Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon has welcomed the EU nitrates committee’s vote in favour of extending Ireland’s nitrates derogation for three years.

The current derogation had been due to expire at the end of December, but Tuesday’s vote ensures that the European Commission can now pass the implementing decision that will give effect to the extension.

This decision sets out the farm-level ground rules derogation farmers will need to abide by from 2026 onwards, with the sixth Nitrates Action Programme published on Monday outlining nitrates rules for both derogation and non-derogation from January.

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An increase in slurry storage requirements for all dairy farmers from 2028 is among the raft of tighter rules that will kick in over the plan's duration.

These include several additional requirements for derogation farmers in four river catchments with the largest targeted reduction in nitrogen load - these are the Slaney, Barrow, Nore and Blackwater catchments.

Visit

Minister Heydon referenced the visit of European Commissioner for the Environment Jessika Roswall to Ireland, as well as Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s engagement with Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, in his statement welcoming the vote.

This visit to Irish farmers allowed the Commissioner the chance to see “first-hand the importance of the nitrates derogation to Irish farmers”, Minister Heydon said.

“I want to recognise the Commissioner’s engagement with stakeholders and in particular the visit to a typical Irish farm, where we saw the best of Ireland’s outdoor grass-based system, with two generations making a living from the farm.

“This family farm model, based on animals being outdoors, is the cornerstone of our sustainability.”

The Minister said that improvements to water quality forms a “critical part of continued access to the nitrates derogation”.

“Irish farmers take their environmental responsibilities very seriously and are on a journey of continuous improvement. This objective is shared by all of industry, stakeholders and farmers,” he commented.

The Department of Agriculture is to now commence the onerous process of conducting catchment level assessments of the derogation and the habitats directive – a move which was sought by the Commission for any extension of the derogation.

“This is a significant body of work, something we had to commit to as part of securing a derogation and I have consistently identified the need for time and space to ensure a thorough, comprehensive approach to this task,” the Minister said.