EBIC attended the meeting of the Coordination Group of Notified Bodies under the FPR on 23 October 2025
October 2025
The Coordination Group serves as a platform for all notified bodies (and in some cases designating authorities) to exchange views, share good practice, coordinate assessments, identify issues and support harmonised implementation of the Fertilising Products Regulation. In the EU, a “notified body” is an organisation designated by the Member State to carry out the conformity assessment of certain products (fertilising products, medical devices, toys, etc.) so that they can be CE-marked and placed on the EU Single Market. Notified bodies are involved in the assessment of several fertilising products, including plant biostimulants.
EBIC is invited to the meetings of the Coordination Group of Notified Bodies under the FPR as an observer. Participation as an EU industry association allows us to provide the industry’s perspective and stay as close as possible to actors involved in the routine assessment of fertilising products. This is particularly important for plant biostimulants, which are subject to Module B+C or D1 under the FPR, requiring examination of their technical documentation by a notified body, including demonstration of the function(s) of the plant biostimulant.
Participation in the Coordination Group meetings provides EBIC with an opportunity to:
- Bring our members’ perspectives into the conversation, sharing their experience of notified bodies’ performance and how it affects manufacturers’ CE-marking timelines and costs;
- Monitor developments in how notified bodies are being designated and supervised, which has a direct impact on how reliably the system can deliver on its promises;
- Anticipate legal or practical changes in conformity assessments and share these with our members;
- Identify systemic risks or bottlenecks (for example delays in certification or discrepancies in requirements across notified bodies) and work proactively on solutions for our members;
- Network and collaborate by taking part in key conversations and raising issues on behalf of the industry.
For example, during the meeting on 23 October, Notified Bodies re-discussed the duration of the certificate and reconsidered what they would require for its renewal. Several points relevant for plant biostimulants were agreed to be discussed in a separate meeting specifically focused on PFC 6.
EBIC now aims to feed these discussions back to our members so they can anticipate potential delays or challenges, as well as to update them on upcoming policy changes that will affect conformity assessment. EBIC will also explore further opportunities for exchange with Notified Bodies in the context of the FPR evaluation and the FPR simplification through the chemicals omnibus.
Contact EBIC now to learn more about how EBIC’s position as observer at the Coordination Group of Notified Bodies under the FPR helps support the wider industry and how your company can get involved.