title: An overview of the current plant biostimulant legislations in different European Member States.
abstract: Plant biostimulants are borderline substances that play an intermediate role between plant protection products and fertilisers. At present, such substances are regulated by national laws and have different names in the various European Member States. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview on the activity of these substances and on the national laws that regulate them, as they vary considerably from one Member State to another. The greatest difficulty in terms of the correct regulatory framework for these substances is related to their heterogeneity. This situation creates uncertainties for operators, control authorities and bodies that certify and control the organic production, and strongly limits the growth of these substances. This problem will be overcome with the amendment of Regulation EC No 2003/2003 which will shortly extend its scope to the category of plant biostimulants included within the fertilising additives.
authors.affiliation: Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria, Centro di ricerca per la patologia vegetale, Via C. G. Bertero, 22-00156, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: La Torre
authors.affiliation: Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria, Centro di ricerca per la patologia vegetale, Via C. G. Bertero, 22-00156, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Battaglia
authors.affiliation: Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria, Centro di ricerca per la patologia vegetale, Via C. G. Bertero, 22-00156, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caradonia
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D016573:Agrochemicals; D001419:Bacteria; D060467:Disease Resistance; D005060:Europe; D005062:European Union; D005308:Fertilizers; D005658:Fungi; D006812:Humic Substances; D058871:Organic Agriculture / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods; D010575:Pesticides; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D010945:Plants, Edible / Q000254:growth & development*; D012624:Seaweed / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D016573:Agrochemicals; D005308:Fertilizers; D006812:Humic Substances; D010575:Pesticides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators
keywords: European regulatory framework; environmental sustainability; organic farming; plant biostimulants; plant strengtheners