Nitrates Action Programme - Review Process
REVIEW OF THE NITRATES ACTION PROGRAMME REGULATIONS (NORTHERN IRELAND) 2006
Review of the Nitrates Action Programme and Derogation
The Nitrates Directive requires Member States to review their action programmes every four years. The 2006 NAP Regulations were required to be reviewed and, where necessary, revised by 31 December 2010. The European Commission Decision granting the Derogation was also due to expire on 31 December 2010 and due to its importance to intensive grassland farms in Northern Ireland, an application was made to renew it.
Based on previous experience the Departments began the process to collate the scientific evidence necessary to support the application in 2009. A Scientific Working Group was established in autumn 2009 comprising officials from the Departments and the Agri-food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI). The Group was tasked with reviewing the 2007 to 2010 action programme and Derogation.
On 24 November 2009 a stakeholder event was held at AFBI Hillsborough with representatives from the agricultural industry, environmental organisations and other Government departments in attendance. Presentations were made by the Departments and their agencies represented on the Scientific Working Group detailing the initial findings of the review. Additionally, the Ulster Farmers Union and the environmental organisations presented their initial views on what the new action programme and Derogation need to achieve. The presentations are listed below and may be viewed by clicking on the links.
The Review process (851kb) 
Water Quality (7.2mb)
Training and Support (1.01mb)
Trends in Agriculture (186kb)
Measure by measure review and compliance (393kb)
Scientific Evidence including Research & Development Projects (1.01mb)
Ulster Farmers Union (1.16mb)
Environmental organisations (890kb)
Stakeholders had the opportunity to consider the presentations made and provide feedback through workshops on the current action programme.
Review Report
The Review Report was finalised following the stakeholder workshop and included feedback from the event. The Report was submitted to the European Commission in December 2009 and was discussed by Departmental officials at meetings with the Commission in January and March 2010. The Review Report and its annexes can be viewed below:
Review of 2007-2010 Action Programme for the Nitrates Directive Northern Ireland - Recommendations from the Scientific Working Group - 21 December 2009 (4.82MB)
Annex 1 - The Nitrates Action Programme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (104kb)
Annex 2 – Scientific Working Group – Terms of Reference (17kb)
Annex 3 – NAP – Requested Research (380kb)
Annex 4 – Nitrates Action Programme Guidance
Annex 5 – Cross Compliance Inspection Form (117kb)
Annex 6 – The Nitrates Action Programme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (21kb)
Annex 7 – Scientific Case to Deviate from Standard N Excretion Values for Pigs (18kb)
Annex 8 – Stakeholder meeting and workshop agenda (9kb)
A further meeting between the Departments and stakeholders was also held in April 2010 at CAFRE, Greenmount Campus. This provided the opportunity to advise stakeholders on the outcome of meetings with the European Commission and progress being made on the consultation for the proposed action programme and Derogation for 2011 to 2014.
Completion of the Review Process
This review process has now been completed and the Departments have made the Nitrates Action Programme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 which came into operation on 1 January 2011. A copy of the Regulations can be downloaded from the link at the top of this page.
The application to renew the Derogation for Northern Ireland received a positive Member State vote at the EU Nitrates Committee on 23 November 2010. The new Regulations therefore include measures to allow derogation from a limit of 170kg Nitrogen per hectare per year from grazing livestock manures for intensive grassland farms which meet certain criteria.
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