Department Probe ‘Out of Tolerance’ Fertilizer Tests
- Recent testing by the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine reveals a high level of compliance with quality standards for both fertilizers and animal feed, though...
- The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine conducts regular testing of fertilizers to ensure adherence to Irish and EU legislation regarding labeling and nutrient content. These tests...
- Three samples (1.8%) were provisionally found to be "out of tolerance," triggering ongoing investigations.
Irish Fertilizer and Animal Feed quality Control in 2025
Table of Contents
Recent testing by the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine reveals a high level of compliance with quality standards for both fertilizers and animal feed, though some instances of non-compliance are under investigation as of October 11, 2025.
published: October 11, 2025 07:35:55
Fertilizer Quality Testing Results
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine conducts regular testing of fertilizers to ensure adherence to Irish and EU legislation regarding labeling and nutrient content. These tests verify levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, among other parameters.
As of 2025, 162 fertilizer samples have been analyzed. Three samples (1.8%) were provisionally found to be ”out of tolerance,” triggering ongoing investigations. specifically, 23 protected urea samples were tested, with one (4.3%) initially identified as non-compliant and currently under review.
Animal Feed Quality Assurance
The Department prioritizes animal feed safety and quality through a complete control system. This system encompasses inspections and sampling throughout the entire feed chain – from import and storage to manufacturing, transport, and on-farm use. The goal is to ensure feed does not compromise food safety, animal health, or the habitat, meets minimum standards, is accurately labeled, and is fully traceable.
To date in 2025, 1,031 animal feed samples have undergone testing, with approximately 10,000 individual tests performed for compositional and contaminant analysis. These tests assess factors like protein and ash content,and the presence of undesirable substances.
Out of the 10,000 tests conducted, 50 (0.005%) were found to be out of tolerance. The Department is proactively following up with the companies involved in these cases.
Context of the Inquiry
These findings were shared by Minister of State Pippa Hackett in response to questions posed by Tipperary North Fianna Fáil TD ryan O’Meara. Mr.O’MearaS inquiry covered both fertilizer and animal feed quality testing procedures.