EU Proposes First Law to Improve Soil Health, Facing Criticism for Lack of Ambition

The European Commission has proposed the EU's first law to address soil health, aiming to combat degradation caused by intensive farming and the worsening impact of climate change. The proposal, made on July 5th, follows a previous attempt in 2006 that was blocked by some member states.

The new plan would require countries to monitor soil health based on criteria such as erosion and excessive fertiliser nutrient levels. While it would also call for the identification and remediation of contaminated sites, the proposal does not set minimum soil health levels, drawing criticism from industry players including Unilever, Nestle, and Danone for its lack of ambition.

The EU estimates that over 61% of its soil is unhealthy due to factors like peatland degradation and excessive fertiliser use. Critics argue that the proposal falls short by not including binding targets or mandatory plans.

Additionally, the Commission proposed binding targets to reduce food waste and rules to make textile producers responsible for their waste costs, encouraging investments in recycling and reuse.