An Irish MEP has demanded that the European Commission undertakes a "comprehensive impact assessment" on proposed fertiliser tariffs.

During a hearing with the commission, Independent Ireland MEP Ciaran Mullooly strongly argued against the proposed tariff increases on fertiliser imports from Russia.

In January, the European Commission proposed the introduction of tariffs to reduce dependencies on imports from Russia and Belarus and to reinforce EU food security.

The commission said that the tariffs are expected to reduce Russian export revenues, thereby limiting Russia’s ability to finance its war of aggression against Ukraine.

MEP Mullooly highlighted the potential "devastating impact" of such a move on Irish farmers.

"The proposed tariff increases pose a significant threat to Irish farmers, and we cannot afford to rush into decisions without a thorough understanding of the consequences, which could lead to severe repercussions for food production costs and overall agricultural competitiveness," he said.

The Midlands–North-West MEP stressed that transitioning towards self-sufficiency requires considerable time and careful planning to avoid disrupting the agricultural economy.

The European Commission agreed that a thorough impact assessment is necessary to understand the potential effects of these tariffs on the EU's agricultural sector.

However, Mullooly remains dissatisfied with the proposed measures, citing concerns about their effectiveness in supporting Irish family farms.

"The current proposals do not adequately address the urgent needs of Irish family farms, which are struggling to maintain profitability in an increasingly challenging environment," he said.

Mullooly added that using 2024 fertiliser prices as a base for calculating the impact of tariffs is problematic, as these prices are 52% higher than in 2021, disproportionately benefiting European fertiliser manufacturers at the expense of farmers.

The MEP said that he will be "challenging the commission's proposal line by line", as these measures need to be approved by the European Parliament.