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Nitrates legislation may face legal challenge
IRELAND - With only weeks remaining until the Nitrates Regulations come into effect on February 1, the country’s two leading farm organisations have sought changes in the proposed action programme. Commenting recently, Carlow IFA Chairman John Kehoe said further amendments were required to the draft Nitrates Regulations, which could otherwise undermine the productive capacity and competitiveness of Irish farming with excessive and unnecessary additional costs of production and regulation.
It is expected that the draft regulations will be signed at the mid December meeting of the EU’s Nitrates Committee that will consider Ireland’s application for derogation from the organic nitrogen limit of 170 kg per hectare included in the Nitrates Directive.
Mr Kehoe claims that measures included in the Nitrates Action Programme and draft regulations would damage our grassland-based farming, which is both a desirable and environmentally safe land use and one that has enhanced our high quality countryside for generations. “IFA has demanded amendments to the regulations to limit the damage that could be done to Irish farming. In particular, we have highlighted the need to reduce the prohibited periods for land applications of manure in the southern region and border counties, and sufficient time for farmers to put in place the required minimum manure storage. “We have also sought changes to the BOD definition of ‘soiled water’, and a reduction in the buffer zones for land application of manures,” Mr Kehoe said.
He also said that the action programme would have major implications for pig and poultry producers. “Pig manure must be recognised for the excellent and cost effective fertiliser it is. The action programme must not restrict its use by farmers with additional bureaucracy or compliance requirements,” he said.
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Source: The Nationalist
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