Annex A
NITRATES DIRECTIVE—KEY
REQUIREMENTS
1. Designation of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones
(NVZs)
(i) To identify as polluted waters:
— surface and groundwaters which have,
or could have, levels of nitrate above 50 mg per litre if action
is not taken, and
— surface waters which are or could
become eutrophic.[3]
(ii) To designate, by December 1993, all
agricultural land draining to polluted waters as Nitrate Vulnerable
Zones (NVZs).
Note: As an alternative to designating specific
NVZs, member states can opt to apply an Action Programme across
the whole of their national territory.
2. Establish an Action Programme in NVZs
To establish by December 1995 and implement
by December 1999 an Action Programme in the form of "rules"
covering the use and management of manures and fertilisers. The
rules must include the following mandatory measures:
— a nitrogen loading limit across
the farm for livestock manure of 170kg per hectare per year (this
controls stocking density by linking manure produced on farm to
the land available for spreading);
— a ban on manure and fertiliser
applications during periods of the year when there is a risk of
nitrate loss to waters;
— a requirement for farmers to
have manure storage capacity sufficient to cover the closed spreading
period plus additional capacity to take account of other periods
when spreading conditions are unsuitable; and
— a requirement to ensure that
applications of nitrogen from manures and fertilisers are limited
overall, taking account of certain specified factors such as foreseeable
nitrogen requirement if the crop, soil type, nitrogen residues
in the soil from previous cropping, nitrogen supplied to the crop
from manures prior to application of fertilisers.
The Action Programme must also include any additional
measures or reinforced measures if, at the outset or in subsequent
reviews, it becomes clear to the member state that further action
is needed in order to meet Directive objectives.
3. Derogation from the 170kg/ha whole farm
nitrogen loading limit
Member states may allow a limit higher than
the prescribed 170kg/ha limit but must follow a defined procedure
in making a derogation application to the Commission.
4. Reviews
Member states must review both NVZ designations
and the Action Programme measures at least every four years.
5. Reporting
Member states must report to the Commission
every four years on their implementation of the Directive.
3 Eutrophication is caused by excess nutrients, such
as nitrates and phosphates, which can stimulate an accelerated
growth of algae and other plants and have an adverse affect on
water ecology, water quality and the amenity value of the water. Back
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