Soil degradation has long been a silent environmental crisis in Europe. Over 60% of EU soils are in poor condition, affected by contamination, overuse and erosion, however, unlike air or water, soil had no dedicated EU law. This legislative gap was firstly highlighted in the EU Soil Strategy for 2030. To tackle the issue and fill this gap, the European Commission has proposed a Soil Monitoring Law in 2023, which we have followed in previous articles.
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The Council of the EU has now formally adopted the Soil Monitoring Directive, the first EU-wide framework to assess and track soil health. This adoption signals the Member states’ consolidated approval of the new legislation. The law aims to achieve healthy soils across Europe by 2050, setting a shared methodology for Member States to monitor the physical, chemical and biological condition of their soils. It also introduces harmonised principles to manage contaminated sites and mitigate land take. Member states will be required to regularly report their findings to the Commission and the European Environment Agency, creating comparable data across the EU. The directive also makes progress on monitoring emerging contaminants such as PFAS, pesticides and microplastics. It defines common soil descriptors and introduces a classification system with national “trigger values” and EU-level “target values” helping authorities identify priorities and gradually improve soil health. From a fertilizer perspective, this law carries particular relevance. Regular soil monitoring will shed light on nutrient levels and potential contamination, including heavy metals like cadmium, that have been linked to fertilizer use.
However, the final text reflects a political compromise between the Council and the European Parliament, resulting in a framework that is largely general and non-binding. The directive avoids setting legally enforceable targets or soil health plans, instead relying on voluntary principles and national discretion. Key obligations on sustainable soil management and land take were weakened or removed altogether, leaving implementation largely dependent on Member States’ willingness and capacity to act.
A last-minute attempt to reject the law in the European Parliament failed to gain sufficient support. Rejection amendments, which were mainly driven by German MEPs and right-wing groups, received 220 votes in favour, 341 against and 10 abstentions, confirming the law’s adoption. Once the directive enters into force, Member States will have three years to transpose the new rules into national law marking the EU’s first cautious step toward soil protection.
More information available at:
EU Soil Strategy for 2030 - link
Safer Phosphates article on ‘EU Soil Monitoring Law: what it means for EU Member States’ - link
Council’s press release - link
Compromise text - link