Nitrates, Derogation,

Cross Compliance

Nitrate in groundwater 1995-2006

Faecal coliforms in Groundwater

Shellfish areas

Background

December 1991 - Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC)

July 1996 - Code of Good Agricultural Practice

May 2003 - Regulations designating the national territory

March 2004 - Judgment by ECJ– Ireland non-compliant with Directive

Background

July 2005 – National Action Programme agreed

December 2005 - S.I. 788 of 2005

July 2006 - S.I. 378 of 2006

Nitrates Regulation

Minimise the quantity of soiled water produced

Have adequate storage capacity for organic fertilisers, soiled water and silage effluent produced on your holding

Adhere to application limit of 170 kg N/ha/yr from livestock manure

Fertilise to meet crop requirements

Nitrates Regulation

Do not apply fertilisers if conditions are unsuitable

Ensure all buffer zones are respected Respect prohibited periods for spreading

fertilisers Follow rules about ploughing and applying non-

selective herbicides Keep required records

Records

Total area of the holding

Net area of the holding

Crop areas

Livestock numbers and type

Estimate of annual fertiliser requirement

Quantities and types of chemical fertilisers moved onto or off the holding

Records

Details of livestock manure and other organic fertilisers moved onto or off the holding

Copy of any NMP prepared (e.g REPS plan)

Results of any soil tests

Description of facilities for the storage of livestock manure, soiled water, FYM, etc.

Quantities and types of concentrated feedstuff fed to grazing livestock

Location of any water abstraction point

Cross compliance

1% inspection rate

19 SMRs plus GAEC

Cross compliance checks undertaken by DAFF

Nitrates Derogation

Annex 3 of Nitrates Directive

Irelands derogation approved November 2006

Derogation Conditions

Only applicable to grassland farmsMinimum 80% grass

Grazing livestock only (250 kg N/ha/yr)

• Annual application to DAFF

Derogation Conditions

Fertiliser plan required on holding by 1 March

Stocking rate, crops, crop requirements, soil testing

Fertilisation accounts to be submitted by 1 March

Temporary grassland to be ploughed in spring only

No leguminous crops except arable silage or <50% clover in grass

Ploughed grass to be followed by high N demanding crop

Manure may not be spread in Autumn before ploughing grassland

Derogation Land management

Further conditions of Derogation

No imports of livestock manure

No application of pig/poultry manure, SMC

Derogation Controls

100% of applications subject to administrative control

3% of applicants will be inspected

Annual reporting to Brussels