A new group set up by Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir to consider proposed changes to the Nutrients Action Programme (NAP) is to produce an interim report by Christmas 2025 and a final report by “early 2026”, a document published by DAERA shows.

Back in June, Minister Muir confirmed that a stakeholder task and finish group would be established, comprising representatives from across farming, food, environment and government bodies.

It was tasked with looking at responses to the public consultation on DAERA’s NAP proposals and any other subsequent evidence, before bringing a revised plan to Minister Muir.

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Controversial

The NAP public consultation was released at the start of May and included a number of controversial proposals, including that intensive livestock farms would be required to meet new phosphorus (P) balance limits. Subsequent analysis by AgriSearch suggested complying with that P limit could cost the industry over £1.5bn per year in lost revenue.

Amid the backlash that followed from farm and food organisations, Minister Muir agreed to establish the new stakeholder group. At the start of October, he confirmed Dublin-based management consultant, Karen Brosnan as independent chair.

The ‘terms of reference’ for the group, which have now been published by the department, set out how it is to come forward with new measures that are “workable and practical, economically viable and achievable at farm level within realistic timeframes”.

Membership is by “invitation of the Minister only” and includes four members from both the Ulster Farmers’ Union and NI Environment Link.

Other organisations only have one seat at the table, including the Nature Friendly Farming Network, NI Agricultural Producers’ Association, the Dairy Council, NI Grain Trade, Meat Exporters’ Association, Pork and Bacon Forum and the NI Poultry Industry Federation.

DAERA and AFBI officials are not official members of the group, but will attend meetings in a supporting role. There is also a science sub-group which will include representatives from AFBI and AgriSearch.

Consensus

While the preference is that the group reaches consensus across the proposals presented in their final report to Minister Muir, that might not be possible – any proposals not fully agreed by all group members should be clearly set out in this report to the Minister.

However, it is anticipated that the group will agree a set of actions which will be presented for an economic assessment.

The terms of reference also give the Minister and DAERA the scope to introduce additional proposals on top of those put forward by the stakeholder group, although the group will be able to review and comment on these additions. These additions will be clearly identified in a new public consultation to be done in 2026.

Once the consultation process is complete, the group will have the opportunity to review the final draft of a new NAP, before it is presented to the Stormont Executive for final approval.