Matrix Classification: · Web viewCountry: Belgium . Environmental Objective(s): Reduce water...

Matrix Classification:

Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Reduce water pollution Type(s) of Measure: Payments based on fixed assets

Policy Regional aid for environmental protection investments

Agency

Ministry of the Walloon Region - General Directorate of Agriculture

Relevant Legislation EU Agenda 2000Walloon Region Plan for Environmental Protection

Overall Objective Reduce water pollution by fertilisers and pesticides

Delivery Mechanism Interest subsidies up to 5% for 7 years (equipment) and 9 years (buildings) are granted (or an equivalent capital bonus for investments made in equity) for investments that helps to protect the environment such as:- technologies to process or store liquid manure or slurry;- systems to recover silage effluents;- used water cleaning systems;- sprinklers with mechanisms to clean the sprinklers;- non-chemical weed control equipment

Targets

When Applied

Coverage/Eligibility Walloon RegionVoluntary

Costs To Government (taxpayers)Link to excel file with budgetary expenditures – Expenditure Belgium.xls

Participation/Results Link to excel file with coverage data – Coverage Belgium.xlsHow Programme is Monitored/Evaluated

Source/Further Information Ministry of the Walloon Region - General Directorate of Agriculturehttp://mrw.wallonie.be/dga/frame_aides.html

http://mrw.wallonie.be/dga/frame_aides.html


Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Biodiversity, Landscape Type(s) of Measure: Payments based on fixed assets

Policy Agri-environmental Payments - for Landscape Features and Biodiversity

Agency


Relevant Legislation (CEE) 2078/92, CE/746/96, CE/435/97Decree of Walloon Government on Agri-environmental payments (3/1999)

Overall Objective Preserve and maintain traditional landscape features and biodiversity, such as hedges, strops of woodland, old tall fruit trees in pastures, and ponds

Delivery Mechanism Farmers who pledge to maintain these features and if possible enhance their farms' ecological systems according to particular specifications are eligible for payments of € 24.78 per 100 metres of hedge for lengths of at least 200, 500, 1 000, 2 000 or 4 000 metres (or alternatively areas of 1, 2.5, 5, 10 or 20 hectares) respectively.

Targets

When Applied From 2000

Coverage/Eligibility Walloon RegionVoluntary participation






Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Biodiversity Type(s) of Measure: Payments based on fixed assets

Policy Agri-environmental Payments - for preserving endangered local breeds

Agency



Overall Objective Preserve endangered local breed of farm animals

Delivery Mechanism Provide payments to farmers to keep animals listed on the Community inventory of endangered local breeds for a period of at least 5 years:- € 119 per hors or cow;- € 17.35 per sheep.For each breed, the payment is reduced if the total number of females registered in the herd book approaches the cut-off point for recognition as an endangered local breed, which is 5 000 for horses and cows, and 7 500 for sheep.

Targets








Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Biodiversity, Landscape Type(s) of Measure: Payments based on farming practices

Policy Agri-environmental Payments - for cultivation of older species or varieties of crops

Agency



Overall Objective Preserve and maintain the plantation of older species and varieties of crops to preserve the biodiversity and landscape

Delivery Mechanism Farmers adhering to the specified cultivation requirements are eligible for the payment of:- € 99.16 per hectare and year for cultivation of older varieties of cereals, buckwheat or, in less favoured areas, spelt wheat;- € 297.47 per hectare and year for cultivation of older varieties of potatoes;- € 247.89 per hectare per year, for plantation of older varieties of tall fruit trees (40 to 80 trees per ha)

Targets








Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Soil quality, Reduce water pollution Type(s) of Measure: Payments based on land retirement,

Policy Plant protective headlands and extensive grassland strips

Agency



Overall Objective Encourage farmers to create headlands and protective grassy strips along rivers or streams, or around fields, and to plant trees or hedges to limit cropland effluents

Delivery Mechanism Farmers adhering to specifications and preserving such features for five years are eligible for the following payments:

Euro 74.37 per year for a strip of 800 square metres (200 metres by 4 metres, protecting an area of one hectare) of extensive grasslands or grassy headlands replacing arable crops (the payment is €99.16 for strips along rivers or streams);

Euro 37.18 per year for a strip of 800 square metres (200 metres by 4 metres, protecting an area of one hectare) of extensive headland, sown and harvested like an ordinary crop;

Euro 99.16 per year for a strip of 1 600 square metres of strip (200 metres by 8 metres, protecting an area of one hectare) of extensive grassland replacing intensive grassland.

Targets








Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Organic farming Type(s) of Measure: Payment based on farming practices

Policy Payments for organic farmingAgency Relevant LegislatioOverall Objective Promote organic production methods for specific cropsDelivery Mechanism Conversion and annual payments which differ by crop to farmers applying

specified organic production methods for five years. For 1999-2000, annual payments per hectare were as follows:

Euro 180.52 per hectare for conversion and Euro 111.55 per hectare per year to preserve organic annual crops with Community premiums;

Euro 300.87 per hectare for conversion and Euro 223.10 per hectare per year to preserve organic annual crops without Community premiums;

Euro 297.47 per hectare for conversion and Euro 173.52 per hectare per year to preserve organic grasslands;

Euro 991.57 per hectare for the first year of conversion, Euro 867.63 per hectare for the second year of conversion and Euro 297.47 per hectare per year to preserve organic vegetable crops;

Euro 842.47 per hectare for conversion and Euro 743.68 per hectare per year to preserve perennial organic fruit crops.

Targets The objective is for 65 000 hectares—or 5% of the agricultural area and roughly 2 200 farms—to be devoted to organic farming by 2005.


Coverage/Eligibility Federal levelEligibility to farmers with agriculture as main occupation


Participation/Results Link to excel file with organic farming – Organic farming Belgium.xlsHow Programme is Monitored/Evaluated

Source/Further Information


Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Other sustainable resource practices Type(s) of Measure: Payment based on farming practices

Policy Payments for integrated apple fruit production

Agency Relevant Legislation

Overall Objective Support integrated production of apples

Delivery Mechanism Area payments to farmers applying for at least five years the integrated production of apple fruit. A fixed payment of Euro 247.89 per hectare per year was granted to producers making the conversion between 1997 and 2000. Insofar as producer income losses have proven less than was projected in 1997, degressive payments were instituted for conversions in 2001 (Euro 247.89, Euro 198.31 and Euro 123.95 in the last three years) and in 2002 (Euro 198.31 the first year, Euro 123.95 the following three years and Euro 61.97 the fifth year).

Targets Convert to integrated cultivation some 14 500 hectares, or over 60% of the area used for apple fruit crops at the beginning of 2002.


Coverage/Eligibility Federal levelEligibility to farmers with agriculture as main occupation





Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Biodiversity Type(s) of Measure: Payments based on farming practices

Policy Late cutting and diversification of seedlings

Agency



Overall Objective Encourage farmers to practice late cutting, and to diversify seedlings in order to maintain the diversity of the flora.

Delivery Mechanism Farmers who adhere to requirements for cutting conditions and the use of chemicals qualify for payments of Euro 123.95 per hectare per year. Diversification of seedlings in temporary grasslands under the specified conditions can bring an additional payment of Euro 74.37 per hectare in the year the grasslands are planted.

Targets







Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Biodiversity Type(s) of Measure: Payment based on farming practices

Policy Very late cutting with limitation of inputs

Agency



Overall Objective Encourage farmers to practice very late cutting with limited inputs, promoting wildlife and hence maintaining biodiversity.

Delivery Mechanism Farmers adhering to specifications stipulating the conditions for cutting and the use of chemicals are eligible for a payment of Euro 247.89 per hectare per year.

Targets







Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Landscape, Type(s) of Measure: Payments based on farming practices

Policy Maintain low stocking density

Agency



Overall Objective Maintain extensively used grassland

Delivery Mechanism An annual payment of Euro 49.58 per hectare under forage to producers maintaining stocking densities between 0.6 and 1.4 livestock units (LSU) per hectare of grazing land; having at least 90% of their reference forage area made up of grasslands that are cut at least once a year (or used for grazing at least two months per year); and who pledge not to reduce the area of permanent grasslands and to protect and restore their farms’ hedges and watering points.

Targets







Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Reduce water pollution Type(s) of Measure: Payment based on farming practices

Policy Reduce inputs for cereal growing

Agency



Overall Objective Reduce the use of industrial fertilisers and chemicals in grain production

Delivery Mechanism An annual payment of Euro 89.24 per hectare to farmers reducing the density of seedlings, nitrogen fertilisers, fungicides and growth regulators in the production of cereals other than maize. Farmers who pledge not to use synthetic fertilisers to grow cereals other than maize are also eligible for annual payments of Euro 89.24 per hectare. Farmers are entitled to receive both payments simultaneously.

Targets







Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Reduce water pollution Type(s) of Measure: Payments based on farming practices

Policy Reduce and contain the use of herbicides in maize production

Agency



Overall Objective Encourage the use of mechanical weed control and localised treatment (on rows of maize) with synthetic herbicides.

Delivery Mechanism Annual payment of Euro 148.74 per hectare granted to producers who pledge to use synthetic herbicides for localised treatment only and to ensure spacing of at least 40 cm between rows that are treated solely by mechanical means. In addition, producers who pledge to cover maize row widths effectively by means of an underseeded catch crop maintained until at least 1 January are eligible for annual payments of Euro 148.74 per hectare. Farmers may receive both payments, up to a maximum of Euro 178.48 per hectare.

Targets







Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Soil quality Type(s) of Measure: Payments based on farming practices

Policy Ground cover between crops

Agency



Overall Objective Reduce the risk of soil erosion by maintaining ground cover between crops

Delivery Mechanism An annual payment of Euro 99.16 per hectare paid to producers who plant and keep a catch crop between 15 September and 1 January, followed by the planting of a spring crop or by fallow

Targets







Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Water resources, Biodiversity, Landscape Type(s) of Measure: Payment based on farming practices,

Policy Protective measures in wetlands

Agency



Overall Objective Protect wetlands

Delivery Mechanism Annual payment of Euro 49.58 per hectare of wet meadow is granted to farmers who manage these meadows without ploughing, flushing out or draining them, without chemicals, and maintaining the land by late cutting and/or grazing with stocking densities of less than 2 LSU per hectare.

Targets







Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Reduce water pollution Type(s) of Measure: Environmental taxes and charges

Policy Ecotax on pesticides


Overall Objective Reduce the use of pesticides to reduce the risk of water pollution

Delivery Mechanism A tax of Euro 0.248 per gram of active ingredients of pesticides

Targets

When Applied

Coverage/Eligibility General

Costs To buyers of pesticides (agricultural producers)The receipts from the tax are used to finance environmental programmes.

Participation/Results How Programme is Monitored/Evaluated



Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Organic farming, Other sustainable resource practices Type(s) of Measure: Payments based on farm fixed assets

Policy Investment support for sustainable and organic farming

Agency Relevant Legislation EU Directive 1257/99

Programming Document for Rural Development in Flanders (PDPO)Overall Objective Promote sustainable agriculture and organic farming

Delivery Mechanism Payments covering 40% of the investment costs for investments aimed at the realisation of an agriculture with broadened goals, sustainable agriculture and/or biological agriculture (e.g. investments aimed at the reduction of the ammonia emissions)

Targets

When Applied 2000-2006

Coverage/Eligibility Flanders RegionVoluntary participation


Participation/Results Link to excel file with organic farming – Organic farming Belgium.xlsHow Programme is Monitored/Evaluated



Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Reduce water pollution Type(s) of Measure: Payments based on farm fixed assets

Policy The voluntary cutback of the pig herd

Agency Relevant Legislation Decree on livestock permanent abandonment premium

Overall Objective Reduce the phosphate manure surplus

Delivery Mechanism A permanent abandonment premium is paid to pig farmers at the rate of 390 €/sow and 117,5 €/pig

Targets



Costs To Government (taxpayers)25.000 € in 2001; 50.000 € in 2002 (budget) Link to excel file with budgetary expenditures – Expenditure Belgium.xls

Participation/Results

In 2001, 512 applications were filed in for a total of 12.309 sows and 169.740 meat-type pigs. This corresponds with 2,5% of the total pig stock.Link to excel file with coverage data – Coverage Belgium.xls

How Programme is Monitored/Evaluated

A first assessment indicates that the operational phosphate manure surplus could be reduced with about 700.000 kg (1,8% of the total manure surplus).



Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Biodiversity Type(s) of Measure: Payment based on land retirement, Payment based on farming

practices

Policy Meadow bird management


Programming Document for Rural Development in Flanders (PDPO)Overall Objective Protect the nest and the young of certain meadow birds

Delivery Mechanism Payments per hectare are available to farmers under five possible management packages: 1) grazing (332 €/ha/y);2) mowing (363 €/ha/y);3) putting up nest protection and nest marker systems (25 €/nest protection or nest marker/year, maximum 75 €/ha/y);4) reconvert arable land into perennial grassland and grazing (438 €/ha/y);5) reconvert arable land into perennial grassland and mowing. (465 €/ha/y).

Targets







Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Soil quality, Biodiversity, Reduce water pollution Type(s) of Measure: Payments based on land retirement,

Policy Field margin management


Programming Document for Rural Development in Flanders (PDPO)Overall Objective Promote the biodiversity, prevent surface run-off of nutrients to protect the

surface water quality and prevent soil loss through erosion.Delivery Mechanism Payments per hectare are available to farmers under six possible

management packages: 1) field margin management next to wooden landscape elements and next to a verge (0,04 €/m²/y);2) field margin management next to water courses if the field is used for arable production and the protection strip is grass or spontaneous vegetation (0,13 €/m²/y);3) field margin management next to water courses if the field is used for arable production and the protection strip is spontaneous vegetation which evolves spontaneously (0,06 €/m²/y);4) field margin management next to water courses if the field is used as grassland (0,06 €/m²/y);5) field margin management next to water courses if the field is used as hay land or hay meadow (0,06 €/m²/y);6) field margin management next to sunken roads (0,13 €/m²/y).

Targets







Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Landscape Type(s) of Measure: Payment based on land retirement

Policy Recovery, development and maintenance of small landscape elements


Programming Document for Rural Development in Flanders (PDPO)Overall Objective Construction of new and the development and maintenance of existing

small landscape elements on the farm.Delivery Mechanism Payments under three management packages are available to farmers:

1) recovery, development and maintenance of wooden landscape elements; 2) maintenance of existing wooden landscape elements;3) construction or re-construction and periodical maintenance of pools.

Targets







Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Biodiversity Type(s) of Measure: Payments based on farming practices

Policy Botanical management


Programming Document for Rural Development in Flanders (PDPO)Overall Objective To develop botanically valuable grasslands

Delivery Mechanism Payments to farms for specific farming practices such as: excluding the use of fertiliser and pesticides and postponing the date of mowing and grazing. There are seven management practices available for the farmers:1) botanical management grassland (mowing 16 June) (695 €/ha/y);2) botanical management grassland (mowing 1 June) (533 €/ha/y);3) botanical management grassland (grazing 16 June) (538 €/ha/y);4) botanical management grassland (grazing 1 June) (513 €/ha/y);5) botanical management grassland (grazing without limitations of date, no fertilisation) (325 €/ha/y);6) botanical management arable land (full field) (500 €/ha/y);7) botanical management arable land (edge) (maximum 500 €/ha/y).

Targets







Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Landscape Type(s) of Measure: Payments based on land retirement

Policy Afforestation of agricultural land


Programming Document for Rural Development in Flanders (PDPO)Overall Objective Qualitative and quantitative expansion of the forest area in Flanders.

Delivery Mechanism Payments are granted to farmers to afforest their agricultural land. The level of payments is dependent on tree species used for afforestation. For indigenous deciduous tree species, the subsidy covers all costs. Moreover, farmers are provided with income compensation dependent on the concept of afforestation:- ecological afforestation;- afforestation with economic tree species and with a minimum duration of 15 years.During the first five years, a payment is also supplied to cover maintenance costs, again dependent on the tree species.

Targets







Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Soil quality, Reduce water pollution Type(s) of Measure: Payment based on farming practices

Policy Green cover


Programming Document for Rural Development in Flanders (PDPO)Overall Objective Reduce the erosion, improve the structure of the soil and act as a catch crop

to prevent nitrogen leaching during winter Delivery Mechanism Payment of 49.58 € per hectare of green cover (green cover is the sowing

of a crop within or after certain crops in order to cover the ground in the winter period; this crop can be ploughed in or harvested after the winter). All crops that leave the cover bare in winter are eligible, maize and potatoes are primarily considered. The green cover must be sown before November 1st and left on the soil until at least the 15th of February.

Targets








Policy Mechanic weed control


Programming Document for Rural Development in Flanders (PDPO)Overall Objective

Delivery Mechanism Payments per hectare to farmers using mechanic weed control (mainly for crops sown in rows): 1) 150 €/ha for complete mechanic weed control between and in the rows;2) 50 €/ha for mechanic weed control between the rows and chemical weed control in the rows;

Targets







Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Reduce water pollution Type(s) of Measure: Payments based on farming practices

Policy Reduction of pesticides and fertilisers (ornamental crops)


Programming Document for Rural Development in Flanders (PDPO)Overall Objective Reduce the use of pesticides and fertilisers in production of ornamental

cropsDelivery Mechanism Payment per hectare of ornamental crops to farmers who commit

themselves for five years to optimise the use of crop protection substances and fertilisers through registration and realisation of a concrete plan on farm level, and to reduce the usage to a minimum level.1) 250 €/ha for intensive production under glass or plastics;2) 100 €/ha for intensive production in open air; 3) 50 €/ha for extensive production.

Targets


Coverage/Eligibility Flanders RegionProducers of ornamental crops, Voluntary participation





Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Biodiversity, Landscape Type(s) of Measure: Payment based on farming practices

Policy Buffer management


Programming Document for Rural Development in Flanders (PDPO)Overall Objective Buffer management seeks to prevent the influencing of valuable nature

fields through leaching and run-off and blowing away of fertilisers and protection substances from neighbouring agricultural land

Delivery Mechanism Payments per hectare for buffer management grassland by:- mowing (233 €/ha/y); or- grazing (280 €/ha/y). In both programmes the field can only be used as perennial grassland where no crop protection substances can be used and maximum 50 kg N/ha/year can be spread. From 16 May at the earliest, fields can be mowed or grazed (maximum stocking density 2 LU/ha).

Targets


Coverage/Eligibility Flanders Region, agricultural land neighbouring with valuable nature fieldsVoluntary participation






Policy Reduced fertilisation in respect to the fertilisation norm ‘vulnerable zone water’

Agency Relevant Legislation EU Directive 1257/99; EU Nitrate Directive (91/676/EEC)

Programming Document for Rural Development in Flanders (PDPO)Overall Objective Reduce ground and surface water pollution by Nitrates in areas exceeding

the norms as set in the Nitrate Directive.Delivery Mechanism For the period 2000-2002, the maximum N-fertilisation from animal

manure is 170 kg N/ha and from 2003-2005, 140 kg N/ha. Payments are provided to farmers for reduced fertilisation in vulnerable zones:- in 2000-2002, 420 €/ha of grassland, 295 €/ha of arable land;- in 2003-2005, 520 €/ha of grassland, 345 €/ha of arable land;Additional payments are provided to farmers reducing the use of fertilisers bellow the limits.

Targets Limits of use of N-fertilisers from animal manure (170 resp. 140 kg N/ha)Maximum levels of the mineral nitrate residue value (90 kg NO3--N /ha)


Coverage/Eligibility Flanders Region, vulnerable zonesMandatory participation (voluntary for additional payments)



The mineral nitrate residue value is to be determined every year in fall and must not exceed 90 kg NO3--N /ha.



Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Generic/broad spectrum Type(s) of Measure: Technical assistance/extension

Policy Good agricultural practice codes


Overall Objective Promote sustainable practices in farming

Delivery Mechanism Five Codes of Good Agricultural Practices have been published as a booklet and are used in extension services and education. The booklets consider Good Agricultural Practices concerning nutrients (3 booklets), nature and crop protection. The codes concerning nutrients are mandatory in all vulnerable zones in Flanders under the Nitrate Directive (91/676/EEC).The Ministry of Agriculture also finances demonstration projects in order to stimulate sustainable agriculture.

Targets

When Applied

Coverage/Eligibility Flanders RegionVoluntary (mandatory in vulnerable zones – Nitrate directive)





Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Reduce water pollution Type(s) of Measure: Environmental taxes/charges

Policy Taxes for manure production and the use of fertilisers


Overall Objective Reduce the use of inputs which may cause water pollution

Delivery Mechanism Farmers have to pay different taxes for the production of animal manure, the use of chemical fertilisers and the use of other products that contain nutrients:

€/kg N €/kg P2O5

Production of manure at farm level 0,0111 0,0111Use of chemical fertiliser 0,0223 0,0223Use of other products containing nutrients 0,0223 0,0223

Targets

When Applied

Coverage/Eligibility Flanders RegionMandatory

Costs To producers




Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Generic/broad spectrum Type(s) of Measure: Labelling standards/certification

Policy Quality guarantee system


Overall Objective Production of quality food

Delivery Mechanism Flemish agriculture has years of experience in developing guarantee systems, quality labels and systems of integral chain monitoring (ICM) allowing Flanders to meet nearly all demands of buyers, both domestically and abroad. For a summary of the different product specific quality guarantees go to the following table (link to the word table- quality guarantee systems).

Targets

When Applied

Coverage/Eligibility Flanders regionVoluntary participation

Costs




Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Reduce water pollution Type(s) of Measure: Regulatory requirements

Policy Specific rules concerning the use of manure and chemical fertilisers


Overall Objective Reduce the risk of water pollution by manure and chemical fertilisers

Delivery Mechanism The regulation sets rules for the application of manure and chemical fertilisers:Periods of spreading - prohibition of spreading of manure and chemical fertiliser on grassland: 21/9 – 31/1 (Farmyard manure is allowed during this period);- prohibition of spreading of manure and chemical fertiliser on other agricultural land: 21/9 – 15/2 (Farmyard manure is allowed during this period);- prohibition on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays;- prohibition to spread before 7.00 am. and after sunset.Spreading on sloping soils and proximity of watercourses- manure must be spread with low emission, no run off;- if a slope borders a watercourse, spreading within 10 m is prohibited in nature reserves and within 5 m in other cases.Rational fertilisation - no spreading is allowed on frozen, soaked or snow-covered soilsMethod of spreading of chemical fertilisers and manureLow-emission application (ploughing in within 2 hours or manure injection) is compulsory on pasture-land, cultivated and non-cultivated arable land. Vegetation cover in rainy seasonsThere are no obligations on crop rotation or permanent crop maintenance. In the code of good agricultural practice vegetation cover during winter maintenance is recommended. It is part of the Flemish Rural Development Program (1257/99).

Targets

When Applied

Coverage/Eligibility Flanders regionCompulsory

Costs





Policy Specific rules for effluent storage facilities


Overall Objective Reduce water pollution

Delivery Mechanism Rules for effluent storage capacities on farm: - 6 months storage capacity required for slurry.- Storage facilities must be built so that no environmental problems can occur.

Targets

When Applied

Coverage/Eligibility GeneralCompulsory

Costs





Policy Limitation and splitting of mineral and organic nitrogen and phosphorus input

Agency Relevant Legislation Manure decree

Overall Objective Reduce water pollution by limiting the use of fertilisers

Delivery Mechanism The regulation sets maximum fertilisation standards for the whole of Flanders. Fertilisation standards, with a limitation of the fertilisation from animal excreta, other fertilisers and chemical fertilisers are implemented in phases. These limitations set for specific crops (or group of crops) are applicable for nitrogen as well as for phosphate. Stricter limitation are set for vulnerable zones.For detailed limits go to the following table (link to the word table – Fertilisation standards).

Targets

When Applied


Costs




Country: Belgium Environmental Objective(s): Reduce water pollution Type(s) of Measure: Regulatory requirement

Policy Fertilisation plans and spreading records


Overall Objective

Delivery Mechanism - Every year, every farm (livestock farms and arable farming) has the obligation to declare its livestock, its acreage of agricultural land and corresponding crops and its fertiliser use. Every livestock farm has the obligation to distribute the activity-related manure surpluses (the difference between the manure production and the possibilities of use on domestic agricultural land) to users, storage or manure processing units. If the disposal of the manure surpluses is not proven, penalties are imposed. Prior to all transport of manure surpluses the Manure Bank has to give its permission. If the Manure Bank concludes that a user wants to accept more animal manure or other fertilisers than necessary for personal use, the transport is prohibited. - Farmers are recommended to fill in a fertilisation register on parcel level. The code of good agricultural practice for fertilisation is based on soil analysis.

Targets

When Applied


Costs





Policy Production Restrictions

Agency Relevant Legislation Manure Decree

Overall Objective Limit the livestock numbers and the production of manure

Delivery Mechanism All farms with animals (> 20 pigs, 100 chicken or 20 cows ) need a special environmental license from the municipalities or the provinces.At the moment an absolute blocking of the livestock at farm level (manure quota) is implemented in the Manure Decree. No environmental license for additional production can be granted until 2005. From 2005, new licenses or extensions of licenses can only be granted if the new or additional manure production will be completely processed (not disposed on Flemish cultivated land) and on the condition that the existing stables as well as those under construction, comply with the Best Available Technology with regard to ammonia emission.

Targets

When Applied


Costs





Policy Manure processing obligation


Overall Objective Reduce manure surplus to limit the risks of water pollution

Delivery Mechanism Processing animal manure without the residues remaining in Flanders, is the main policy option of the Flemish government within the framework of the manure policy. Since 1999 the Manure Decree has determined that the largest livestock holdings are obliged to process part of their manure surplus. If the farmers do not comply, levies have to be paid.

Targets At least 50% of the manure surplus (40 million kg of phosphate) has to be processed in order to achieve the objectives.

When Applied


Costs




Country: Belgium

Environmental Objective(s): Generic/broad spectrum policy

Type(s) of Measure: Research and education

Policy RESEARCH AND EDUCATION

General descriptionIn the PDPO, aid for training is also provided. Training in the form of courses, short activities such as study days, panel discussion demonstration etc., is possible for different aspects of agriculture:- training in common agriculture;- training in organic agriculture;- training in the market of organical agricultural and horticultural products.The Agricultural and Horticultural Training division of the Administration of Agriculture and Horticulture is responsible for the management of this measure.

An Institute for Sustainable Agriculture is set up, integrating the different agricultural technical an economical Institutions in Flanders. Purpose is to do research on how Flemish agriculture can become more sustainable.

Link to excel file with budgetary expenditures – Expenditure Belgium.xlsCoverage/Eligibility Flanders region

Source/Further information (web addresses)


Country: Belgium

Environmental Objective(s): Generic/broad spectrum policy

Type(s) of Measure: Inspection and control

Policy INSPECTION AND CONTROL

General descriptionThe Manure Bank controls the specific rules concerning the Manure Decree. One of the main features of the legislation is the amount of administrative work to support the control function of the Manure Bank.

Apart from the normal monitoring network for surface waters (2000 points), a surface water monitoring network with only “measuring points which drain from agricultural souces”, was set up by the Flemish Environmental Agency. It concerns about three hundred extra measuring points. The results of the first year indicate a substantial improvement of the situation in winter.

Also a groundwater monitoring network with only “measuring points which drain from agricultural souces” has been developped. It concerns about five hundred measuring points spread over Flanders for sampling groundwater up to a depth of 20 m. The first results indicate that in 32% of the cases, the maximum permissible concentration of 50 mg nitrate/l has been exceeded. 59% complies with the standard value of 25 mg nitrate/l. Although only one measuring set is available for the moment, it already gives a first indication of the situation in Flanders.

Link to excel file with budgetary expenditures – Expenditure Belgium.xlsCoverage/Eligibility Flanders region

Source/Further information (web addresses)

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Matrix Classification: · Web viewCountry: Belgium . Environmental Objective(s): Reduce water...

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