On October 2, the Ministry of Ecological Transition released a plan to reduce the amount of cadmium in phosphate fertilizers, a type of fertilizer used in agriculture. The plan sets a gradual reduction in cadmium content, aiming to bring it down to 60 milligrams per kilogram of phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅) by 2027. This level will be further reduced to 40 milligrams by 2028 and then to 20 milligrams by 2030. These changes align with European regulations and aim to minimize the environmental and health risks associated with cadmium, a toxic heavy metal. Additionally, a limit on the total amount of cadmium that can be introduced into agricultural soil annually is set at 3 grams per hectare. The government may adjust these targets based on assessments from general inspections, which will evaluate the availability and security of fertilizer supplies. Alongside the cadmium reduction plan, the government also announced three new regulatory texts to align French standards for contaminants in fertilizers with European Union guidelines. These texts include two decrees and a regulation that set maximum allowable levels of contaminants in fertilizers and the amounts that can be introduced into soil through fertilization. The goal is to create a unified safety framework for all types of fertilizers, reducing the risks that contaminants may pose to soil and crops. The Ministry of Ecological Transition emphasized that this step would help ensure the safety of agricultural products and the environment. The government has been working to lower the levels of various contaminants, including cadmium, in fertilizers and to limit their impact on agricultural soil. In a statement dated October 2, the Ministry of Ecological Transition confirmed its commitment to gradually reducing cadmium levels in phosphate fertilizers. Starting January 1, 2027, a new regulation will set the maximum cadmium content in phosphate fertilizers at 60 milligrams per kilogram of phosphorus pentoxide, in line with European standards. The regulation also sets a limit of 3 grams of cadmium per hectare and per year from mineral fertilizers. These measures aim to meet the recommendations of Anses, France’s national agency for food, environmental, and occupational health safety, which suggest a target of 2 grams of cadmium per hectare and per year and a maximum of 20 milligrams of cadmium per kilogram of phosphorus pentoxide by 2030. The new texts published on October 2 further strengthen the measures to control the levels of contaminants in fertilizers and the amounts that can be applied to soil. One decree establishes quality and safety standards for fertilizing materials and agricultural supports. A "composition" order sets specific concentration thresholds for different types of materials and contaminants, aligning with the strictest European standards. Another "flux" order focuses on limiting the maximum allowable inputs of trace metals and organic compounds when using fertilizers and agricultural supports. These regulations complement a decree published in May 2026, which outlined the procedures for monitoring and identifying the safety and quality criteria for fertilizers and agricultural supports.