Nitrate Directives Presentation

Slide: 1Presentation: Liliana Cortellini DG ENV/B3

Vilnius, 14 September 2004

Nitrates Directive: requirements and experiences of implementation

Liliana CortelliniEuropean Commission, ENV B1

Soil and Agriculture

This presentation does not necessarily represent the view of the European Commission or its Services


Outline

Directive requirements Implementation experiences

Water monitoring Designation of nitrate vulnerable zones Design and implementation of the action

programmes Conclusions


Nitrate concentration in rivers, 2000-2001

Source EEA, 2004


Nitrate concentration in rivers in relation to land use

Source EEA, 2004


Nitrate concentration in groundwaters Source EEA, 2004


The Nitrates Directive Objectives

Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from

agricultural sources

Reducing water pollution caused or induced by nitrates from agricultural sources

Preventing further such pollution


The Nitrates Directive Obligations for Member States (1)

Water monitoring Identification of polluted waters, identification of

waters which could be affected by pollution if measures are not taken

Nitrates Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) designation, revision every four years

Designation of NVZs not required if an action programme is implemented on the whole territory


The Nitrates Directive Obligations for Member States (2)

Establish a code or codes of good agricultural practice, to be implemented by farmers on a voluntary basis

Design and implement action programmes in NVZs

Assess effectiveness of action programmes Report on the implementation to the

Commission


12.2005 Revision NVZs

3rd Action Programme

19971993 2001 2005

Years: 1992 20041996 2000

WaterMonitoring


2nd Action Programme


1st Action Programme

1212 98 02

210 kg N 170 kg N

Art. 10Member StatesReports

ElaborationAction Programme

Transposition

12.93 Designationof vulnerable zones (NVZs)

Code of goodpractices

Adoption ofDirective 12/12/91

The Nitrates Directive Implementation calendar


In advance of accessionestablish a complete monitoring system (surface and ground waters)

detect and designate waters affected by pollution designate the Nitrates Vulnerable Zones (at least one year before accession)

By accessionestablish a Code of Good Agricultural Practices establish action programmes

The Nitrates Directive Commitments of the new

Member States


Water monitoring and identification of polluted waters (1)

Nitrate concentration in Freshwaterswhere sampling stations Directive 75/440/EEC other sampling stations representative of

surface waterswhen at least one year every four years monthly and more frequently during flood

periods


Monitoring and identification of polluted waters (2)

Nitrate concentration in Ground waterswhere sampling stations representative of

groundwater aquiferswhen At regular intervals


Water monitoring and identification of polluted waters (3)

Eutrophic Status Fresh surface waters Estuarial and coastal waters

Definition of Eutrophication Enrichment of water by nitrogen compounds causing

an accelerated growth of algae and higher forms of plant life to produce an undesirable disturbance to the balance of organisms present in the water and to the quality of water concerned


Criteria for identification of polluted waters (Annex I)

Nitrate concentration equal or higher than 50 mg/L in groundwaters and surface waters

Upwards trends so that 50 mg/L nitrate concentration could be reached if actions are not taken

Eutrophic status of freshwaters, estuaries and coastal waters

Trend towards eutrophication if actions are not taken


Towards the standardisation of the monitoring procedures under

Nitrates Directive (1)

Monitoring guidelines prepared by EC Procedures for monitoring of surface waters (sampling

frequency, sampling site selection, timing) Procedures for monitoring of groundwaters

(frequency, site selection, timing) Procedures for monitoring of estuarine, coastal and

marine waters


Towards the standardisation of the monitoring procedures under

Nitrates Directive (2)

Monitoring guidelines prepared by EC Indicators of eutrophic status of freshwaters, estuaries

and coastal waters Monitoring in NVZs for the assessment of action

programme effectiveness Monitoring procedures for Member States which apply

the action programme to the whole territory


Designation of Nitrates Vulnerable Zones

Two possible approaches Designation of specific zones No designation and implementation of the action

programme in the whole territory


. Whole territory approach

Implementation of the action programme on the whole territoryGermanyAustriaThe NetherlandsLuxemburgDenmarkFinlandIrelandMaltaSloveniaLithuania


Designation of Nitrates Vulnerable Zones (1)

Country NVZs% territory*

Belgium 27Greece 11Spain 6,5French 44Italy 7,8Portugal 1,1Sweden 14United Kingdom 33

* June 2004, provisional data


. Designation of Nitrates Vulnerable Zones (2)

Country NVZs% territory*

Cyprus 23

Czech Republic 36

Estonia 10

Hungary 48

Latvia 15

Poland 2,5

Slovakia 30

* June 2004


Nitrate Vulnerable Zones

NITRATES DIRECTIVE 91/676/EEC

Designated zones, 2001New Zones drafted by Member States Potential vulnerable zones (EC assessment, 2002)

Designated zones, 2002 - 2004

Status: 30. June 2004Up-date: Catchment-based Information System, JRC

EUROPEAN COMMISSIONJoint Research Centre

Map of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones in support of Implementation of Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources

Azores

Canary Islands Guyana La Reunion

Guadeloupe Martinique Madeira

Km 500

Cyprus


Percentage of water samples exceeding 50 mg/l NO3

Source IEEP, 2002


Fertiliser consumption


Trends in livestock number Source: FAOSTAT, 2002


Change in the Nitrogen BalanceSource OECD, 2001


The Nitrates Directive Action programmes (1)

Measures to be included in the Action Programmes: Annex III and Annex II of the Directive

Member States may establish different Action Programmes for different vulnerable zones or part of zones (art.5.2)

Member States could identify additional and reinforced actions (art. 5.5) in NVZs


The Nitrates Directive Action programmes (2)

Examples of measures to be included in the Action Programmes

Minimum storage capacity Prohibition periods of fertiliser application Maximum Nitrogen amount applied with livestock manure:

170 kg/hectare Fertilization according to a nitrogen balance Fertilisation procedures near water courses, on slopes, on

frozen, water logged, snow covered soils Vegetation cover in winter periods


Action programmesManure storage capacity

Result of the study carried on by the Commission

Climatic Zone Suggested minimum storage capacity

Boreal 9-10 monthsAtlantic 6-8 monthsCentral Europeanalpineplains and valleys

7-8 months6-7 months

Mediterranean area 4 -5 months


Storage capacityCurrent situation

Requirements of storage capacity ≥ 6 months in several MS (e.g. Denmark, Austria, Finland, Belgium (Wallonia) individual regions in Italy, France, Germany

Funding storage vessels in EU 15: Rural Development and State Aids


Action programmes, implementation in EU 15

Some of the area requiring improvement (Report year 2000): Storage capacity 170 kgN/ha from organic manure Prohibition periods in fertiliser application Provisions on fertiliser spreading near water

course and slopes


Action programmesDerogation

The procedure to obtain a derogation Denmark derogation (Commission

Decision 915/2002) Cattle farms with at least 70% grassland:

230 kg/hectare N from livestock manure Farms and arable land encompassed by

derogation: 4% Livestock units encompassed by

derogation :11%


An example of Action programmeThe Danish case (1)

Storage capacity: 9 months, construction standards

N application with livestock manure: 170 kg/ha (cattle), 140 kg/ha (pig and poultry)

N in livestock manure: tables of reference values for all livestock categories and housing systems (eg: 117-123 kgN/head dairy cattle, large breed)



Total Nitrogen application standards for all main crops (updated yearly on the basis of data on experimental and pilot farms)

Minimum manure nitrogen efficiency: Pig slurry: 75% Cattle slurry: 70% Deep litter: 45% Other livestock manure: 65%



Minimum winter cover Prohibition period for manure application:

from harvest to February (slurry)



Fertiliser plans To be prepared by all farmers every year

Fertiliser account to be provided to the competent Authorities at

the end of each year Checking of compliance:

evaluation of fertiliser plans+on site inspections


Conclusions (1)

Nitrogen losses from agriculture represent a main contribution to pollution of water

Nitrates Directive has been implemented slowly

but Significant progress has been made in the

recent years


Conclusions

Further progress are required in Nitrates Vulnerable Zone Designation and Action Programme implementation (EU 15)

Implementation of the Nitrates Directive is essential in the New Members States to reduce pollution and avoid extensive pollution problems over the coming years


More information

http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/water/water-nitrates/index_en.html

Report on the implementation of the Nitrates Directive year 2000

Monitoring guidelines Reporting guidelines

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