EN    EN EN 
EN    EN  EUROPEAN COMMISSION 
Brussels, 9.2.2010 
SEC(2010) 118 final 
  
COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT 
On implementation of Council Directive 91/ 676/EEC concerning the protection of 
waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources based on Member 
State reports for the period 2004-2007 
 
Accompanying document to the 
Report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament  
 
{COM(2010) 47} 
 
EN 2   EN COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT 
On implementation of Council Directive 91/ 676/EEC concerning the protection of 
waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources based on Member 
State reports for the period 2004-2007 
  
Accompanying document to the 
Report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament  
 
{COM(2010) 47}  
Chapter I 
Figure 1A: Fertilizer consumpti on in the EU 27 (Source EFMA, 2009). 
 
0.04.08.012.016.020.0
1950/51
1953/54 1956/57
1959/60
1962/63
1965/66
1968/69 1971/72
1974/75
1977/78
1980/81
1983/84 1986/87 1989/90
1992/93
1995/96
1998/99 2001/02 2004/05
2007/08Million tonnes
     N      P2O5      K2O
 
EN 3   EN Figure 1B: Fertilizer consumption in the EU 15 (Source EFMA, 2009). 
 
0.04.08.012.016.0
1950/51
1953/54 1956/57
1959/60
1962/63 1965/66
1968/69
1971/72 1974/75
1977/78
1980/81
1983/84
1986/87 1989/90
1992/93
1995/96
1998/99
2001/02
2004/05miliion tons
     N      P2O5      K2O
 
 
EN 4   EN Figure 2. Frequency diagram of groundwater classe s. Digital data provid ed by Member States1. The figure shows for each  MS the percentage of 
sampling points per water quality class: (i) nitrate values meas ured below 25 mg/l;(ii) between 25 and 40 mg/l; (iii) between 4 0 and 50 mg/l; (iv) 
above 50 mg/l. 
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%
Malta
Germa
nyLu
xem
bourg
France
Bulgaria
SpainGre
ece Belgiu
m United
 KingdomPortugal
Italy Estonia
DenmarkNetherlands
Ireland Slov
eniaCzech Repu
blic Romania
Cyprus
Slovakia
Pola
ndHun
garyAust
ria Lithu
aniaLatv
iaFin
landSweden
EU-27
EU-15% of sampling points
< 25 25-40 40-50≥ 50 mg nitrate per L
 
                                                 
1 Germany: Agricultural monitoring network only 
 
EN 5   EN Figure 3. Frequency diagram of trends in groundwater classes. Digital data pr ovided by Member States2. The figure shows for each MS the 
percentage of sampling points per water quality  trend class as compared with the prev ious reporting period: (i) nitrate values decreased with more 
than 5 mg/l;(ii) nitrate values decreased with values between 1 and 5 mg/l; (iii) nitrate values varied between -1 and +1 mg/l ; (iv)nitrate values 
increased with values between 1 and 5 mg/l; (v) nitrate values increased with more than 5 mg/.l 
EU-15 + 4* = EU 15 minus Sweden and Greece,  plus Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia and Hungary  
EU-15** = EU-15 minus Sweden and Greece  
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%
Austria
Ireland
Hungar
y
Finland
Netherlands
United K
ingdom
Denmar
k
CyprusLuxembourg
Bulgaria
Italy
Belgium 
Por
tugal
Spain
France
Estonia
Germany
EU
-15+4*
EU-15**% of sampling point s
< -5 -5 to -1 -1 to +1 1 to 5 ≥ 5 mg nitrate per L 
                                                 
2 Germany: See foot note 1 
 
EN 6   EN Figure 4. Frequency diagram of groundwater classes at different de pths. Digital data provided by Member States. The figure show s -the percentage of 
sampling points per water quality class and depth: (i) nitrate values measured be low 25 mg/l;(ii) betw een 25 and 40 mg/l; (iii)  between 40 and 50 
mg/l; (iv) above 50 mg/l. 
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%
Phreatic
groundwater
(shallow):0-5mPhreatic
groundwater
(deep) 5-15 mPhreatic
groundwater
(deep) 15-30 mPhreatic
groundwater
(deep) > 30 mPhreatic
groundwater
(deep)Captive
groundwater Karstic
groundwaterNot Indicated EU 27% of sampling point s
< 25 25-40 40-50≥ 50 mg nitrate per L
 
EN 7   EN Figure 5. Frequency diagram of surface water cl asses. Digital data provided by Member States. The figure shows for each MS the percentage of 
sampling points per water quality class: (i) nitrate values meas ured below 2 mg/l;(ii) between 2 and 10 mg/l; (iii) between 10 and 25; (iv) between 25 
and 40 mg/l; (v) between 40 and 50 mg/l; (vi) above 50 mg/l. 
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%
Malta
Belgium United Kingdom
Ne
therland
sHunga
ryFranceSpainDenmark
PolandCzech Republic
Romania
Italy
Gree
ceLuxe
mbourg
Cyprus
EstoniaGermany
Ireland Lit
huania
Latv
iaAust
ria Slov
enia Por
tugalSlov
akiaBulga
riaFinland
Sw
eden
EU-2
7EU-1
5% of sampling points
0 - 2 2 - 10 10 - 25 25 - 40 40 - 50 ≥ 50 mg nitrate per L
 
EN 8   EN Figure 6. Frequency diagram of trends in fresh surface water cla sses. Digital data provided by Member States. The figure shows for each MS the 
percentage of sampling points per water quality  trend class as compared with the prev ious reporting period: (i) nitrate values decreased with more 
than 5 mg/l;(ii) nitrate values decreased with values between 1 and 5 mg/l; (iii) nitrate values varied between -1 and +1 mg/l ; (iv)nitrate values 
increased with values between 1 and 5 mg/l; (v) nitrate values increased with more than 5 mg/l. 
EU-15 + 4* = EU 15 minus Sweden, plus Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia and Hungary 
EU-15** = EU-15 minus Sweden 
Greece is revising data on surface water trends 
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100% DE-Germany
DK
-Den
mark BG-Bu
lgariaAT-Au
stri
a PT-Po
rtugalEE-E
stonia LU-
Luxe
mbourg
IE-Ireland
EL-Greece
HU-H
unga
ryFI-Fin
land
ES-Spain
NL-Neth
erlandsUK-United 
Kingdom
IT-Italy BE-Belgium
 FR-France
CY-Cyprus
EU-15+4*
EU
-15**% of sampling points
< -5 -5 to -1 -1 to +1 1 to 5≥ 5 mg nitrate per L 
 
EN 9   EN Figure 7. Frequency diagram of fresh surf ace water trophic classes. All fresh wa ters except for Austria, Germany, Spain, Portug al Romania and 
Slovenia (lakes only) and for Czech Republic  and Slovakia (rivers only). Digital data pr ovided by Member States. The figure sho ws for each MS the 
percentage of sampling points per water quality  class: (i) ultra-oligotrophic; (ii) o ligotrophic; (iii) mesotrophic; (iv) eutro phic; (v) hypertrophic.  
EU* = EU-27 minus Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia,  Greece, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Ne therlands, Poland and the United Kingdom ( for Greece and Italy the data were not 
covering all the required information to be included in the figure, for Italy some data are presented in map 15)  
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%
Au
stria
Lithuania
Portugal
Swede
n
Ireland
Germany
Slovenia
Hungary
Malta
Belgium Czech R
epublic
Spain
Slovakia
Finla
nd
Romania
Latvia
Bulga
ria
EU*
Ultra-Oligotrophic Oligotrophic Mesotrophic Eutrophic Hypertrophic 
 
EN 10   EN Table 1. Average groundwater: percen tage of points per water qual ity class for all stations for 
EU 15 Member States for the period 2000- 20003 and 2004-2007. Reduced  comparability of 
data between the 2 reporting periods due to possible change s in monitoring networks.  
mg/l < 25 25-40 40-50 ≥ 50 reporting period number of stations
89.3% 6.9% 1.3% 2.6% 2000-2003 392 Austria  
91.3% 5.7% 1.4% 1.6% 2004-2007 368 
56.8% 22.1% 7.6% 13.5% 2000-2003 944 Belgium  
60.0% 14.7% 6.9% 18.4% 2004-2007 3020 
9.3% 16.7% 20.7% 53.0% 2000-2003 150 Germany*  
11.8% 20.0% 18.2% 50.0% 2004-2007 170 
85.5% 7.2% 1.4% 5.8% 2000-2003 69 Denmark  
70.4% 7.7% 4.9% 17.0% 2004-2007 1479 
91.0% 4.8% 1.2% 3.0% 2000-2003 433 Greece  
58.1% 14.5% 6.3% 21.2% 2004-2007 415 
55.6% 12.7% 6.7% 24.9% 2000-2003 6706 Spain  
54.0% 13.5% 6.1% 26.5% 2004-2007 4078 
73.7% 10.5%   15.8% 2000-2003 19 Finland  
96.3% 1.9%   1.9% 2004-2007 54 
51.0% 24.9% 10.7% 13.4% 2000-2003 3174 France  
50.3% 25.8% 10.3% 13.6% 2004-2007 2666 
79.0% 13.7% 5.9% 1.4% 2000-2003 219 Ireland  
73.3% 19.5% 4.8% 2.4% 2004-2007 210 
68.1% 15.9% 5.0% 11.0% 2000-2003 3041 Italy  
65.9% 15.5% 6.2% 12.5% 2004-2007 5782 
42.1% 31.6% 5.3% 21.1% 2000-2003 19 Luxembourg  
40.0% 35.0% 10.0% 15.0% 2004-2007 20 
90.1% 2.0% 1.3% 6.5% 2000-2003 902 Netherlands  
70.9% 5.1% 3.1% 20.9% 2004-2007 1244 
41.3% 14.1% 6.5% 38.1% 2000-2003 341 Portugal  
65.1% 11.6% 3.5% 19.8% 2004-2007 630 
98.6% 0.7% 0.7%   2000-2003 147 Sweden  
98.8% 1.2%     2004-2007 163 
60.0% 23.5% 6.6% 10.0% 2000-2003 904 United Kingdom 
**  61.4% 17.0% 6.6% 15.0% 2004-2007 3061 
* for Germany only agriculture monitoring network 
** for the reporting period 2000-2003 United Kingdom re ported only stations  within England.  
 
EN 11   EN  
Table 2. surface water: percentage of points per wa ter quality class for all stations for EU 15 
Member States for the period 2000-20003 and 2004-2007. Reduced comparability of data 
between the 2 reporting periods due to po ssible changes in monitoring networks.  
mg/l 0 - 2  2-10 10-25 25 - 40 40 - 50 ≥ 50 reporting 
period number 
of 
stations 
Austria  16.1% 68.2% 15.7%       2000-2003 242
  22.9% 61.6% 14.1% 1.3%     2004-2007 297
22.6% 51.8% 22.4% 3.0% 0.1% 0.1% 2000-2003 953
Belgium  3.0% 24.8% 41.6% 15.8% 5.6% 9.3% 2004-2007 1179
0.7% 19.7% 68.4% 11.2%     2000-2003 152
Germany  12.3% 22.2% 61.4% 4.1%     2004-2007 171
52.6% 10.3% 20.5% 13.9% 2.3% 0.3% 2000-2003 302
Denmark  60.1% 12.1% 15.7% 9.6% 2.0% 0.6% 2004-2007 356
26.5% 62.7% 8.8% 2.0%     2000-2003 102
Greece  33.1% 58.5% 7.6%   0.8%   2004-2007 118
47.0% 37.5% 13.1% 1.4% 0.4% 0.6% 2000-2003 2505
Spain  45.9% 36.7% 13.2% 2.6% 0.6% 1.0% 2004-2007 3083
61.0% 33.9% 5.1%       2000-2003 59
Finland  65.3% 33.7% 1.0%       2004-2007 193
4.2% 29.7% 40.9% 18.4% 4.9% 1.9% 2000-2003 1720
France  3.4% 31.0% 46.8% 15.1% 2.3% 1.4% 2004-2007 1769
40.6% 33.3% 23.2% 2.9%     2000-2003 69
Ireland  47.8% 32.1% 18.4% 1.7%     2004-2007 343
26.4% 48.9% 21.0% 2.9% 0.6% 0.3% 2000-2003 1543
Italy  36.5% 45.3% 16.2% 1.8% 0.1% 0.1% 2004-2007 2572
    100.0%       2000-2003 10
Luxembourg    6.3% 62.5% 31.3%     2004-2007 16
8.6% 47.4% 34.2% 7.3% 1.2% 1.2% 2000-2003 914
Netherlands  13.6% 48.6% 30.4% 4.8% 0.7% 1.8% 2004-2007 543
21.3% 70.5% 8.2%       2000-2003 61
Portugal  58.0% 37.3% 4.1% 0.6%     2004-2007 169
86.7% 11.9% 1.2% 0.2%     2000-2003 579
Sweden  97.0% 2.7% 0.4%       2004-2007 2414
7.2% 28.5% 29.3% 23.8% 6.7% 4.5% 2000-2003 8007 United 
Kingdom  11.7% 25.4% 29.1% 20.9% 6.6% 6.3% 2004-2007 8831
 
EN 12   EN  
Table 3. Change of animal numbers between the 2003 and 2007; year 2003=100, blank –no information (data source Eurostat, data set accessed 17
th November 2009). 
 
  all cattle dairy 
cows goats sheep pigs broilerslaying 
hens other 
poultry 
Belgium 95.9 91.6     97.4 110.8 91.7 77.9
Austria 97.5 94.0 110.8 107.9 101.0 122.4 110.7 101.5
Bulgaria 83.0 92.8 68.3 95.5 86.1 79.3 76.9 91.2
Cyprus 95.4 89.1 90.2 110.4 95.7 85.6 71.1 91.3
Czech 
Republic 95.8 90.7 127.7 158.3 80.4 103.8 84.4 108.4
Denmark 91.9 93.5   93.3 101.5 96.3 84.9 111.6
Estonia 93.5 88.2 114.3 239.9 108.7 83.5 69.1 50.0
Finland 92.3 90.3 112.5 134. 0 102.3 83.8 99.1 70.3
France 99.8 93.4 101.2 92.6 98.1 90.9 99.8 92.1
Germany 94.9 94.2 112.5 90.6 102.3 108.7 92.4 101.3
Greece 104.8 100.7 96.4 96.3 104.5 95.4 73.8 42.3
Hungary 95.4 85.8 81.7 95.1 78.8 73.8 91.2 104.9
Ireland 94.8 95.8 81.1 72.8 91.0 85.9 116.1 92.9
Italy 97.8 96.1 95.7 103. 6 101.3 86.7 104.6 89.5
Latvia 105.3 96.8 86.7 137. 5 93.2 183.9 111.8 77.8
Lithuania 97.0 90.3 72.4 256.2 87.3 154.0 115.7 43.6
Luxembourg 104.5 97.6 137.5 110.8 113.8 200.0 100.0   
Malta 108.4 98.7 114.8 82. 6 105.2 77.6 109.8 0.0
Netherlands 102.3 96.0 122. 4 116.2 108.8 102.5 133.7 147.5
Poland 102.4 95.1   95.3 95.6 69.7 99.6 88.1
Portugal 103.9 93.1 101.4 100.0 105.5 80.9 79.3 61.5
Romania 97.3   127.6 113.7 127.6 186.6 96.4 29.5
Slovakia 84.6 84.0 96.7 106.7 66.0 93.5 97.4 103.1
Slovenia 106.6 89.7 121.0 124.1 87.4 131.9 91.4 57.9
Spain 100.6 80.8 91.4 94. 5 108.1 85.8 100.7 95.2
Sweden 97.6 90.6 0.0 115.5 86.2 112.5 117.8 34.5
United 
Kingdom 95.8 89.6   97.0 96.5 95.9 100.8 76.3
European 
Union (15 
countries)* 97.6 93.0 96.8 95.5 102.5 93.4 101.4 84.2
European 
Union (27 
countries)* 97.7 99.4 97.4 97.1 100.7 92.4 100.5 90.6
 
* statistic for either EU-15 or EU-27 unless there is no data for a specific country in the table, 
then the statistic covers EU- 15 or EU-27 minus that country 
 
EN 13   EN 
Map 1. Manure nitrogen fertilizer application for year 2005 (Bouraoui F., Grizzetti B. Aloe 
A., 2009. Nutrient discharge from rive rs to seas. JRC EUR 24002 EN, 72pp.). 
 
EN 14   EN 
 
Map 2. Manure phosphorus fertilizer application for year 2005 (Bouraoui F., Grizzetti B. Aloe 
A., 2009. Nutrient discharge from rive rs to seas. JRC EUR 24002 EN, 72pp.). 
 
EN 15   EN 
 
Map 3. Mineral nitrogen fertilizer application for year 2005 (Bouraoui F., Grizzetti B. Aloe 
A., 2009. Nutrient discharge from rive rs to seas. JRC EUR 24002 EN, 72pp.). 
 
EN 16   EN 
 
Map 4. Mineral phosphorus fertilizer applicatio n for year 2005 (Bouraoui F., Grizzetti B. 
Aloe A., 2009. Nutrient di scharge from rivers to seas. JRC EUR 24002 EN, 72pp.). 
 
EN 17   EN 
 
Map 5. Total nitrogen application, manure and chem ical fertilizer for year 2005 (Bouraoui F., 
Grizzetti B. Aloe A., 2009. Nutrient discha rge from rivers to seas. JRC EUR 24002 EN, 
72pp.). 
 
EN 18   EN 
 
Map 6. Total phosphorus application, manure and chemical fertilizer for year 2005 (Bouraoui 
F., Grizzetti B. Aloe A., 2009. Nutrient discha rge from rivers to seas. JRC EUR 24002 EN, 
72pp.). 
 
EN 19   EN 
 
Map 7. Estimation of nitrogen source apportion ment for Europe (Bouraoui F., Grizzetti B. 
Aloe A., 2009. Nutrient di scharge from rivers to seas. JRC EUR 24002 EN, 72pp.). 
 
EN 20   EN 
  
Map 8.Groundwater average nitrate concen trations for reporting period 4 (2004-2007). 
 
EN 21   EN 
 
Map 9. Groundwater maximum nitrate conc entrations, reporting period 4 (2004-2007).
 
EN 22   EN 
 
Map 10. Trends in ground water nitrates concentrations  between reporting period 3 (2000-2003) and 4 (2004-2007). 
 
EN 23   EN 
 
Map 11. Average surface water n itrate concentrations for re porting period 4 (2004-2007). 
 
EN 24   EN 
 
Map 12. Maximum surface water nitrate concen trations for reporting period 4 (2004-2007).
 
EN 25   EN 
  
Map 13. Trends of nitrate concentrations  in surface water between reporting peri od 3 (2000-2003) and 4 (2004-2007). (Greece is revising data on 
surface water trends).
 
EN 26   EN 
 
Map14. Winter averages of nitrate concentrati on in surface water for re porting period 4 (2004-2007). 
 
EN 27   EN 
 
Map 15. Trophic status of surface water fo r reporting period 4 (2004-2007), (Greece submitte d data however they were not coveri ng required 
information to be included in the map).   
 
EN 28   EN 
 
Map 16. Designation of vulnerable zones in EU -27 including designation of whole territory of some Member States (Implementation  of an Action 
Programme on the whole territo ry according to article 3 (5) of the Nitrates Directive; this does not necessarily mean that the whole territory is nitrate 
vulnerable according to article 3 (2) of the Nitrates Directive). 
 
EN 29   EN Table 4. Nitrate vulnerable zones in EU Member States 1999-2008 ( # Values as provided by Eurostat in July 2009).  
Member State Total Area# Area NVZ 1999 (EU 15) Area NVZ 2003 (EU15) Area NVZ 2006 for EU15, For EU10+2 as 
from 2007** Area NVZ 2008 ** 
  (km2)*1000 (km2)*1000 % (km2)*1000 % (km2)*1000 % (km2)*1000 % 
Austria* 83.9 83.9 100.0 83.9 100.0 83.9 100.0 83.9 100.0 
Belgium 30.5 1.8 5.9 7.2 23.6 7.20 23.6 20.7 67.8 
Bulgaria 111.0        58.96 53.1 59.0 53.1 
Cyprus*** 9.3        0.46 
5.0 0.6 6.8 
Czech Republic 78.9        28.86 
36.6 31.4 39.8 
Denmark* 43.1 43.1 100.0 43.1 100.0 43.1 100.0 43.1 100.0 
Estonia 45.2         3.0 6.7 3.4 7.5 
Finland* 338.4 338.4 100.0 338.4 100.0 338.4 100.0 338.4 100.0 
France 549.1 197.9 36.0 239.7 43.7 239.7 43.7 250.1 45.6 
Germany* 357.1 357.1 100.0 357.1 100.0 357.1 100.0 357.1 100.0 
Greece 132.0 -   14.0 10.6 14.0 10.6 32.0 24.2 
Hungary 93.0         43.3 46.5 42.6 45.8 
Ireland* 70.3 -   70.3 100.0 70.3 100.0 70.3 100.0 
Italy 301.3 5.7 1.9 18.4 6.1 24.9 8.3 38.1 12.6 
Lithuania* 65.3         65.3 100.0 65.3 100.0 
Luxembourg* 2.6 2.6 100.0 2.6 100.0 2.6 100.0 2.6 100.0 
Latvia 64.6         8.1 12.5 8.2 12.7 
Malta* 0.3         0.3 100.0 0.3 100.0 
Netherlands* 37.4 37.4 100.0 37.4 100.0 37.4 100.0 37.4 100.0 
Poland 312.7         5.5 1.7 4.6 1.5 
Portugal 91.9 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 1.1 1.2 3.4 3.7 
Romania 238.4         16.0 6.7 16.0 6.7 
Slovakia 49.0         16.5 33.6 16.4 33.5 
Slovenia* 20.3         20.3 100.0 20.3 100.0 
Spain 505.4 26.0 5.1 55.4 11.0 63.9 12.6 63.7 12.6 
Sweden 450.3 41.6 9.2 67.1 14.9 67.2 14.9 67.5 15.0 
United Kingdom 244.1 5.8 2.4 79.9 32.7 93.7 38.4 94.4 38.7 
TOTAL EU15/EU27 4,325.1 119.2 3.7 1,414.7 43.7 1,711.0 39.6 1,770.6 40.9 
*Implementation of an Action Programme on the whole territory in accordance with art 3 (5) of the Nitrates Directive; this does  not necessarily mean that the whole territory is nitrate vul nerable according to Article 3 (2) of the Nitrates Directive; **ba sed on information made 
available to the Commission in digital form. The estimate of designated area does not include some designations communicated in  paper form only; *** According to Protocol 10 of Accession the application of the aquis communutaire is suspended in the areas  of the Republic 
of Cyprus not under the effective control of the Government of the Republic
 
EN 30   EN Figure 8. Percentage of territory  of Member states designated as NVZ. (Member St ates that apply the whol e territory approach ar e not included in the 
figure: Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Lith uania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands and Slovenia). 
0.010.020.030.040.050.060.070.080.0
Belgium
Bulg
ariaHun
gary
Fran
ceCzech R
epubli
cUnite
d Kin
gdom
Slo
vakia
Greec
eSwede
n
Latv
ia
Italy
SpainEs
tonia
Cyprus
Rom
an
iaPortugal
Pola
nd
 
 
EN 31   EN Table 5. Density of groundwater (GW) and freshw ater stations (SW) measured for the whole 
land surface (yellow: MS that appl y the whole territory approach). 
MS Total land surface 
km2*  GW stations density of GW stations
(points / 1000 km²) SW stations  density SW stations 
(points / 1000 km²) 
AT-Austria 83870 368 4.4 297 3.5 
BE-Belgium  30528 3020 98.9 1154 37.8 
BG-Bulgaria 110910 128 1.2 109 1.0 
CY-Cyprus 9250 222 24.0 10 1.1 
CZ-Czech Republic 78866 408 5.2 949 12.0 
DE-Germany 357110 893 2.5 171 0.5 
DK-Denmark 43090 1479 34.3 220 5.1 
EE-Estonia 45222 621 13.7 70 1.5 
EL-Greece 131940 418 3.2 107 0.8 
ES-Spain 504782 4078 8.1 2544 5.0 
FI-Finland 338420 54 0.2 147 0.4 
FR-France 547030 2664 4.9 1746 3.2 
HU-Hungary 93030 1868 20.1 535 5.8 
IE-Ireland 70280 210 3.0 217 3.1 
IT-Italy 301230 5479 18.2 2111 7.0 
LT-Lithuania 65200 53 0.8 108 1.7 
LU-Luxembourg 2580 20 7.8 16 6.2 
LV-Latvia 63589 176 2.8 325 5.1 
MT-Malta 316 14 44.3 7 22.2 
NL-Netherlands 37350 1244 33.3 502 13.4 
PL-Poland 312685 1266 4.0 3397 10.9 
PT-Portugal 92391 630 6.8 127 1.4 
RO-Romania 237500 1371 5.8 1240 5.2 
SE-Sweden 449964 163 0.4 2185 4.9 
SI-Slovenia 20270 112 5.5 117 5.8 
SK-Slovakia 49035 1767 36.0 224 4.6 
United Kingdom 244820 3061 12.5 7988 32.6 
* Data from Eurostat - July 2009 
 
EN 32   EN Table 6. Density of groundwater (GW) and freshw ater stations (SW) within the NVZ areas.  
 
   
NVZ 
surface GW stations 
within NVZ density GW 
stations 
within NVZ 
(points/1000
km²) SW fresh 
water 
stations 
within NVZ density SW 
fresh 
stations 
within NVZ
(points / 1000 
km²) 
BE-Belgium  BE 20700 2527 122.1 1141 55.1 
BG-Bulgaria BG 58960 110 1.9 67 1.1 
CY-Cyprus CY 630 74 117.5 4 6.3 
CZ-Czech Rep CZ 31370 211 6.7 552 17.6 
EE-Estonia EE 3390 570 168.1 10 2.9 
EL-Greece EL 31960 114 3.6 41 1.3 
ES-Spain ES 63690 1512 23.7 378 5.9 
FR-France FR 250130 2260 9.0 1209 4.8 
HU-Hungary HU 52240 1627 31.1 369 7.1 
IT-Italy IT 38090 2549 66.9 707 18.6 
LV-Latvia LV 8170 62 7.6 53 6.5 
PL-Poland PL 4608 168 36.5 135 29.3 
PT-Portugal PT 3370 208 61.7 8 2.4 
RO-Romania RO 16040 298 18.6 145 9.0 
SE-Sweden SE 67520 35 0.5 442 6.5 
SK-Slovakia SK 16410 1275 77.7 120 7.3 
UK-United 
Kingdom UK 94410 1818 19.3 4203 44.5 
 
 
EN 33   EN Chapter II   
 
Commission Decisions on derogation requests submitted by Member States 
• Austria: Up to 230 kg N/ha fr om livestock manure on cattle farms on which the crop 
rotation includes more than 70% of particularly nitrogen cons uming crops like grass, grass 
catch crops or beets and othe r crops being undersown by gra ss with low nitrate leaching 
potential  (Decision 2006/189/EC
3; expired on 31 December 2007)  
• Belgium 
– Flanders: Up to 250 kg N/ha from grazi ng livestock manure and treated manure 
on parcels from any type of farms cultiv ated with grassland and maize undersown 
with grassland; Up to 200 kg N/ha fr om grazing livestock manure and treated 
manure on parcels from any type of farm cultivated with winter wheat followed by a catch crop and with beets.  (Commission Decision 2008/64/EC
4) 
– Wallonia: Up to 230 kg N/ha from livesto ck manure on cattle farms for grassland 
and not more than 115 kg N/ha on other farmland on cattle farms.  
(Commission Decision 2008/96/EC5)  
• Ireland: Up to 250 kg N/ha from grazing live stock manure on grassland farms where 80% 
or more of the agricultural land is grassland.(Commission Decision 2007/697/EC6) 
• Germany: Up to 230 kg N/ha from livestock  manure on cattle farm s and only on fields 
intensive grassland fields with at least four cuts per year or three cuts plus pasture.  
(Commission Decision 2006/1013/EC7 as extended by Commission Decision 
2009/753/EC8) 
• Denmark: Up to 230 kg N/ha from livesto ck manure on cattle farms on which the crop 
rotation includes more than 70% of particularly nitrogen cons uming crops like grass, grass 
catch crops or beets and othe r crops being undersown by gra ss with low nitrate leaching 
potential. (Decision 2002/915/EC
9 as replaced by Commission Decision 2005/294/EC10 as extended 
by commission Decision 2008/664/EC11) 
• Netherlands: Up to 250 kg N/ha  from manure from grazing livestock on grassland farms 
with at least 70% or more of the agricultural land is grassland 
                                                 
3 OJ L 66/44, 8.3.2006 
4 OJ L16/28, 19.1.2008 
5 OJ L 32/21, 6.2.2008 
6 OJ L 284/27, 30.10.2007 
7 OJ L 382/1, 28.12.2006 
8 OJ L 268/35, 13.10.2009 
9 OJ L 319/24, 23.11.2002 
10 OJ L 94/34, 13.4.2005 
11 OJ L 217/16, 13.8.2008 
 
EN 34   EN (Commission Decision 2005/880/EC12; a draft proposal for ex tension of the decision 
received a positive opinion in the nitrates Directive, but not yet approved by the College; situation January 2010) 
• United Kingdom:  
– England, Scotland and Wales: Up to 250 kg N/ha from grazing livestock manure 
on grassland farms where 80%  or more of the agricultural land is grassland. 
(Commission Decision 2009/431/EC
13 
– Northern Ireland: Up to 250 kg N/ha from  grazing livestock manure on grassland 
farms where 80% or more of the agricultural land is grassland. 
(Commission Decision 2007/863/EC14)  
                                                 
12 OJ L 324/89, 10.12.2005 
13 OJ L 141/48, 29.5.2009 
14 OJ L 337/122, 21.12.2007 
 
EN 35   EN Chapter III  
 
Examples of progress made in action programmes 
Italy  revised its national framew ork decree on action progra mmes in 2006, after which the 
regions updated the sp ecific regional action programmes in 2007-2008. The ministerial decree 
contains specific provisions on how to implem ent the measures of annex II and III of the 
directive, including the limit of 170 kg N/ha, criteria for the limitation of fertiliser application 
based on a balance system, the periods during which fertilisation should be banned (closed 
periods), norms on slurry storag e differentiated by geographic ar eas, provisions on storage of 
solid manure, tables for design of storage cons tructions, manure nitrogen excretion figures for 
the evaluation of compliance with the limit of  170 kg N/ha per year from livestock manure. 
The decree obliges as well notification to the aut horities of all livestock farms above a certain 
size, including the obliga tion of preparing detailed fertilis ation plans. In addition, the decree 
sets out a series of obligations that also a pply to farms outside designated nitrate vulnerable 
zones. 
Based on the ministerial decree, the regions am ended their action programmes or established 
new action programmes further specifying some provisions like the start of closed periods 
depending on the geographic area, detailed instru ctions on fertilisation plans and total N limit. 
Spain  carried out a revision of its action progr ammes with all regions with designated 
vulnerable zones having amended their acti on programmes in the pe riod 2008-2009. All the 
regions have now established the standard of 170 kg N/ha from livestock manure and a 
federal decree established manure nitrogen excr etion for the evaluation of compliance with 
this standard which are based on  a detailed scientific study. Th e specific measures related to 
annex II and III of the direc tive were revised for all acti on programmes with particular 
attention to limitation of fertilisation (appli cation standards in function of crop rotation, 
fertiliser plans, etc), storage capacity and sp ecific technical requirements for construction, 
reinforcement of closed periods in function of local climatic conditions and practices and specific provisions for fertilisa tion through irrigation systems. 
Portugal  intends to integrate the different acti on programmes that currently apply in the 
different designated vulnerable zones into one  action programme that would apply in all 
designated zones, including the new designated area in 2005, 2006 and 2007. The action programme would cover in detail the measures as  outlined in annex II and III of the directive. 
End 2009, a draft text was availabl e aiming to be approved early 2010. 
Ireland  established an action programme appli cable on its whole territory in 2006. The 
programme covers all measures referred to in th e annex of the directive and set detailed rules 
for farmyard management, storage requirements, closed periods for fertilisation, distance rules 
towards waters for fertilisation, procedures fo r land application to minimise pollution risks 
and provisions for nutrient management aiming  balanced fertilisatio n for both nitrogen as 
phosphorus through a system of deta iled application standards in function of the nitrogen an 
phosphorus content of soil and the crop nutrient needs. 
United Kingdom  for Northern Ireland established an  action programme applicable on the 
whole region in 2006. For the regions Engla nd, Scotland and Wales a new action programme 
was established in 2008 referr ing to specific designated vulne rable zones. Both programmes 
covers all the measures referred to in the direct ive, including detailed rules on closed periods, 
land application procedures incl uding application techniques, st orage requirements, limitation 
 
EN 36   EN of fertilisation through means of  a calculated balance system in combination with maximum 
application standards for grassland (Northern Ire land) and application standards based on crop 
type and soil conditions and land cover and specific pr ovisions for applica tion near waters and 
on slopes. England, Scotland and Wales introduced the obligation to draft a parcel risk map 
taking account of field slope, vicinity of waters , soil and crop type, etc. Northern Ireland 
established as well a specific regulation on phosphorus management regulating balanced 
phosphorus application in function of soil phosphorus status, crop phosphorus needs and 
phosphorus availability in (organic) fertilisers. 
Belgium  established in 2007 a new action programme for the regions Flanders and Wallonia. 
The Flemish action programme refers to the w hole territory and includes reinforced action 
regarding closed periods, nitroge n application standards, storag e capacity, livestock excretion 
values for nitrogen and phosphorus, and a rein forced system of phosphorus limitation in 
function of crop type and soil  phosphorus saturation grade. The action programme introduces 
as well GPS recording of manure transports lik e it was already the case in the Netherlands. 
The Walloon region introduced measures that apply on the whole territory referring to 
minimum storage capacity, closed periods, proc edures for land application, including closed 
periods and maximum application standards. The action programme in cludes in addition 
reinforced measures that apply only to the designated vulnerable zone s like the application 
standard of 170 kg N/ha from livestock manure, land management proce dures, particularly for 
grassland, land application on slope s and winter cover crop so land. 
The Netherlands  approved a new fourth action programme for the period 2010-2013 that 
builds further on the former third action programme  with reinforced measures, particularly for 
the sandy areas, that refer to application st andards, closed peri ods, storage capacity 
requirements and the stimulation of research to and use of innovative techniques for land 
application and management. 
Denmark  started in 2009 the integration of its ac tion programme into the new green growth 
strategy policy aiming to ensure that a high le vel of environmental, nature and climate 
protection goes hand in hand with modern a nd competitive agriculture and food industries. 
The strategy sets specific reduction target s for nitrogen and phosphorus loads towards the 
aquatic environment. 
All New Member States had established action programmes at the date of accession and most 
of the New Member States started in th e period 2006-2009 a thorough revision process of 
their action programmes in close cooperatio n the Commission. Detailed discussions, 
including field visits carried out by Commission staff, were he ld in Czech Republic, Slovakia, 
Hungary, Latvia, Lithuani a, Slovenia and Poland. 
Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia  and Hungary  established new action programmes in 
2008. The polish implementation exists of a na tional ministerial framework order and 21 
regional action programmes detailin g the specific measures referred to in the annexes of the 
directive. The other co untries have established one actio n programme that applies to the 
designated zone or zones in the state. 
Lithuania has established a new action programme in 2009 while for Slovenia , and Estonia  
the revision process was still ongoing in 2009. Latvia  on the other hand established one 
regulation implementing the action programme that has been amended several times during 
the period 2004-2009.  
 
EN 37   EN The new programmes substantially improve th e first action programmes, however further 
technical analysis and discussions are required  in order to ensure full compliance with the 
directive. 
For Bulgaria  and Romania , that joined the EU in 2007, th e Commission has started first 
discussions on the quality of the action pr ogrammes. Bulgaria established one action 
programme that applies to all designated vul nerable zones while Romania established a 
federal framework decree and specific action programmes on commune level, resulting in 
over than four hundred action programmes country  wide. However, the Romanian authorities 
work on simplification of NVZ designation and integration of action programmes. 
Furthermore, it should be noted that for the action programmes of Hungary , Spain  and 
Cyprus  particular attention is paid  to irrigation system s requiring farmers to take into account 
both the amount of water and the level of fertili zer application, in order to minimize its risks 
of losses. In Hungary  farmers who want to use irrigation are required to have an irrigation 
soil conservation plan and a water law perm it issued on the basis of this plan. In Cyprus , 
about 85-90% of farmers apply advanced ir rigation techniques regulating water supply in 
function of actual crop wate r needs and for this re ducing leaching risks.  
 
EN 38   EN Chapter IV 
 
Links with other EU policies  
Water Quality  
The Water Framework Directive15, which entered into force in 2000, aims to reach a 
good status of European water bodies by 2015 by  establishing an integrated approach 
to the protection of waters. The Nitrates Di rective forms integral part of the Water 
Framework Directive and is one of the key instruments in the protection of waters 
against agricultural pressures. Besides nitrogen, phosphorus is a key nutrient in 
fertilisation practices and both elements play an important role in triggering eutrophication processes. The application need s to be controlled in order to attain 
good ecological status of waters. Several Member States, including Ireland, United 
Kingdom for Northern Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium, have recognised this 
and included specific phosphor us controlling measures within their legislation. 
Several other Member States, particularly those having areas characterised by intensive livestock farming, will need to include phosphorus controlling measures within their legislation in order to meet the water quality goals stated in the Water 
Framework Directive. Member States will  also need to integrate nitrate action 
programmes into River Basin Management  Plans and Programmes of Measures 
containing the required actions in order to  reach good ecological status of waters. 
Member States are working on integration of established monitoring networks under 
the Nitrates Directive into the networ ks established under the Water Framework 
Directive
16. 
The Groundwater Directive17, which entered into force in January 2007, aims to 
prevent and control groundwater pollution. Th e transposition of this directive was 
due by January 2009. The Directive requires Me mber States to establish threshold 
values for pollutants and indi cators of pollutants causing a risk that the conditions for 
good chemical status of groundwater bodies are not being met. For nitrates, it 
confirms as quality standard the trigger quality value of 50 mg nitrate introduced by 
the Nitrates Directive. By this, it comp lements the Nitrates Directive by giving a 
clear time line for attaining the thresh old of 50 mg/l in groundwater bodies. 
Furthermore, Member States are required to identify any signi ficant and sustained 
upward trends of pollutants, including nitr ates, and to reverse these trends on the 
basis of the programme of measures defi ned under the Water Framework Directive. 
Consequently, the requirements  of the Nitrates Directiv e concerning trend and action 
programmes will have to be closely operated with the implementation of the Groundwater and Water Framework Directives.  
It should be noted that if the nitrate quality standard of 50 mg per litre is not adequate 
for achieving the environmental objectives, more stringent values have to be 
                                                
 
15 Directive 2000/60/EC 
16 See also point 4, monitoring networks 
17 Directive 2006/118/EC 
 
EN 39   EN established by Member States and several Me mber States have already indicated to 
set a more stringent threshold value for ni trates than the 50 mg nitrates per litre18.  
Air quality and climate change  
All activities re lated to livestock management , including housing, chemical and 
organic fertiliser management , manure storage and fertil izers application have an 
impact on the environment. Besides losses of nitrates (NO 3-) to waters, the emissions 
of the greenhouse gasses nitrous-oxide (N 2O) and methane (CH 4) cause impacts. 
Those gases are characterised by a gl obal warming potential of 310 (for N 2O) and 21 
(for CH 4) times higher than CO 219
. The emissions of ammonia (NH 3) are responsible 
for impacts on human health, eutrophication of  waters and acidification of soils. The 
field of application of the N itrates Directive overlaps with EU policies related to the 
limitation of pollutants responsible for aci dification, eutrophication and ground-level 
ozone pollution (sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and 
ammonia)20, the control of industrial emissions, including from intensive livestock 
units21, and climate change strategies.  
Scientific analysis22 has shown that measures to be established in action programmes 
taken under the scope of the Nitrates Dire ctive - therefore aiming at the emission 
reduction of nitrates to waters  – represent "win win" solutio ns, as they also decrease 
atmospheric emissions of nitrogen compounds . In particular, th e analysis showed 
that a "Nitrate Directive fully implemented" scenario would result in additional emission reductions of 14% and 6% respec tively for ammonia and nitrous oxide in 
2020 compared to 2000. The Commission will continue to study these synergistic 
effects in order to assess this impact in detail, particularly effects related to 
derogations allowing farmers to a pply higher amounts of manure on land. 
Agricultural policies  
The implementation of the Nitrates Dire ctive has strong links with the common 
agricultural policy (CAP ), related both to direct support and rural development.  
Direct payments to farmers as well as certa in rural development payments are subject 
to cross compliance. This means that, in or der to avoid any possi ble reduction in the 
total level of support received under these ai d schemes, farmers must comply with 18 
statutory management requirements, includ ing the Nitrates Directive, and a number 
of requirements for ensuring the 'good agri cultural and environmental condition' of 
agricultural land. 
The main instrument under rural development for environmental protection is the 
agri-environmental measure, which is the only measure Member States are required 
to include in their rural development programmes reflecting its importance for 
                                                
 
18 Austria (45 mg/l); Ireland (37.5 mg/l); United King dom (between range 18-42 mg/l); Hungary (range 
between (25-50 mg/l); Latvia (48.7 mg/l) 
19 Climate Change 1995, The Science of Climate Change: Summary for Policymakers and Technical 
Summary of the Working Group I Report. 
20 Directive 2001/81/EC on National Emission Ceilings for certain pollutants (NEC Directive). 
21 Directive 2008/1/EC concerning in tegrated pollution and control (IPPC directive, codified version). 
22 Commission report 'Integrated measures in agriculture to reduce ammonia emissions', Alterra, 2007 
 
EN 40   EN environmental integration. Agri-environm ent commitments must go beyond baseline 
standards, including cross compliance sta ndards as well as minimum requirements 
for fertiliser and plant protection product us e established by national legislation. In 
relation to the Nitrates Di rective, this means that farmers must go beyond the 
obligations specified in the nitrate acti on programmes for nitrat e vulnerable zones 
and beyond provisions in the codes of good agricultural practices outside vulnerable 
zones. For the period 2007-2013, Several Member  States have included in their rural 
development programmes agri-environmenta l measures that relate to nutrient 
management such as the establishment of wider buffer strips near water courses or 
reduced fertilisation application levels. The support for investments (e.g. for manure 
storage) is another important rural de velopment measure c ontributing to the 
implementation of the Nitrates Directive.  
Research policies  
Actions undertaken under the 6th and 7th Framework Programme contributed on the 
better understanding of nitrate pollution pathwa ys. It is particularly referred to the 
Euroharp (FP6) and Genesis (FP7) projects. The Euroharp project assessed different 
methodologies for quantifying diffuse losses  of nutrients aiming to provide policy 
makers information on their ability to estimate diffuse nutrient losses to surface fresh 
water systems and coastal systems and by this facilitating implementation of the 
Water Framework Directive. The Genesis proj ect expects to provide tools to assess 
land use and climate impacts on ground wate r and related ecosystems which will set 
the basis for future and better groundwater management.  
 
EN 41   EN  
Chapter V 
References  
• European Fertilizer Manuf acturers Association (EFMA) 
• Eurostat statistics: http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu  
• OECD statistics: http://stats.oecd.org  
• Draft Guidelines for the monitoring require d under the Nitrates Di rective, European 
Commission, 2004 
• Commission report 'Integrated measures in agriculture to reduce ammonia emissions', 
Alterra 2007; http://ec.europa.eu/envi ronment/archives/air/cafe/ activities/ammonia_en.htm  
• Climate Change 1995, the Science of Climate Change: Summary for Policymakers and 
Technical summary of the Work ing Group I Report, page 22; 
http://unfccc.int/ghg_data/items/3825.php  
• Member State reports on implementation of the Nitrates directive for the period 2004-2007 
• Bouraoui F., Grizzetti B. Aloe A., 2009. Nutrie nt discharge from rivers to seas. JRC EUR 
24002 EN, 72pp.