Food safety

Fertilizers and food production are intimately linked, with fertilizers being a key food-enabler for people all over the world. In addition to providing enough food on limited land, plant nutrients are important for the quality of the food, as they follow the food from farm to fork. In this respect, the fertilizer industry has a responsibility to provide plant nutrients that are free from contaminants and satisfy society’s requirements for safe food.

Yara carries out Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) studies for all operations and products involved in the food and feed chain, including the supply chain. The HACCP studies are required by the European Union (EU) and designed to avoid contamination or impurities in products used in food and animal feed.

The new EU REACH Regulation, which requires extensive testing, evaluation and registration of chemicals to safeguard human health and the environment, came into force in 2007. Yara was well-prepared for this regulation and completed pre-registration of manufactured and imported substances in 2008. More work is planned to ensure compliance with specific registration requirements and produce safety reports and exposure scenarios for products to which this applies. Yara is cooperating closely with suppliers, customers and the industry to carry out the extensive testing and documentation.

The principles of product stewardship, along with HACCP studies and compliance with the REACH Regulation, provide Yara with confidence that its plant nutrient products satisfy society’s requirement for safe food production, contributing to human health.