly indicating the source and approval number of non organic raw materials.
The US market also offers exclusive benefits: certification fees can apply for a 75% subsidy, and companies can submit payment vouchers to the agricultural subsidy department after certification is passed. The subsidy funds can generally be received within 3 months. At the same time, the United States has achieved mutual recognition of certifications with the European Union, Japan, and other regions. If a company holds a USDA "100% organic" or "organic" certification certificate, it does not need to repeat the certification and only needs to submit a mutual recognition certificate to enter the corresponding market.
In terms of compliance, the United States requires glyphosate residue in organic fertilizers to be ≤ 0.05mg/kg, and a third-party testing report with a validity period of 3 months must be provided during customs clearance. If the report expires, retesting is required; If animal manure is used as raw material, a "no antibiotic certificate" must be issued to prove that no banned antibiotics have been used. Without this certificate, the raw material review will be rejected and the goods will not be able to enter the US market. （3） Brazil has set two core thresholds for organic fertilizer certification in the Brazilian market:
Limitation on the proportion of raw materials: Regardless of whether it is a mixed organic fertilizer or a single manure product, the proportion of manure in the raw materials must be ≤ 30%. Even if it exceeds 0.1 percentage points, the certification application will be directly rejected.
Origin Environmental Protection Filing: The origin environmental protection filing must be completed by the designated environmental protection department in Brazil. During the filing process, the production site environmental impact assessment report, production process description, and site property rights or lease agreement must be submitted. Only after obtaining the filing number can the subsequent export certification process be initiated. Without the filing number, other certification work cannot be carried out.
3、 Certification standards for Southeast Asian and South Asian characteristic markets
（1） The certification requirements of different countries in Southeast Asia have their own focuses, and enterprises need to prepare accordingly
Thailand: requires "dual certification", one is to obtain the organic fertilizer registration certificate from the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand, submit the ingredient list, production standards, and ensure that the raw materials do not contain prohibited additives; Secondly, if the raw materials contain components of animal and plant origin, a "Certificate of Animal and Plant Quarantine" must be provided, indicating the source and quarantine number of the raw materials. Unlicensed goods are strictly prohibited from entering the country.
Malaysia: The core of certification is "environmental protection+safety", which requires completing the filing with the Ministry of Agriculture and Industry and submitting a third-party heavy metal testing report (lead ≤ 50mg/kg, cadmium ≤ 1mg/kg). If the indicators exceed the standard, the application will be directly rejected; If using local raw materials such as palm oil residue, traceability documents must be attached to prove that the raw materials are compliant.
Indonesia: Key control measures for "filing+labeling" require first filing with the National Food and Drug Administration, submitting process flow diagrams and environmental impact assessment reports; The product label needs to indicate the ingredients, heavy metal content, shelf life, and filing number in Indonesian language, and the font size should be ≥ 2 centimeters. There have been cases where companies had their goods confiscated due to inadequate label font.
Cambodia: Implement dual control of "filing+quarantine", first complete the filing of organic fertilizer products with the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, submit ingredient testing reports and production qualification certificates; If the raw materials are of animal and plant origin, an additional quarantine certificate issued by a recognized quarantine agency of the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is required to prove that the raw materials have no risk of pests and diseases. In addition, Cambodia requires heavy metal limits for organic fertilizers to be lead ≤ 30mg/kg and cadmium ≤ 1mg/kg. A third-party testing report must be carried with the goods during customs clearance, and the report is valid for 6 months.
In addition, there are two prerequisite requirements for the Southeast Asian market: microbial organic fertilizers must provide a "strain safety report" to prove that the strain is free of pathogenic bacteria and not on the prohibited list; By the end of 2024, multiple countries will implement new traceability regulations, and companies need to establish a full process traceability system in advance, otherwise it will affect subsequent certification renewals. （2） The entry threshold for the organic fertilizer market in South Asia (India) is clear, and the core requirements include three aspects:
Product registration and filing: Product registration must be completed at the Agricultural Products Processing and Marketing Development Authority (APEDA) under the Indian Ministry of Agriculture, submitting product ingredient lists, production process instructions, and third-party quality testing reports. After successful registration, an exclusive filing number will be obtained, and products without a number will be prohibited from circulation in the Indian market.
Raw material and index restrictions: The limit values for heavy metals are lead ≤ 50mg/kg, cadmium ≤ 5mg/kg, and arsenic ≤ 20mg/kg; If urban sludge is used as raw material, a certificate of harmless treatment of sludge must be provided, and the proportion of sludge in the raw material shall not exceed 20%; Glyphosate residue must be ≤ 0.1mg/kg, and the test report must be issued by a locally recognized laboratory in India.
Label specification: Product labels must be labeled in both Hindi and English, including product name, ingredient content, filing number, production date, and shelf life. The filing number must be presented in conspicuous font with a font size of no less than 1.5 centimeters.
India also provides some policy convenience for the import of organic fertilizers: if organic fertilizers are used to support organic agriculture, they can apply for APEDA's organic agriculture support subsidies, which account for about 20% -30% of the certification and logistics costs, and require filing certificates and expenditure vouchers to apply.
4、 Certification requirements for the Middle East and African markets
（1） Saudi Arabia in the Middle East market: All organic fertilizers must pass "halal certification". If they contain animal derived raw materials, slaughterhouse qualifications and halal testing reports must be provided to confirm the absence of pig derived ingredients; At the same time, it is necessary to obtain certification from the Saudi Bureau of Standards, with arsenic content ≤ 20mg/kg and mercury content ≤ 1mg/kg. Both indicators must be met simultaneously.
UAE: It is necessary to first register with the Standardization and Metrology Bureau and submit a carbon emission declaration (no need for complex carbon footprint accounting, only stating that there is no high pollution production process); If the product contains chemical additives, it must be labeled with an approval number and the additives must be on the list allowed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection. If there is no number, it will be judged as non compliant.
Türkiye: "dual track certification" is implemented. "organic certification" requires that the proportion of organic raw materials should be ≥ 90%, and organic certificate and raw material ratio table should be submitted; For "bio stimulatory organic fertilizers", the "efficacy verification report" issued by Türkiye recognized laboratory shall be additionally provided to prove that the product has the function of improving soil fertility. （2） African market Nigeria: The core requirement is "filing+toxicity testing", which requires completing product filing with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture of Nigeria, submitting ingredient analysis reports, and production enterprise qualification certificates; At the same time, an acute toxicity test report issued by a third-party organization is required to prove that the product is non-toxic to soil and crops. The limit values for heavy metals are lead ≤ 60mg/kg and cadmium ≤ 2mg/kg. If it is a microbial organic fertilizer, an additional certificate of harmless bacterial strains must be submitted. In addition, Nigeria has clear requirements for organic fertilizer packaging, which requires product instructions in the official language of Nigeria (English) and importer information.
South Africa: The certification system is in line with international standards and requires certification from institutions accredited by the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS). The proportion of organic raw materials must be ≥ 95% to obtain the "Organic Fertilizer" certification; The heavy metal limit values refer to the EU standards (lead ≤ 10mg/kg, cadmium ≤ 0.5mg/kg), and a simple carbon footprint accounting report must be submitted to explain the carbon emissions in the production process. South Africa and the European Union partially recognize each other's certifications, and products holding EU organic certifications can simplify the filing process.
Kenya: Implement the "environmental protection filing+quality sampling" system, which requires completing environmental protection filing with the Kenya Environmental Management Agency (NEMA) and submitting environmental impact assessment reports for production sites; Further apply for product registration with the Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries. During the registration process, random quality checks will be conducted, with a focus on detecting heavy metals and pathogenic bacteria content. Escherichia coli must be ≤ 100CFU/g, and products exceeding the standard will be prohibited from entering the country. Kenya requires packaging labels for organic fertilizers to include bilingual instructions in Swahili and English.
5、 Regional exclusive benefits and mandatory requirements
Subsidy benefits: Thailand and Malaysia in Southeast Asia provide a 30% -50% cost subsidy for organic fertilizer certification. Enterprises can apply with invoices and certification certificates, and the subsidy funds can be received within 2-4 months; Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and some EU certifications in the Middle East have achieved mutual recognition. Companies holding EU certificates can quickly complete filing by submitting mutual recognition documents.
Mandatory compliance indicators: The Middle East region requires glyphosate residue to be ≤ 0.1mg/kg, and the validity period of the test report is 6 months. It must be carried with the goods during customs clearance; Türkiye limits the content of sodium chloride in raw materials to ≤ 3%. Products exceeding the standard will be identified as "harmful soil products", which will not only be detained, but also be blacklisted in the industry.
6、 Opportunities and Challenges of Organic Fertilizer Export
（1） The market demand for opportunities continues to expand: the global organic agriculture policy dividend is released, and many countries have introduced subsidies and promotion plans for organic planting, driving a surge in demand for organic fertilizers. Especially in emerging markets such as Africa and South Asia, the process of agricultural modernization is accelerating, and the dependence on imported high-quality organic fertilizers is gradually increasing, providing new incremental space for export enterprises.
The scope of certification mutual recognition has expanded: More and more countries and regions have achieved mutual recognition of organic fertilizer certification, such as the mutual recognition mechanism between the United States and the European Union, and some Middle Eastern countries and the European Union, which significantly reduces the cost of repeated certification for enterprises, simplifies the admission process, and improves export efficiency.
Increased policy support: At the domestic level, policies such as export tax rebates for agricultural products and subsidies for organic fertilizer application continue to be implemented, reducing the overall cost of enterprises going global; At the overseas level, multiple countries have introduced import subsidies for organic fertilizers supporting organic agriculture, further enhancing the price competitiveness of domestically produced organic fertilizers. （2） There are significant differences in certification standards: the indicators and processes for organic fertilizer certification vary greatly among different countries and regions, such as the EU's carbon footprint requirements, Saudi Arabia's halal certification, Nigeria's toxicity testing, etc. Enterprises need to customize compliance plans for different markets, which increases the complexity and cost of early preparation.
The pace of new regulations updates is fast: with the implementation of policies such as the EU organic fertilizer regulations in 2025 and the Southeast Asian traceability regulations by the end of 2024, companies need to continuously follow up on standard changes, adjust product formulas and traceability systems in a timely manner. If they do not respond in a timely manner, they may face risks such as customs clearance obstacles and certification failures.
International logistics and quality control challenges: Some emerging markets have weak logistics infrastructure, and long-distance transportation can easily lead to a decrease in the stability of organic fertilizer components; At the same time, the sampling standards vary in different markets. If the goods are found to be unqualified after arrival at the port, it will result in high return and demurrage fees, which puts extremely high demands on the quality control and supply chain management capabilities of enterprises.
The above guidelines systematically outline the key points of the entire process of organic fertilizer going global, including domestic compliance filing, differences in target country certification (including hard standards in core markets such as the European Union and the United States), application paths for national and local subsidies, and response plans for overseas risks. They can provide direct reference for enterprises to avoid compliance misunderstandings and reduce cost investment.