MEPs on Thursday gave the green light to the EU’s first-ever law on soil health, despite pressure from Germany to block it.
Environmental groups welcomed the new rules, while farming representatives warned that implementation must not raise costs for producers.
The shift comes amid mounting concern that widespread soil degradation is undermining food production, water quality, and climate goals.
The European Commission proposed the directive on soil monitoring in 2023, noting that around 60% of Europe’s soils are in poor condition due to urbanisation, low land-recycling rates, intensive agricultural practices, and climate modify.
In its final version, agreed by the co-legislators in April, the law does not impose new obligations on farmers or foresters but requires EU countries to monitor and improve soil health, setting a non-binding goal of achieving healthy soils across the bloc by 2050.
After the Council concludeorsed the agreement in September, the text overcame opposition led by Berlin – which argued the law would interfere with national competences and create excessive red tape –, with MEPs granting final approval by 341 votes to 220.
“Soil health is crucial for the sustainability and viability of the European agricultural sector,” the agricultural believe tank Farm Europe stated in a statement welcoming the law’s adoption.
However, it stressed that the legislation must not become a burden for farmers, urging national authorities to “regularly assess the financial costs to farmers and foresters of improving soil health and resilience.”
The environmental NGO Pesticide Action Network Europe hailed the directive as a “long-overdue and much-requireded law” that will enhance “the availability and comparability of key soil health data”.
Yet, “its success will depconclude on impactful implementation,” warned the European Environmental Bureau (EEB).
The directive will take effect 20 days after its publication in the EU’s Official Journal, after which EU countries will have three years to implement it.
(adm, aw)
Leave a Reply