MAPA-UNE Agreement 2026: What Agricultural Machinery and Fertilizer Manufacturers Must Do

Key data

Manufacturers and distributors of agricultural machinery and fertilizer products in Spain face an intensive cycle of technical standardization. The agreement between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) and the Spanish Standardization Association (UNE) published on September 14, 2026 activates the development and updating of UNE standards in two key technical committees: CTN 68 (Agricultural machinery) and CTN 142 (Fertilizers).

Regulatory pressure is not new, but its scale is: the European mandate M/564 requires the development of between 150 and 170 specific standards for the fertilizer sector. Ignoring this process has direct consequences on the commercialization of products in the European market.

What does this regulation establish?

The MAPA-UNE agreement formalizes a collaboration with four specific lines of action:

• Development and updating of UNE standards in the areas of agricultural machinery (CTN 68) and fertilizers (CTN 142), in line with current European regulations.
• Promotion of Spanish experts in international standardization committees: ISO (global level) and CEN (European level). This allows the Spanish industry to influence the content of standards before they become mandatory.
• Training and dissemination actions aimed at companies in the sector to facilitate adaptation to new standards.
• Creation of quality marks provided for in Royal Decree 448/2020 on agricultural machinery, which will allow manufacturers to certify the regulatory compliance of their products.

The regulatory framework that supports all this consists of two EU regulations of direct application:

Economic and operational impact

For companies in the sector, this agreement has three direct operational implications:

• Product adaptation obligation: The UNE standards resulting from the standardization process are not technically voluntary. When a harmonized standard supports a mandatory EU regulation (such as Reg. 2019/1009 or Reg. 167/2013), its application becomes the standard way to demonstrate compliance. A product that does not comply with applicable standards may not be able to be marketed in the European market.
• Certification and adaptation costs: The development of between 150 and 170 standards for fertilizers means that manufacturers in this sector will have to review formulations, labeling, processes and technical documentation progressively as standards are published. The volume is significant and the process will extend over several years.
• Competitive opportunity: Companies that participate in CTN 68 and CTN 142 committees through UNE will be able to influence the content of standards and anticipate requirements before they become mandatory. Additionally, the quality marks from RD 448/2020 offer a competitive advantage in tenders and contracts.

Who does it affect?

• Agricultural machinery manufacturers that market in Spain and the EU under Regulation 167/2013.
• Fertilizer product manufacturers subject to EU Regulation 2019/1009, especially those seeking CE marking for their products.
• Distributors and importers of agricultural machinery and fertilizers that must verify that the products they market comply with applicable harmonized standards.
• Laboratories and certification entities that conduct testing and compliance audits in these sectors.
• Sector associations and technical consultants that advise companies on standardization and homologation of agricultural products.

Practical example

A Spanish manufacturer of organic fertilizers that wants to market its product with CE marking throughout the EU under Regulation 2019/1009 needs to demonstrate compliance with applicable harmonized standards. With mandate M/564 in development, many of those standards do not yet exist or are under review.

Thanks to the MAPA-UNE agreement, this manufacturer can:

1. Participate in the CTN 142 committee to learn firsthand what standards are being developed and when they will enter into force.
2. Access the training and dissemination actions of the agreement to anticipate changes in its production process and technical documentation.
3. Once standards are published, apply for the quality mark provided for in RD 448/2020 (in the case of machinery) as a differentiating element against competitors.

Without this active participation, the manufacturer will learn about new requirements when they are already mandatory, with the resulting cost of urgent adaptation.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify which EU regulation applies to your products: If you manufacture or distribute fertilizers, review your position regarding EU Regulation 2019/1009. If you operate with agricultural machinery, verify your situation under EU Regulation 167/2013.
2. Contact UNE to participate in CTN 68 or CTN 142: Participation in technical committees is the most effective way to anticipate regulatory requirements. Companies that participate know the drafts before their official publication.
3. Assign a regulatory monitoring officer: The development of 150-170 standards for fertilizers is a multi-year process. Designate someone in your organization (or outsource the function) to monitor CTN 142 publications and the OJEU.
4. Evaluate the feasibility of the RD 448/2020 quality mark: If you manufacture agricultural machinery, analyze whether obtaining this mark can open doors in public tenders or contracts with large farms.
5. Review the technical documentation of your products: As new harmonized UNE standards are published, you will need to update declarations of conformity, technical sheets and manuals. Start mapping which documents will affect each product line.

Official source

View complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-19183