WRITTEN QUESTION P-1146/02 by Niels Busk (ELDR) to the Commission. Water framework directive.
Date: 2002-04-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EC Directive, application of EU law, chemical fertiliser, groundwater, pollution from agricultural sources, surface water

C 229 E/184

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

26.9.2002

As far as the safety of non-food products accompanying food products in a separate packaging in
particular is concerned, the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answers to Written
Questions E-504/02 by Mrs Karamanou (1), E-548/02 by Mr Alavanos (1) and E-2630/00 by Mr Moreira Da
Silva (2), E-2631/00 by Mrs Damião (2) and E-2632/00 by Mr Lage (2).

(1) OJ C 205 E, 29.8.2002, p. 153.
(2) OJ C 136 E, 8.5.2001.

(2002/C 229 E/212)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1146/02

by Niels Busk (ELDR) to the Commission

(16 April 2002)

Subject: Water framework directive

Does the Commission consider that possible discharges of nitrogen and phosphorus from farming are
covered by the directive establishing a framework of Community action in the field of water policy, which
stipulates that discharges of priority substances must be reduced and that discharges of priority hazardous
substances must cease?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(23 May 2002)

Although the Water Framework Directive (1) applies, neither phosphorus nor nitrogen are priority
substances as adopted under Decision No 2455/2001/EC (2). Thus, the requirements of reduction and
cessation do not apply for these pollutants.

However, both phosphorus and nitrogen are mentioned under point 11 of Annex VIII ‘Indicative list of the
main pollutants’ of the Water Framework Directive as substances ‘which contribute to eutrophication’. In
this respect, both pollutants must be considered by Member States in the definition and implementation of
river basin management plans. In brief, this means that significant pressures and impacts must be taken
into account in the characterisation of the river basins (Article 5), and if there is a risk of failing the
environmental objectives of the directive due to discharges of nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural
installations and activities, appropriate measures need to be included in the programme of measures
(Article 11) and communicated in the river basin management plan (Article 13). In general, the final aim is
to achieve ‘good ecological status’ by 2015 which is further defined in Annex V and made operational for
the impact from ‘eutrophication’.

In addition to the Water Framework Directive,
the 1991 Directive on Nitrates Pollution from
Agriculture (3) addresses nitrates impacts from agricultural source. Member States have the obligation to
identify areas of elevated nitrates contents in groundwater or subject to eutrophication in surface waters. In
including both legally binding minimum
such ‘vulnerable zones’ mandatory measures must be taken,
storage capacities for livestock manure, and restrictions in terms of time of the year and location for the
application of mineral nitrogen fertilisers and manure to land.

(1) Parliament and Council Directive 2000/60/EC of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action

in the field of water policy (OJ L 327, 22.12.2000).

(2) Parliament and Council Decision No 2455/2001/EC of 20 November 2001 establishing the list of priority

substances in the field of water policy and amending Directive 2000/60/EC (OJ L 331, 15.12.2001).

(3) Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused

by nitrates from agricultural sources (OJ L 375, 31.12.1991).