1	Vilnius, 14 September 2004 Nitrates Directive: requirements and experiences of implementation Liliana Cortellini European Commission, ENV B1 Soil and Agriculture This presentation does not necessarily represent the view of the European Commission or its Services
2	Outline Directive requirements Implementation experiences Water monitoring Designation of nitrate vulnerable zones Design and implementation of the action programmes Conclusions
3	Nitrate concentration in rivers, 2000-2001 Source EEA, 2004
4	Nitrate concentration in rivers in relation to land use Source EEA, 2004
5	Nitrate concentration in groundwaters Source EEA, 2004
6	The Nitrates Directive Objectives Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources Reducing water pollution caused or induced by nitrates from agricultural sources Preventing further such pollution
7	The Nitrates Directive Obligations for Member States (1) Water monitoring Identification of polluted waters, identification of waters which could be affected by pollution if measures are not taken Nitrates Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) designation, revision every four years Designation of NVZs not required if an action programme is implemented on the whole territory
8	The Nitrates Directive Obligations for Member States (2) Establish a code or codes of good agricultural practice, to be implemented by farmers on a voluntary basis Design and implement action programmes in NVZs Assess effectiveness of action programmes Report on the implementation to the Commission
9
10	"In advance of accession" In advance of accession establish a complete monitoring system (surface and ground waters) detect and designate waters affected by pollution designate the Nitrates Vulnerable Zones (at least one year before accession) By accession establish a Code of Good Agricultural Practices establish action programmes
11	Water monitoring and identification of polluted waters (1) Nitrate concentration in Freshwaters where sampling stations Directive 75/440/EEC other sampling stations representative of surface waters when at least one year every four years monthly and more frequently during flood periods
12	Monitoring and identification of polluted waters (2) Nitrate concentration in Ground waters where sampling stations representative of groundwater aquifers when At regular intervals
13	Water monitoring and identification of polluted waters (3) Eutrophic Status Fresh surface waters Estuarial and coastal waters Definition of Eutrophication Enrichment of water by nitrogen compounds causing an accelerated growth of algae and higher forms of plant life to produce an undesirable disturbance to the balance of organisms present in the water and to the quality of water concerned
14	Criteria for identification of polluted waters (Annex I) Nitrate concentration equal or higher than 50 mg/L in groundwaters and surface waters Upwards trends so that 50 mg/L nitrate concentration could be reached if actions are not taken Eutrophic status of freshwaters, estuaries and coastal waters Trend towards eutrophication if actions are not taken
15	Towards the standardisation of the monitoring procedures under Nitrates Directive (1) Monitoring guidelines prepared by EC Procedures for monitoring of surface waters (sampling frequency, sampling site selection, timing) Procedures for monitoring of groundwaters (frequency, site selection, timing) Procedures for monitoring of estuarine, coastal and marine waters
16	Towards the standardisation of the monitoring procedures under Nitrates Directive (2) Monitoring guidelines prepared by EC Indicators of eutrophic status of freshwaters, estuaries and coastal waters Monitoring in NVZs for the assessment of action programme effectiveness Monitoring procedures for Member States which apply the action programme to the whole territory
17	Designation of Nitrates Vulnerable Zones Two possible approaches Designation of specific zones No designation and implementation of the action programme in the whole territory
18	"." . Implementation of the action programme on the whole territory Germany Austria The Netherlands Luxemburg Denmark Finland Ireland Malta Slovenia Lithuania
19	Designation of Nitrates Vulnerable Zones (1)
20	"." .
21
22	Percentage of water samples exceeding 50 mg/l NO3 Source IEEP, 2002
23	Fertiliser consumption
24	Trends in livestock number Source: FAOSTAT, 2002
25	Change in the Nitrogen Balance Source OECD, 2001
26	The Nitrates Directive Action programmes (1) Measures to be included in the Action Programmes: Annex III and Annex II of the Directive Member States may establish different Action Programmes for different vulnerable zones or part of zones (art.5.2) Member States could identify additional and reinforced actions (art. 5.5) in NVZs
27	The Nitrates Directive Action programmes (2) Examples of measures to be included in the Action Programmes Minimum storage capacity Prohibition periods of fertiliser application Maximum Nitrogen amount applied with livestock manure: 170 kg/hectare Fertilization according to a nitrogen balance Fertilisation procedures near water courses, on slopes, on frozen, water logged, snow covered soils Vegetation cover in winter periods
28	Action programmes Manure storage capacity Result of the study carried on by the Commission
29	Storage capacity Current situation Requirements of storage capacity ≥ 6 months in several MS (e.g. Denmark, Austria, Finland, Belgium (Wallonia) individual regions in Italy, France, Germany Funding storage vessels in EU 15: Rural Development and State Aids
30	Action programmes, implementation in EU 15 Some of the area requiring improvement (Report year 2000): Storage capacity 170 kgN/ha from organic manure Prohibition periods in fertiliser application Provisions on fertiliser spreading near water course and slopes
31	Action programmes Derogation The procedure to obtain a derogation Denmark derogation (Commission Decision 915/2002) Cattle farms with at least 70% grassland: 230 kg/hectare N from livestock manure Farms and arable land encompassed by derogation: 4% Livestock units encompassed by derogation :11%
32	An example of Action programme The Danish case (1) Storage capacity: 9 months, construction standards N application with livestock manure: 170 kg/ha (cattle), 140 kg/ha (pig and poultry) N in livestock manure: tables of reference values for all livestock categories and housing systems (eg: 117-123 kgN/head dairy cattle, large breed)
33	An example of Action programme The Danish case (2) Total Nitrogen application standards for all main crops (updated yearly on the basis of data on experimental and pilot farms) Minimum manure nitrogen efficiency: Pig slurry: 75% Cattle slurry: 70% Deep litter: 45% Other livestock manure: 65%
34	An example of Action programme The Danish case (3) Minimum winter cover Prohibition period for manure application: from harvest to February (slurry)
35	An example of Action programme The Danish case (4) Fertiliser plans To be prepared by all farmers every year Fertiliser account to be provided to the competent Authorities at the end of each year Checking of compliance: evaluation of fertiliser plans+on site inspections
36	Conclusions (1) Nitrogen losses from agriculture represent a main contribution to pollution of water Nitrates Directive has been implemented slowly but Significant progress has been made in the recent years
37	Conclusions Further progress are required in Nitrates Vulnerable Zone Designation and Action Programme implementation (EU 15) Implementation of the Nitrates Directive is essential in the New Members States to reduce pollution and avoid extensive pollution problems over the coming years
38	More information http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/water/water-nitrates/index_en.html Report on the implementation of the Nitrates Directive year 2000 Monitoring guidelines Reporting guidelines