Green watchdog wants tighter NAP rules in NI

Rules for NI farmers under the current Nutrients Action Programme (NAP) should be “significantly strengthened and better implemented”, an environmental watchdog has said.

In a new report, the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has listed 14 findings and 12 recommendations about water quality regulations for NI farms.

In particular, the report points to DAERA figures which indicate that 2,000 non-derogated farms could be exceeding the 170kg/ha manure nitrogen limit.

It states that imported animal feed is “largely unregulated” as a source of surplus nutrients on to local farms.

“While they do control chemical fertiliser use, the regulations do not directly address the contribution that nutrient-rich animal feeds make to water and air pollution,” the report reads.

The OEP state there are “substantial risks” of nutrient loss to waterways outside the slurry spreading closed period, particularly in early February and October.

It also describes the lack of a closed period for spreading dirty water as “a gap” in the current NAP regulations.

Among the list of recommendations, the OEP want DAERA to increase farm inspection rates, review financial penalties and propose additional mandatory soil analysis requirements.

“The evidence in our report is important and relevant to the ongoing discussions about the NAP proposals,” said Professor Robbie McDonald from the OEP.