WRITTEN QUESTION P-1725/99 by Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission. Implementing the nitrate directive.
Date: 1999-09-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: atmospheric conditions, chemical pollution, chemical salt, directive (EU), evaluation method, free movement of goods, groundwater, health control, health risk, industrial pollution, nitrogen, organic fertiliser, organic pollution, pollution from agricultural sources, surface water, water pollution, water protection

C 225 E/14

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.8.2000

using its technical expertise and applying available standards or, where these are not available, parts of
standards, technical documentation and specifications. The notion of (cid:145)state of the art(cid:146) also plays a crucial
role.

European standardisation bodies draft harmonised standards on the basis of mandates from the Com-
mission. Their current workload over-stretches the available technical resources. The total cost of an
average standard can be valued at € 100 000. This amount can rise to € 200 000 or more in cases where
documentation is scarce and research is needed.

Finally, market surveillance seeks to ensure control of compliance with the existing rules. There is a legal
requirement for Member States to ensure that appropriate and proportionate market surveillance is in
place so that only compliant products are placed on the market.

It is therefore clear that the question of standardisation does not preclude the obligations existing under
the PPE Directive that helmets worn according to their intended use must protect the wearer from
potential hazards. If the Honourable Member is aware that helmets are being manufactured and sold which
do not comply with the requirements of the PPE Directive the Commission would be pleased to pass this
information to the enforcement authorities of the United Kingdom.

(1) OJ L 399, 30.12.1989.

(2000/C 225 E/016)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1725/99

by Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission

(27 September 1999)

Subject: Implementing the nitrate directive

In its answer to my Question P-3176/98 (1) on measuring the nitrate content of surface and ground
1.
water in the European Union, the Commission said that it would shortly be putting forward some practical
proposals for this purpose. Can it say to what extent the proposals have taken shape?

Can the Commission say how far it is possible using these methods to establish whether the nitrate

2.
content of ground and surface water is caused by agriculture or industrial activities?

Can the Commission say whether the measurement methods take account of seasonal and climatic

3.
variations?

Can the Commission take the necessary steps to ensure that manure, and particularly dried manure

4.
(from poultry), is more freely marketable in the EU?

(1) OJ C 289, 11.10.1999, p. 25.

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(27 October 1999)

Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution
caused by nitrates from agricultural sources (1) leaves the choice to Member States for precise sampling of
their surface and ground water, only requiring that they must be representative of the quality of all
national waters and indicating minimum frequencies. The Commission has however developed guidelines,
the draft of which will be sent to the Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat, in order to help
harmonise the monitoring of waters, reporting on the evolution of their quality and on assessment of
action programmes in vulnerable zones. The draft guidelines have been presented to Member States and
will be examined at the next (cid:145)Nitrates Committee(cid:146) of 26 October 1999, before the year 2000 reporting
exercise (end of 1st Action Programmes). Pages 4 to 6 and 13 to 14 of the monitoring guidelines give
indications on surface and ground waters sampling.

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The differentiation of whether Nitrogen (N) pollution arises from agricultural or industrial sources can be
made in two ways. Firstly by evaluating inputs from the different sources in the water basin, with
measurements at emission and models (cf. appendix 3 of the guideline, and (cid:145)OSPAR(cid:146) Harp guidelines for
industrial pollution, and nitrogen retention in soil and water cycle), and secondly with the help of isotopic
analysis (N15/N14 rate is different in organic N from human or animal origin, and in chemical N from
fertilisers and factories, cf. page 10 of the guideline).

Exceptional climatic conditions such as drought and wet summers effectively influence nitrates leaching in
sub soil or run off, and water quality. For that reason, it is proposed to study the evolution of nitrates in
water at some representative points not only during one year in every four years (minimum required by
the directive), but also through permanent monitoring (each month for surface water, twice a year for
ground waters), in order to appreciate evolution on four year average values, with possible extrapolation to
other sampling points (see pages 5-6 of reporting guidelines). In any case, action programmes should
ensure enough precautionary measures (such as large manure storage, winter cover of soils, moderate
fertilisation, buffer zones) to avoid major adverse effects of difficult climatic conditions in vulnerable zones.

The circulation of poultry and other livestock manure is restricted by Council Directive 92/118/EEC of
17 December 1992 laying down animal health and public health requirements governing trade in and
imports into the Community of products not subject to the said requirements laid down in specific
Community rules referred to in Annex A(1) to Directive 89/662/EEC and, as regards pathogens, to
Directive 90/425/EEC (2) and Commission Decision 96/103 (3). They are organic waste with hygienic and
toxicologic potential problems, and cannot circulate within the Community, or outside, without guarantees
for environment, animal and human health. This circulation is possible only after appropriate treatment
and quality controls (chemical and micro biological parameters). The Commission is not aware of
particular limitations in the trading of this product resulting from the implementation of the above
legislation. The Commission would welcome any additional information from the Honourable Member
about any trade problems experienced by individuals in compliance with these criteria.

In addition, the shipment of poultry and other livestock manure is governed by Council Regulation
259/93 (4) on the supervision and control of waste shipments based on the principle of prior informed
consent.

(1) OJ L 375, 31.12.1991.
(2) OJ L 62, 15.3.1993.
(3) OJ L 24, 31.1.1996.
(4) OJ L 30, 6.2.1993.

(2000/C 225 E/017)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1736/99

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 October 1999)

Subject: Allocation of rural development aid to Portugal

According to recent press reports in Portugal, the Commission has approved a proposal for the allocation
of rural development aid which will involve the annual transfer to Portugal of only 40 billion escudos.

The Portuguese Government, however, proposed a programme costing 60 billion escudos per year, this
being the minimum amount it regarded as necessary to compensate for the reduction in the funding
transferred from the CAP, since Portuguese farmers are last on the list of CAP beneficiaries.

Since Portugal is a country with large areas of poor-quality soil, where farmers operate in mountainous
areas and use environmentally sustainable agricultural methods,
it is a prime candidate for the rural
development policy proposals which appeared to have been adopted by the Commission.