France : authorisation of natural biostimulant substances

Published by Karine Mavet at 13 May 2016

The French decree concerning the authorisation process of natural substances used as biostimulants was published on April 30, implementing the French law for the future of agriculture of 13 October 2014 (Article 50).

Simplified authorisation process

Natural biostimulant substances are authorised provided they are part of a list published by an order of the Ministry of Agriculture. These substances are of vegetal, animal or mineral origin, excluding “micro-organisms” and GMOs. Products containing only one or more substances authorised by this order mixed with water are thus accessible to every user and can now be placed on the French market without further procedures. The authorisation of such substances is thus simplified, faster and everyone can produce and market his owned biostimulant products.

PNPP considered as biostimulants

The decree considered the natural preparations of little concern (so called “préparations naturelles peu préoccupantes” or PNPP) as biostimulants and no longer as plant protection products. PNPP must only contain basic substances as defined by ‘article 23’ of Regulation (EC) No.1107/2009 or natural substances used as biostimulants. The production process of PNPP must be known by every final user. The decree states that for PNPP containing exclusively natural substances used as biostimulants, advertising can only refer to claims concerning the natural origin and the biostimulant effects.

A first list to be widened

A list of more than 100 authorised natural substances was published at the same time as the decree. This list corresponds to the plants authorised by article D4211-11 of French Public Health Code, that can be freely sold apart from pharmacies (for example garlic or nettle).

New natural substances will be added to the list provided Anses evaluation confirms the absence of harmful effects on human and animal health and on the environment.

For download:

Decree N°2016-532 of 27 April 2016 concerning the authorisation process of natural substances used as biostimulants (in French)

Order of 27 April 2016 setting the list of natural substances used as biostimulants (in French)

List of natural substances used as biostimulants (in French)

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