Fertiliser limits ‘will damage farming’
The measures, designed to protect water from pollution, were announced yesterday by Environment Minister Dick Roche.
In March 2004, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that Ireland was not compliant with the Nitrates Directive because it failed to establish a programme to protect water quality.
The department said the regulations should ensure Ireland won’t face further proceedings before the ECJ.
“The regulations mark a milestone for the protection of Ireland’s aquatic environment while protecting as far as possible the interests of Irish farmers,” Mr Roche said.
The European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2005 will come into effect on a phased basis from February 1, 2006.
Following consultation with the main farming organisations, a number of revisions had been incorporated to provide greater flexibility for farmers, Mr Roche said.
The pig industry will be assisted by a 22-month transitional period which is being allowed for activities licensed by the Environmental Protection Agency, he said.
The regulations include restrictions on the amount of livestock manure applied to land as well as periods when the spreading of types of fertilisers on land is prohibited. There was a reduction in the buffer zones for spreading organic fertilisers from 250 metres to a 200m distance from drinking water sources for large water supply schemes.
But the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) said the Nitrates 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.”
IFA president John Dillon said Teagasc must stand up against the unscientific interpretation of its advice.
