MOSCOW, September 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
Switzerland - Europe's largest phosphate-based fertilizer production enterprise, PhosAgro-Cherepovets (a subsidiary of PhosAgro), has successfully passed a certification audit by SGS, the world leader in inspection, verification, testing and certification, to meet the "Protect and Sustain" requirements of the International Fertilizer Association ("IFA").
The certification covers the development, manufacture, sale and distribution of ammonia, complex mineral fertilizers, ammonium nitrate and urea.
The Protect and Sustain standard was developed by the International Fertilizer Association with the support of SGS in 2010 in order to help IFA member companies to meet high standards of quality, safety and reliability through the introduction of industry best practices and technologies.
A high score based on the results of the audit reflects the safety of a company's products, both at the production stage and for the end user. Successful certification demonstrates advantages in work with clients, observance of strict safety, occupational safety and environmental standards, as well as the proper quality of transportation and storage of products.
PhosAgro CEO, President of the Russian Fertilizer Industry Association, and Vice-President of IFA for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Andrey Guryev said: "PhosAgro has received an objective and independent evaluation of its activities in the field of quality control, safe production conditions, logistics and marketing, and interaction with customers. We will continue to adhere to high standards in our production processes and corporate governance so that our high-quality products that contain low levels of potentially hazardous impurities, including 35 different fertilizer grades, remain competitive not only in our priority Russian market, but also in the markets of 100 countries worldwide."
Konstantin Timoshechkin, Regional Manager for Eastern Europe, Certification and Business Enhancement, SGS said: "Based on the results of the certification audit conducted at PhosAgro-Cherepovets, I would especially note the effectiveness of the enterprise's quality control, testing of incoming raw materials, handling of products, and compliance with safety requirements."
Background information
The International Fertilizer Association (IFA) was founded in 1927 as a non-profit organization representing the world fertilizer industry. It unites 525 companies from 85 countries of the world, representing all activities related to the production, sale, transportation and distribution of all types of fertilizers, relevant raw materials and intermediate products. IFA members include all Russian and the largest world fertilizer producers, such as Yara (Norway), OCP (Morocco), Mosaic, PotashCorp (USA), IFFCO (India), Vale (Brazil), Sinochem (China) and others.
IFA has consultative status with the United Nations, actively cooperates with international organizations such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the International Energy Agency (IEA), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI), etc.
IFA's priority is to actively promote the efficient and rational production and use of plant nutrients in order to maintain and increase agricultural productivity throughout the world.
The Russian Fertilizer Industry Association (RAPU) was established in 2008 by the largest Russian producers of mineral fertilizers, which account for more than 90% of all mineral fertilizer sales to the Russian market.
The main objectives of the RAPU are the coordination of the activities of its member enterprises in resolving development issues facing the mineral fertilizer industry, assisting members of the Association in resolving pressing issues of business development, assisting state and other structures in creating and promoting agricultural development programs and related industries .
The president of RAPU is Andrey Guryev, who is also the vice-president of the International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA) for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, as well as the CEO of PhosAgro.
The executive director of RAPU is Igor Kaluzhsky.
PhosAgro (www.phosagro.ru) is one of the leading global vertically integrated phosphate-based fertilizer producers. The Company focuses on the production of phosphate-based fertilizers and high-grade phosphate rock (P2O5 content of not less than 39%).
The Company is the largest phosphate-based fertilizer producer in Europe, the largest producer of high-grade phosphate rock worldwide and the second largest MAP/DAP producer in the world (excluding China), according to Fertecon. PhosAgro is also one of the leading producers of feed phosphates (MCP) in Europe, and the only producer in Russia.
The Company's products, including phosphate ore, over 35 grades of fertilizer, feed phosphates, ammonia and sodium tripolyphosphate, are used in 100 countries around the world on all inhabited continents. PhosAgro's priority markets, aside from Russia and the CIS, are Latin America, Europe and Asia.
PhosAgro's shares and GDRs trade on the Moscow Exchange and the London Stock Exchange, respectively, under the ticker PHOR. The Company's GDRs have been included in the MSCI Russia and MSCI Emerging Markets indexes since 1 June 2016.
SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. The company is recognised as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, SGS has more than 90,000 employees, and operates a network of more than 2,000 offices and laboratories around the world.
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