NEWS RELEASE 17-27 October
30, 2017
European Union lowers allowable cadmium level in imported rock phosphate to
60 parts per million
WELLINGTON, New Zealand - Chatham Rock Phosphate Limited (TSXV: "NZP" and
NZAX: "CRP" or the "Company") wishes to advise shareholders of a significant
development in Europe that has direct relevance to the marketability of our
rock phosphate, due to its extremely low levels of cadmium.
The European Parliament has just voted to back a European Commission proposal
to cut the level of cadmium permitted in fertilisers to 20 mg per kilogramme.
The EU executive proposed the limit be set at 60mg/kg, falling to 40mg after
three years and 20mg after 12 years under planned rules for fertilisers
carrying the CE mark. It was agreed that producers need longer transition
periods before the introduction of the lower limits.
These limits are significantly lower than the voluntary limit of 280 parts
per million imposed in New Zealand.
The European Environmental Bureau, a 140-strong network of organisations,
welcomed the outcome of the vote, noting "farming remains the last major
bastion of cadmium exposure".
Cadmium is a carcinogen and also linked to osteoporosis, kidney failure,
heart disease, and fertility problems, said Faustine Bas-Defossez, in charge
of agriculture policy at EEB. "Around 910,000 adults in France alone exceed
tolerable intake limits of cadmium by 90%," she said.
The reduced cadmium limits will affect a significant proportion of traded
rock phosphate including rock sourced from Egypt, Israel, Boucraa &
Youssoufia (Western Sahara/Morocco), Senegal, Togo, Tunisia, Nauru and
Christmas Island.
According to Chatham Rock Phosphate managing director Chris Castle "rock from
these sources will not be able to be sold in Europe unless the existing high
levels of cadmium have been removed. Even if this is possible it will add
another layer of costs.
"The good news is that cadmium levels in Chatham Rise rock phosphate are
among the lowest in the world."
Mr Castle said the rock, located on the Chatham Rise seabed east of New
Zealand showed an average of 2.2 parts per million (expressed as mg/kg of P)
from a range of samples gathered by CRP in 2012 from 11 separate locations.
The lowest value was 1.3 parts per million with a high of 5.3 parts per
million.
The voluntary limit of 280 parts per million that New Zealand fertiliser
companies observe at present for manufactured superphosphate is often
approached by rock imported from overseas.
"The tests we have conducted show our rock phosphate has among the lowest
cadmium levels known. This will be good news for farmers who choose to use
our product (either as a processed fertiliser or as direct application rock)
when we start production in 2022 and ultimately it will be good for New
Zealand food consumers."
Cadmium is a naturally occurring heavy metal found in New Zealand soils.
Excessive levels of cadmium in food can have implications for human health
and excessive levels of cadmium in soils can restrict land-use.
The Ministry for Primary Industries is managing the gradual build up of
cadmium in New Zealand soils through the cadmium contained in imported
phosphate. The cadmium control programme follows research showing cadmium
levels have gradually increased over decades.
The programme recommends farmers and growers work closely with their advisers
to determine the most cost effective, efficient and appropriate fertiliser
application and land management options. Since the mid-1990s New Zealand
fertiliser manufacturers have blended their high-cadmium phosphate rock with
sources lower in cadmium.
Mr Castle said low cadmium levels are one of the environmental benefits of
developing a local phosphate resource. Providing CRP rock phosphate for New
Zealand would also reduce New Zealand''s carbon footprint through lower
transport costs, and benefit the country''s balance of payments and foreign
exchange exposure. When used as a direct application source of fertiliser,
rock phosphate also dramatically reduces soil leaching into waterways.
Cadmium can cause kidney failure and has been statistically associated with
an increased risk of cancer and can also cause bone damage. Food is the
dominant source of human exposure in the non-smoking population.
The build-up of cadmium levels in sheep made MPI ban the export of offal from
animals older than 30 months.
The natural average level of cadmium in New Zealand soils is 0.16mg/kg but
the average on farmlands is more than double that, 0.35mg/kg, and soils on
farms which have had a lot of super phosphate, such as dairy farms, can have
as much as 2.52mg/kg.
Dairying areas with high fertiliser use tend to have the highest average
contamination, including Taranaki (0.66mg/kg), Waikato (0.60mg/kg) and the
Bay of Plenty (0.52mg/kg).
For more information contact Chris Castle on 021 55 82 85 or
chris@widespread.co.nz or check out www.rockphosphate.co.nz
End CA:00309455 For:CRP Type:GENERAL Time:2017-10-31 08:30:27