A new evaluation of the Nitrates Directive, published by the European Commission, does not recommend removing derogations despite the fact Ireland is now the only country with a derogation.
The evaluation says that derogations “remain a tool for flexibility regarding the manure limit, but the evaluation shows that they may affect the effectiveness of the directive and therefore have to be used carefully to avoid long-term negative impacts.”
According to IFA’s European policy executive Noel Banville, the inclusion of the above line leaves the door open for Ireland to continue to have a derogation.
However, the evaluation report also said that the common manure nitrogen limits across the EU has contributed positively to “limiting the negative environmental effects of intensive livestock production.”
There have previously been calls for Ireland, with its primarily grass based livestock system to have a higher organic nitrogen limit than other countries.
The report is heavy on the principles of circularity of manure between farms and says farmers and member states need to be supported in this, particularly in light of recent fertiliser price crises.
It also calls for simplification of the Nitrates Directive at farm level, by “adapting implementation in the member states to manage the evolving realities faced by farms in the light of changing market conditions, technological pressures and climate change”.
SHARING OPTIONS