Global Regulatory Landscape in Renewable E-Fuel and Fertilizer Pathways: The Case of Ammonia and Hazardous Chemicals

<ns3:p>Background The transition to renewable energy sources offers significant benefits for public health, environmental sustainability, and climate change mitigation. Ammonia, while widely used in fertilizers and emerging as a clean energy carrier, is classified as s hazardous chemical, demanding strict regulatory oversight. This dual role of ammonia - both as a risk and a solution – presents unique challenges for sustainable integration into energy and agricultural systems. Methods As part of the Horizon Europe project "Versatile and Direct E-fuel and Fertilizer Generation from Renewable Electricity" (VERGE), we conducted a systematic review of global regulations related to ammonia. The study analyzed 75 distinct regulatory frameworks from multiple jurisdictions, covering the synthesis, storage, and transportation of ammonia. The review focused on legal consistency, safety standards, and process control across national and international systems. Results The findings revealed major disparities between jurisdictions, especially in classification, compliance obligations, and safety protocols. Despite fragmentation, several high-performing regulatory models were identified, particularly within the European Union. Common features of effective frameworks included real-time monitoring, harmonized labeling systems, and risk-based controls. Furthermore, integration of digital technologies and life-cycle assessment methodologies was found to be growing in regulatory design. Conclusions Ammonia has significant potential to serve as both a renewable fuel and fertilizer component, provided that legal systems evolve to support its safe use. Harmonized global regulation, informed by best practices and technological progress, is essential to unlock ammonia’s role in decarbonizing industry and agriculture. Coordinated policy efforts can facilitate the transition to sustainable ammonia pathways and accelerate the global shift toward low-carbon systems.</ns3:p>