Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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151. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department carries out tests to verify the protection coating on protected urea; if testing is carried out, the procedures on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52253/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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My Department carries out sampling and analysis on fertilising products to ensure that they are in compliance with EU and domestic legislation.

Testing of protected urea is carried out using a quantitative method for determination of the urease inhibitors N-(n-Butyl) thiophosphoric acid triamide (NBPT) and N-(n-Propyl)thiophosphoric acid triamide (NPPT) content in urea-based fertilisers using high-performance liquid chromatography.

Testing is performed in accordance with UNE-EN 16651:2016 standard.

23 protected urea samples have been tested to date in 2025. One sample has been provisionally found to be out of tolerance and is being investigated.