EN Official Journal of the European Union L 125/35

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2017/847

of 16 May 2017

granting a derogation requested by Denmark pursuant to Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources

(notified under document C(2017) 2891)

(Only the Danish text is authentic)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources (1), and in particular the third subparagraph of paragraph 2 of Annex III thereto,

Whereas:

(1) On 18 November 2002, the Commission adopted Decision 2002/915/EC (2) granting a derogation requested by Denmark pursuant to Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources, allowing the application of livestock manure containing up to 230 kg nitrogen per hectare per year on certain cattle holdings within the framework of the Danish action programme 1999 to 2003. The derogation was extended by Commission Decision 2005/294/EC (3) in connection with the Danish action programme 2004 to 2007, by Commission Decision 2008/664/EC (4) in connection with the Danish action programme 2008-2012 and by Commission Implementing Decision 2012/659/EU (5) in connection with the Danish action programme 2008 to 2015.

(2) The derogation granted by Implementing Decision 2012/659/EU concerned approximately (for the period 2014/2015) 1 500 cattle holdings, 425 102 livestock units and 205 165 hectares of arable land, corresponding respectively to 4,0 % of total number of holdings, 18,6 % of total livestock units and 8,2 % of the total arable area in Denmark.

(3) On 4 February 2016, Denmark submitted to the Commission a request for renewal of the derogation under the third subparagraph of paragraph 2 of Annex III to Directive 91/676/EEC.

(4) Denmark has an action programme covering the period 2016 to 2018, in conformity with Article 5 of Directive 91/676/EEC, by means of parts of Order on commercial livestock, livestock manure, silage, etc. no 1324 of 15 November 2016, Consolidated Act on farms' use of fertiliser and on plant cover no 388 of 27 April 2016 and Order on farms' use of fertiliser in the planning period 2016/2017 no 1055 of 1 July 2016, a new targeted catch crop scheme, obligatory part, as stated in Act on farms' use of fertiliser and on plant cover. In addition, Danish legislation includes a new general phosphorus regulation, according to Act on environmental approval etc. of livestock holdings and Order on commercial livestock, livestock manure, silage etc.

(5) The Danish legislation implementing Directive 91/676/EEC includes limits for the application of nitrogen. Legislation limiting the application of phosphorus has been adopted and will enter into force in August 2017.

(6) The Danish report on the ‘Status and trends of the aquatic environment and agricultural practice’ concerning the period 2012 to 2015 show an annual surplus of the national field balance of 80 kg N/ha in 2014 and a total nitrogen discharge to the sea from agriculture at approximately 70 % of the total in 2012. Denmark estimated that the land based nitrogen load to coastal waters needs to be reduced from 56,8 Mt to 44,7 Mt N, to support a good ecological status.

(7) The Danish legislation should include a combined targeted scheme for voluntary and mandatory catch crops for 2017 and 2018. Under this scheme, the obligatory provisions for catch crops should enter into force automatically if the voluntary agreements for catch crops fail to deliver the environmental objectives. The areas under catch crops should be in addition to the national requirement for mandatory catch crops pursuant to the Danish Act on farms' use of fertiliser and on plant cover. These measures are necessary to ensure that the application of the current derogation would not lead to deterioration of water quality.

(8) The information provided by Denmark in the context of the derogation granted by Implementing Decision 2012/659/EU shows that the derogation has not led to a deterioration of water quality as compared to areas not encompassed by the derogation. Data presented by Denmark on the implementation of Directive 91/676/EEC for the period 2012 to 2015 (6) shows that in Denmark for groundwater, around 16 % of monitoring stations have mean nitrate concentrations exceeding 50 mg/l and around 23 % of monitoring stations have mean nitrate concentrations exceeding 40 mg/l. Monitoring data show a stable trend in nitrate concentration in groundwater as compared to the previous reporting period (2008 to 2011). For surface water, most of monitoring points in surface waters shows mean nitrate concentrations below 50 mg/l and a stable trend in nitrate concentrations. The report covering the period 2012 to 2015 states that 2 out of 119 coastal waters were classified in a ‘good’ status.

(9) The Commission, after examination of Denmark's request on the basis of the elements described in the third subparagraph of paragraph 2 of Annex III of Directive 91/676/EEC and in the light of the experience gained from the derogation as provided for in Decisions 2002/915/EC, 2005/294/EC, 2008/664/EC and Implementing Decision 2012/659/EU, considers that the amount of manure envisaged by Denmark, 230 kg nitrogen per hectare per year, will not prejudice the achievement of the objectives of Directive 91/676/EEC, subject to certain strict conditions being met.

(10) In farms authorised to apply livestock manure containing up to 230 kg nitrogen per hectare per year, fertilisation plans are updated in a timely manner to ensure consistency with actual agricultural practices and permanent vegetal cover of arable area and catch crops are used to ensure recovering subsoil autumn losses of nitrates and limit nitrogen winter losses.

(11) Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and the Council (7) provides for a comprehensive, cross-border approach to water protection organised around river basin districts, with the objective of achieving a good status for European bodies of water by 2015. Reducing nutrients is an integral part of that objective. The granting of a derogation under this Decision is without prejudice to the provisions pursuant to Directive 2000/60/EC and does not exclude that additional measures may be needed to fulfil obligations derived from it.

(12) Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (8) lays down general rules aimed at the establishment of the Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the Union for the purposes of environmental policies of the Union and policies or activities which may have an impact on the environment. Where applicable, the spatial information collected in the context of this Decision should be in line with the provisions set out in that Directive. In order to reduce the administrative burden and enhance data coherence, Denmark, when collecting the necessary data under this Decision should make use of the information generated under the Integrated Administration and Control System established pursuant to Chapter II of Title V of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (9).

(13) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Nitrates Committee set up pursuant to Article 9 of Directive 91/676/EEC,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Derogation

The derogation requested by Denmark by letter of 4 February 2016, for the purpose of allowing application to the land of a higher amount of nitrogen from livestock manure than that provided for in the first sentence of the second subparagraph of paragraph 2 of Annex III to Directive 91/676/EEC, is granted subject to the conditions laid down in this Decision.

Article 2

Scope

This derogation applies to cattle farms on which the crop rotation includes more than 80 % of crops with high nitrogen uptake and long growing season and for which an authorisation has been granted in accordance with Article 5.

Article 3

Definitions

For the purposes of this Decision, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) ‘cattle farm’ means a holding with a yearly production of nitrogen in livestock manure above 300 kg of which at least two thirds are from cattle;

(b) ‘grass’ means permanent or temporary grassland;

(c) ‘crops being undersown by grass’ means silage cereals, silage maize, spring barley or spring barley and pea, to be undersown by grass before or after harvest;

(d) ‘crops with high nitrogen uptake and long growing season’ means any of the following: (i) grass; (ii) grass catch crops; (iii) forage beets; (iv) crops being undersown by grass;

(e) ‘soil profile’ means the soil layer below ground level to a depth of 0,90 m or to the average highest groundwater level where that level is less than 0,90 m below ground level;

Article 4

Conditions for the derogation

The derogation is granted on the following conditions:

(1) As from August 2017 a phosphorus regulation shall enter into force establishing direct phosphorus ceilings at different levels throughout the country depending on geographical location and fertiliser type. Ceilings shall cover application of phosphorus from all types of fertilisers: organic fertilisers, including manure, biogas digestate, degassed plant biomass, sludge from sewage water treatment as well as industrial fertilisers. Stricter phosphorus application ceilings covering all types of fertilisers shall be applied in catchments of phosphorus vulnerable aquatic environment.

(2) An indicator and monitoring system shall be in place concerning the amount of phosphorus applied on agricultural fields in Denmark. Should either the indicator system or the monitoring system show that the actual annual average phosphorus fertilisation rate on agricultural soils in Denmark might exceed or has actually exceeded the levels of average national phosphorus fertilisation to be reached over the period 2018 to 2025, the ceilings for maximum phosphorus application will be reduced accordingly.

(3) A combined targeted scheme for voluntary and mandatory catch crops shall be in place based on the need to reduce nitrates contents in groundwater bodies and in coastal waters. Under the scheme, the obligatory provisions for catch crops shall enter into force automatically if the voluntary agreements for catch crops fail to deliver the environmental objectives.

(4) The catch crops established under this scheme shall be additional to the national mandatory requirement of 10 or 14 % catch crops on the farms crop ground area, and may not be established on the same area used to meet the EFA requirement for catch crops.

Article 5

Annual authorisation and commitment

1. Cattle farmers may submit an application for an annual authorisation to apply livestock manure containing up to 230 kg nitrogen per hectare per year to the competent authorities.

The time-limit for submitting the application shall be the same as the national deadline for applying for Single Payment and submitting the fertiliser quota and catch crops plan.

2. Together with the application referred to in paragraph 1, the applicant shall submit a declaration that he fulfils the conditions laid down in Articles 7, 8 and 9.

Article 6

The granting of authorisations

Authorisations to apply an amount of cattle manure, including manure excreted by the animals themselves and treated manure, containing up to 230 kg nitrogen per hectare land each year shall be granted subject to the conditions laid down in Articles 7 to 9.

Article 7

Conditions regarding application of manure and other fertilisers

1. The total nitrogen input shall not exceed the foreseeable nutrient demand of the crop, taking into account the nutrient supply from the soil. It shall not exceed maximum application standards, as laid down in Order on agricultural use of fertiliser in the planning period 2016/2017 No 1055 (1/07/16), and in corresponding orders in the following planning periods.

2. A fertilisation plan shall be prepared for the whole acreage of the cattle farm. The plan shall be kept on the farm. It shall cover the period from 1 August to 31 July the following year. The fertilisation plan shall include the following:

(a) a crop rotation plan specifying the following: (1) the acreage of parcels with crops with high nitrogen uptake and long growing season; (2) the acreage of parcels with other crops than those mentioned in point (1); (3) a sketch map indicating the location of the parcels referred to in points (1) and (2) respectively;

(b) the number of livestock on the farm, a description of the housing and manure storage system, including the volume of manure storage available;

(c) a calculation of the manure nitrogen and phosphorus produced on the farm;

(d) a description of manure treatment, where applicable, and expected characteristics of the treated manure;

(e) the amount, type and characteristics of manure delivered outside the farm or to the farm;

(f) the foreseeable amount of nitrogen and phosphorus required for the crop in each parcel;

(g) a calculation of nitrogen and phosphorus application from manure for each parcel;

(h) a calculation of nitrogen and phosphorus application from chemical and other fertilisers for each parcel;

(i) an indication of the time of application of manure and chemical fertilisers.

The fertilisation plan shall be revised no later than seven days following any change in agricultural practices at the cattle farm. The fertilisation account shall be submitted to the competent authorities by the end of March each year at the latest.

3. Manure shall not be spread in the period from 31 August to 1 March on grassland which will be ploughed the following spring.

Article 8

Conditions regarding soil sampling and analyses

1. Samples shall be taken from the upper 30 cm of the farmland soil and analysed for their content of nitrogen and phosphorus.

2. The sampling and analyses shall be carried out at least once every four years for each area of the farm presenting homogeneous features with regard to crop rotation and soil characteristics.

3. At least one sampling and analysis shall be carried out for each five hectares of farmland.

4. The results of the analyses shall be available for inspection at the cattle farm.

Article 9

Conditions regarding land management

1. 80 % or more of the acreage available for manure application shall be cultivated with crops with high nitrogen uptake and long growing season.

2. Grass catch crops shall not be ploughed before 1 March the year after they have been established.

3. Temporary grasslands shall be ploughed in spring. A crop with high nitrogen uptake and long growing season shall be seeded as soon as possible, and no later than 3 weeks, after grass has been ploughed.

4. Crops used in crop rotation shall not include leguminous plants or other plants fixing atmospheric nitrogen, except for the following:

(a) clover in grassland with less than 50 % clover and alfalfa;

(b) alfalfa in grassland with less than 50 % clover and alfalfa;

(c) barley and pea undersown with grass;

5. Nitrogen fertilisations standards for crops following temporary grassland shall be reduced by the previous crop nitrogen value according to Order on agricultural use of fertiliser in the planning period 2016/2017 No 1055 (1/07/16), and in corresponding orders in the following planning periods regarding fertilisation standards, table on fertilisation norms for agricultural crops and vegetables, and subsequent changes.

Article 10

Monitoring

1. The competent authorities shall ensure that maps are drawn up showing the following:

(a) the percentage of the cattle farms in each municipality which are covered by authorisations;

(b) the percentage of the livestock in each municipality which is covered by authorisations;

(c) the percentage of the agricultural land in each municipality which is covered by authorisations;

Those maps shall be updated every year.

Data on crop rotations and agricultural practices covered by authorisations shall be collected by the competent authorities. Those data shall be updated every year.

2. The competent authorities shall monitor root zone water, surface waters and groundwater and shall provide the Commission with data on nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil profile and nitrates concentrations in surface and groundwater, both under derogation and non-derogation conditions.

The monitoring shall be carried out at farm field scale in the agricultural catchment national monitoring programme. The monitoring sites shall be representative of the main soil types, the prevalent fertilisation practices and the main crops. Reinforced monitoring shall be conducted in agricultural catchments on sandy soils.

In addition, nitrates concentrations in surface and groundwater shall be monitored in at least 3 % of all farms benefiting from authorisations.

3. The competent authorities shall carry out surveys and continuous nutrient analyses in the agricultural catchment national monitoring programme and shall provide data on local land use, crop rotations and agricultural practices on cattle farms benefiting from an authorisation.

Information and data collected from nutrient analysis as referred to in Article 7 and from monitoring as referred to in Article 10(2) shall be used for model-based calculations of nitrogen and phosphorus losses from cattle farms benefitting from an authorisation based on scientific principles.

4. The competent authorities shall quantify the percentages of the land under derogation which is covered by:

(a) clover or alfalfa in grassland;

(b) barley and pea undersown with grass.

Article 11

Verification

1. The competent authorities shall ensure that applications for authorisation are submitted to administrative control. Where the control demonstrates that the conditions laid down in Articles 7, 8 and 9 are not fulfilled by the applicant, the application shall be refused, and the applicant shall be informed of the reasons for refusal.

2. The competent authorities shall establish a programme for inspections of farms benefiting from authorisations.

The programme shall be based on risk analysis having regard to the results of controls of the previous years concerning the conditions laid down in Articles 7, 8 and 9 and the results of controls of compliance with national legislation transposing Directive 91/676/EEC.

3. The inspections shall consist of field inspections and on the spot control for compliance with the conditions set out in Articles 7, 8 and 9 and shall cover annually at least 7 % of the farms benefitting from an authorisation. Where a farm is found not to comply with those conditions, the holder of the authorisation shall be fined in accordance with national law and shall not be eligible for an authorisation the following year.

4. The competent authorities shall be granted the necessary powers and means to verify compliance with the conditions of the derogation granted under this Decision.

Article 12

Reporting

The competent authorities shall, every year by 31 December at the latest, submit a report to the Commission containing the following information:

(a) maps showing the percentage of cattle farms, percentage of livestock, percentage of agricultural land covered by individual derogations for each municipality, as well as maps on local land use, referred to in Article 10(1);

(b) the results of ground and surface water monitoring, as regards nitrates and phosphorus concentrations, including information on water quality trends, both under derogation and non-derogation conditions, as well as the impact of derogation on water quality, as referred to in Article 10(2);

(c) the results of soil monitoring as regards nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in the root zone water, both under derogation and non-derogation conditions, as referred to in Article 10(2);

(d) results of the surveys on local land use, crop rotations and agricultural practices, referred to in Article 10(3);

(e) results of model-based calculations of the magnitude of nitrogen and phosphorus losses from farms benefitting from an authorisation, referred to in Article 10(3);

(f) tables showing the percentage of agricultural land under derogation covered by clover or alfalfa in grassland and by barley/pea undersown with grass, referred to in Article 10(4);

(g) evaluation of the implementation of the derogation conditions, on the basis of controls at farm level and information on non-compliant farms, on the basis of the results of the administrative and field inspections, referred to in Article 11;

(h) trends in livestock numbers and manure production for each livestock category in Denmark and in derogation farms.

The spatial data contained in the report shall, where applicable, fulfil the provisions of Directive 2007/2/EC. In collecting the necessary data, Denmark shall make use, where appropriate, of the information generated under the Integrated Administration and Control System set up in accordance with Article 67(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013.

Article 13

Period of application

This Decision shall apply until 31 December 2018.

Article 14

Addressee

This Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Denmark.

Done at Brussels, 16 May 2017. For the Commission Karmenu VELLA Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 375, 31.12.1991, p. 1.

(2) Commission Decision 2002/915/EC of 18 November 2002 concerning a request for derogation under paragraph 2(b) of Annex III to and Article 9 of Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources (OJ L 319, 23.11.2002, p. 24).

(3) Commission Decision 2005/294/EC of 5 April 2005 concerning a request for derogation under point 2(b) of Annex III to and Article 9 of Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources (OJ L 94, 13.4.2005, p. 34).

(4) Commission Decision 2008/664/EC of 8 August 2008 amending Decision 2005/294/EC concerning a request for derogation under point 2(b) of Annex III to and Article 9 of Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources (OJ L 217, 13.8.2008, p. 16).

(5) Commission Implementing Decision 2012/659/EU of 23 October 2012 on granting a derogation requested by the Kingdom of Denmark pursuant to Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources (OJ L 295, 25.10.2012, p. 20).

(6) Danish Environmental Protection Agency (ed.), Status and trends of the aquatic environment and agricultural practice in Denmark, Report to the European Commission for the period 2012-2015 in accordance with Article 10 of the Nitrates Directive (1991/676/EEC), September 2016.

(7) Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1).

(8) Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 March 2007 establishing an Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community (INSPIRE) (OJ L 108, 25.4.2007, p. 1).

(9) Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the financing, management and monitoring of the common agricultural policy and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 352/78, (EC) No 165/94, (EC) No 2799/98, (EC) No 814/2000, (EC) No 1290/2005 and (EC) No 485/2008 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 549).