Farmers exporting organic nutrients need to be mindful to the fact that the timeline from moving organic nutrients off the farm to informing the Department is now just four days.

This ruling came in to effect from 1 January 2025 as part of the interim review of Ireland’s fifth Nitrates Action Plan (NAP) and applies to all exports irrespective of the farm’s stocking rate.

The move is seen as a way to clamp down on so called ‘paper movements’ of organic nutrients such as slurry and farm yard manure.

The NAP consultation document also stated that the Department will share information with local authorities no later than the next working day after the movement has been declared to the Department to allow inspections to take place.

While farmers exporting organic nutrients must adhere to the four-day rule, those importing such organic nutrients have more time to verify the movements.

Verified movements

Importers who receive organic nutrients between 1 January and 30 June 2025 must verify the movement via the agfood.ie facility by 14 July 2025. Importers who receive organic nutrients from 1 July to 31 December 2025 must verify such movements by 14 January 2026.

These dates now apply to farmers availing of a nitrates derogation. Previously, such farmers had to record movements of organic nutrients at an earlier date, compared to farmers with a grassland stocking rate of less than 170kg organic nitrogen per hectare.

The movement can be recorded by a farmer or a Farm Advisory System (FAS) adviser approved to act on their behalf.

There are two main ways of farmers notifying the Department of an export movement or import verification – through the Department’s agfood.ie portal or its recently launched nutrient movement app. The app is available to download via the following QR code:

Guide to recording movements via agfood.ie

  • Login to your agfood.ie account.
  • Navigate down to nitrogen and phosphorus statements.
  • Click the ‘exports’ in the bar at the top of the webpage.
  • Click on create export to record the movement.
  • For those accepting a movement select your business ID, enter the date range and then confirm the movement.

    • Key dates

  • With effect from 1 January 2025, organic nutrient movements must be declared by the exporter within four days of the movement taking place.
  • Organic nutrient movements made between the 1 January and the 30 June 2025 must be verified no later than the 14 July 2025.
  • Organic nutrient movements made between the 1 July and the 31 December 2025 must be verified no later than the 14 January 2026.