ResponsibleAg Initiative from ARA and TFI

ResponsibleAg is a joint venture of the Agricultural Retailers Association and The Fertilizer Institute, and is the result of both organizations partnering to develop a Fertilizer Code of Practice Initiative.

In February 2013, the ARA board of directors initiated the establishment of an Ammonia Code of Practice – with the intent of establishing Codes of Practices for other products such as ammonium nitrate fertilizer. TFI was invited to join the initiative. Following the tragic explosion at West Fertilizer Company on April 17, 2013, a decision was made to include ammonium nitrate.

ResponsibleAg is being founded for the purpose of stewarding regulatory compliance throughout the chain of custody for fertilizer products, with the end result of increased safety and security for employees and communities, as well as continued availability of these vital products to American agriculture.

ResponsibleAg will provide a platform for companies or individuals who supply or store fertilizer to register under the umbrella of an overarching Code of Practice. Registration will allow the industry to have a more complete reference of facilities involved in the trade.

Beyond registration, ResponsibleAg will provide Codes of Practice for specific fertilizer products and train auditors to inspect retail facilities. These Codes are in development at present, and will cover anhydrous ammonia (NH3) and ammonium nitrate (AN) at the outset, though may expand to other products in the future. They are based on current regulatory requirements for these products.

A Common Code is also being created to cover requirements applying to both products and also to best practices that should apply regardless of product carried. These latter practices which are not regulatory requirements would be evaluated by auditors but would not impact whether facilities pass or fail their audit.

The goal is to design a system that is transparent, simple and efficient for fertilizer storage facilities, effective in improving safety, and provides more frequent and efficient inspections than regulatory agencies. To ensure that the industry is adequately responding to public concerns, this system will include independent third party audits and the adherence to stringent industry and regulatory standards. For agricultural retailers, distributors and other fertilizer storage facilities, implementation of this Fertilizer Code of Practice program includes a commitment to comply with all relevant EHS&S regulations as they affect company operations.

Guiding Principles

• Communicate with and engage employees, business partners and the community to foster a greater understanding of EHS&S matters regarding fertilizers and other hazards.
• Foster new and continuing partnerships between the agricultural industry, local first responders and Local Emergency Planning Committees.
• Promote the concepts of product stewardship throughout a product’s lifecycle.
• Develop a code of practice for ammonium nitrate storage and handling.
• Develop a code of practice for anhydrous ammonia storage and handling.
• Create a comprehensive and efficient third party auditing and inspection process for facilities.

“The Ohio AgriBusiness Association supports the efforts of the Agricultural Retailers Association and The Fertilizer Institute in their development of ResponsibleAg,” said Chris Henney, OABA president and CEO. “OABA is committed to being engaged in the process as the concept is developed and instituted.” 

More Information
Click here for the ResponsibleAg Frequently Asked Questions.