SPANISH LEGISLATION ON GROWING MEDIA

Royal Decree 865/2010, of 2nd July, regulates the characteristics of growing media or their components, for their utilization in agriculture, forestry, gardening or other related activities. This type of products, that are materials other than soils “in situ”, in which plants are grown, are widely used, mainly in seedbeds, nurseries and protected crops. This legislative provision, which was published in the State Official Journal (BOE) on the 14th July of 2010, regulates for the first time growing media in Spain. The Royal Decree classifies and denominates types of products depending on their composition and physical characteristics, which can be placed on the market and establishes marketing rules about raw materials, packaging, identification and labelling, manufacturer requirements or internal quality control. It also lays down provisions for the official control and the procedure for its adaptation to technical progress. All these issues are written down in twenty seven articles, seven additional and final dispositions and seven annexes. On the medium-long term, a harmonization of the national legislations from Member States of the European Union is foreseen by the establishment of an EC Regulation regarding to growing media.