Ireland is to support the introduction of a policy tool that would allow the EU to quickly and temporarily suspend the levy of Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) duties on fertiliser imported into the EU.

CBAM was introduced in January of this year as a carbon tax on imported fertilisers intended on giving a level playing field to EU manufacturers who face higher production costs, but Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon has warned that it could contribute to fertiliser price inflation.

“CBAM risks the addition of a further layer of fertiliser cost inflation, which is why Ireland supports the provision of a mechanism to temporarily suspend the application of CBAM to fertiliser, and for this to be done in the most expeditious manner possible,” the minister said.

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Speaking before a meeting of EU farm ministers in Brussels on Monday, Minister Heydon said that fertiliser concerns into 2026 relate not just price pressure, but to its “likely availability as the year progresses”.

He said that he looking forward to the European Commission’s proposed fertiliser action plan aimed at ramping up the EU’s self sufficiency in the farm input.

The post-2027 CAP will also feature on the ministers’ agenda, with the minister stating that “securing an adequately funded CAP” under the next long-term EU budget will be essential to delivering the Commission’s plans for farmers.

Minister Heydon will also hold one-on-one meetings with his fellow ministers from France, Sweden and the Netherlands to discuss Ireland’s priorities as the EU presidency heads to Dublin in July.