The UK is to consider banning urea fertiliser in order to help improve air quality.

The move is one of three measures contained in a consultation which opened to the public this week.

In a letter published online by the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), agriculture was identified as the source of 87% of the UK’s ammonia emissions. Of the total ammonia emissions, solid urea accounts for 8% of the total.

Currently Defra is consulting on these proposals on an England-only basis

The consultation also outlines two more options for consideration – the use of urease inhibitors and restricting the spreading of solid urea fertilisers from 15 January to 31 March.

Currently Defra is consulting on these proposals on an England-only basis but says it will consider joint legislation if other devolved administrations choose to adopt the same approach.

The consultation is open to the public until 26 January 2021.