New limits will be placed on the spreading of fertilisers and livestock manure on land in an attempt to protect Ireland's waters from harmful pollution, the Minister for the Environment announced today.
Dick Roche said the new regulations would give legal effect to the State's National Action Programme under the 1991 EU Nitrates Directive.
"The directive aims to protect waters against pollution from agricultural sources, with the primary emphasis being on the better management of livestock manures and other fertilisers," Mr Roche said in a statement.
In March 2004, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that Ireland was not compliant with the Nitrates Directive after failing to establish a programme to protect water quality.
The Department also said the regulations should ensure Ireland will not face further proceedings before the ECJ and avoid fines over the directive, which dates from December 1991.
Regulations 2005 will come into effect on a phased basis over a three-year period from February 1st, 2006. The main farming organisations and other bodies have been involved in consultation over the nitrates programme since December 2001.
The regulations include periods when the spreading of types of fertilisers on land is prohibited and restrictions on the amount of livestock manure applied to land each year.
Following submissions, there was a reduction in the buffer zones for spreading organic fertilisers from 250 metres to 200 metres distance from drinking water sources for large water supply schemes.
The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) said the Nitrates Regulations would inflict serious damage on productive farming in Ireland without any scientific justification.
"The regulations impose restrictions on nitrogen and phosphorus usage by farmers based on a deliberately biased interpretation of Teagasc fertiliser recommendations which will, in particular, damage pig and poultry producers, and undermine the capacity of other farmers to use organic fertilisers in substitution for chemical sources," John Dillon, President of the IFA, said.
PA