nitrate directives presentation
TRANSCRIPT
Slide: 1Presentation: Liliana Cortellini DG ENV/B3
Vilnius, 14 September 2004
Nitrates Directive: requirements and experiences of implementation
Liliana CortelliniEuropean Commission, ENV B1
Soil and Agriculture
This presentation does not necessarily represent the view of the European Commission or its Services
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Outline
Directive requirements Implementation experiences
Water monitoring Designation of nitrate vulnerable zones Design and implementation of the action
programmes Conclusions
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Nitrate concentration in rivers, 2000-2001
Source EEA, 2004
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Nitrate concentration in rivers in relation to land use
Source EEA, 2004
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Nitrate concentration in groundwaters Source EEA, 2004
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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
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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
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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
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12.2005 Revision NVZs
3rd Action Programme
19971993 2001 2005
Years: 1992 20041996 2000
WaterMonitoring
12.2001 Revision NVZs
2nd Action Programme
12.1997 Revision NVZs
1st Action Programme
1212 98 02
210 kg N 170 kg N
Art. 10Member StatesReports
ElaborationAction Programme
Transposition
12.93 Designationof vulnerable zones (NVZs)
Code of goodpractices
Adoption ofDirective 12/12/91
The Nitrates Directive Implementation calendar
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In advance of accessionestablish 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 accessionestablish a Code of Good Agricultural Practices establish action programmes
The Nitrates Directive Commitments of the new
Member States
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Water monitoring and identification of polluted waters (1)
Nitrate concentration in Freshwaterswhere sampling stations Directive 75/440/EEC other sampling stations representative of
surface waterswhen at least one year every four years monthly and more frequently during flood
periods
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Monitoring and identification of polluted waters (2)
Nitrate concentration in Ground waterswhere sampling stations representative of
groundwater aquiferswhen At regular intervals
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Designation of Nitrates Vulnerable Zones
Two possible approaches Designation of specific zones No designation and implementation of the action
programme in the whole territory
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. Whole territory approach
Implementation of the action programme on the whole territoryGermanyAustriaThe NetherlandsLuxemburgDenmarkFinlandIrelandMaltaSloveniaLithuania
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Designation of Nitrates Vulnerable Zones (1)
Country NVZs% territory*
Belgium 27Greece 11Spain 6,5French 44Italy 7,8Portugal 1,1Sweden 14United Kingdom 33
* June 2004, provisional data
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. Designation of Nitrates Vulnerable Zones (2)
Country NVZs% territory*
Cyprus 23
Czech Republic 36
Estonia 10
Hungary 48
Latvia 15
Poland 2,5
Slovakia 30
* June 2004
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Nitrate Vulnerable Zones
NITRATES DIRECTIVE 91/676/EEC
Designated zones, 2001New Zones drafted by Member States Potential vulnerable zones (EC assessment, 2002)
Designated zones, 2002 - 2004
Status: 30. June 2004Up-date: Catchment-based Information System, JRC
EUROPEAN COMMISSIONJoint Research Centre
Map of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones in support of Implementation of Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources
Azores
Canary Islands Guyana La Reunion
Guadeloupe Martinique Madeira
Km 500
Cyprus
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Percentage of water samples exceeding 50 mg/l NO3
Source IEEP, 2002
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Fertiliser consumption
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Trends in livestock number Source: FAOSTAT, 2002
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Change in the Nitrogen BalanceSource OECD, 2001
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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
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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
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Action programmesManure storage capacity
Result of the study carried on by the Commission
Climatic Zone Suggested minimum storage capacity
Boreal 9-10 monthsAtlantic 6-8 monthsCentral Europeanalpineplains and valleys
7-8 months6-7 months
Mediterranean area 4 -5 months
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Storage capacityCurrent 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
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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
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Action programmesDerogation
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%
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An example of Action programmeThe 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)
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An example of Action programmeThe 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%
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An example of Action programmeThe Danish case (3)
Minimum winter cover Prohibition period for manure application:
from harvest to February (slurry)
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An example of Action programmeThe 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
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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
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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
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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