Difference between revisions of "Nitrates Directive"

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(Implementations)
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# Identification of surface waters and groundwater affected by pollution (or at risk) based on criteria described by the Directive (specifically when the concentration of nitrates in groundwater or surface water (especially those intended for drinking water) reaches more than 50 mg/l or when the surface water found to be eutrophic (or could become eutrophic)
 
# Identification of surface waters and groundwater affected by pollution (or at risk) based on criteria described by the Directive (specifically when the concentration of nitrates in groundwater or surface water (especially those intended for drinking water) reaches more than 50 mg/l or when the surface water found to be eutrophic (or could become eutrophic)
# Designation of nitrate vulnerable zones (Areas of land that become polluted by nitrates - in Europe they are identified as vulnerable when they exceed or being at risk of exceeding 50 mg/l of nitrates)
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# Designation of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Areas of land that become polluted by nitrates - in Europe they are identified as vulnerable when they exceed or being at risk of exceeding 50 mg/l of nitrates)
 
# Establishment of a code of Good Agricultural Practice to be implemented by farmers on a voluntary basis to prevent nitrate losses to water by leaching and run-off [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31991L0676:EN:PDF (see Annex 2)]
 
# Establishment of a code of Good Agricultural Practice to be implemented by farmers on a voluntary basis to prevent nitrate losses to water by leaching and run-off [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31991L0676:EN:PDF (see Annex 2)]
[http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/reach/reach_intro.htm REACH]
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# Setting up compulsory action programmes to be implemented by farmers who work in nitrate vulnerable zones based on measures listed in the Good Agricultural Codes [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31991L0676:EN:PDF (see Annex 2)] and those concerning the limitation of fertilizer application [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31991L0676:EN:PDF (see Annex 3).]
regulation on chemicals and the [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/pollutants/stationary/ippc/index.htm Directive for Integrated Pollution and Prevention Control (IPPC)]
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• set up compulsory action programmes to be implemented by all farmers who
 
work in vulnerable zones. These programmes must contain the measures listed in
 
the good agricultural practice codes, as well as the additional measures listed in
 
Annex III to the Directive, which aim to limit the land application of mineral and organic
 
fertilisers containing nitrogen, as well as land application of livestock manure.
 
 
The Directive authorises Member States to take additional measures or to reinforce
 
The Directive authorises Member States to take additional measures or to reinforce
 
their action programmes in order to achieve the objectives of the Directive.
 
their action programmes in order to achieve the objectives of the Directive.

Revision as of 14:53, 5 March 2013

Category:Revision

The 1991 Nitrates Directive (91/676/EC) is one of the earliest pieces of EU legislation aimed at controlling pollution and improving water quality and forms integral part of the Water Framework Directive.

Main objectives

The Nitrate Directive aims to protect water quality across Europe by preventing nitrates from agricultural sources polluting ground and surface waters (nitrate is perhaps the most widespread groundwater contaminant and originates from natural sources, organic sources, atmospheric deposition, and inorganic fertilizer) and by promoting the use of good farming practices.

Implementations

  1. Identification of surface waters and groundwater affected by pollution (or at risk) based on criteria described by the Directive (specifically when the concentration of nitrates in groundwater or surface water (especially those intended for drinking water) reaches more than 50 mg/l or when the surface water found to be eutrophic (or could become eutrophic)
  2. Designation of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Areas of land that become polluted by nitrates - in Europe they are identified as vulnerable when they exceed or being at risk of exceeding 50 mg/l of nitrates)
  3. Establishment of a code of Good Agricultural Practice to be implemented by farmers on a voluntary basis to prevent nitrate losses to water by leaching and run-off (see Annex 2)
  4. Setting up compulsory action programmes to be implemented by farmers who work in nitrate vulnerable zones based on measures listed in the Good Agricultural Codes (see Annex 2) and those concerning the limitation of fertilizer application (see Annex 3).


The Directive authorises Member States to take additional measures or to reinforce their action programmes in order to achieve the objectives of the Directive. Member States must monitor water quality, applying standardised reference methods to measure the nitrogen-compound content. The Commission has provided Member States with recommendations on monitoring methods and on the information which must be included in their reports on the application of this Directive. These reports shall be submitted by Member States to the Commission every four years.

External links