COMMISSION STAFF WORKING PAPER
Date: 2010-02-09
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: application of EU law, chemical salt, fertiliser, impact study, pollution from agricultural sources, water pollution

EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Brussels, 13.7.2011 
SEC(2010) 118 final/2 

CORRIGENDUM 
Annule et remplace le document SEC(2010)118 final du 9.2.2010 
Concerne la version EN 

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING PAPER 

Accompanying document to the 

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT 

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 

{COM(2010) 47 final/2} 

EN 

   EN 

 
 
 
  
  
 
COMMISSION STAFF WORKING PAPER 

Accompanying document to the 

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT 

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 

Figure 1A: Fertilizer consumption in the EU 27 (Source EFMA, 2009). 

Chapter I 

s
e
n
n
o

t

n
o

i
l
l
i

M

20.0

16.0

12.0

8.0

4.0

0.0

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

2007/08

     N

     P2O5

     K2O

EN 

1 

   EN 

  
 
 
 
Figure 1B: Fertilizer consumption in the EU 15 (Source EFMA, 2009). 

s
n
o
t
n
o

i
i
l
i

m

16.0

12.0

8.0

4.0

0.0

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

     N

     P2O5

     K2O

EN 

2 

   EN 

 
 
 
Figure  2.  Frequency  diagram  of  groundwater  classes.  Digital  data  provided  by  Member  States1.  The  figure  shows  for  each  MS  the  percentage  of 
sampling points per water quality class: (i) nitrate values measured  below  25  mg/l;(ii)  between  25  and  40  mg/l;  (iii)  between  40 and 50 mg/l; (iv) 
above 50 mg/l. 

s
t
n
i
o
p
g
n
i
l
p
m
a
s

f
o
%

100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

Malta
Luxembourg
France
Bulgaria
Germany

Spain

Belgium 
United Kingdom
Portugal
Greece

Slovenia
Estonia
Romania
Italy
Ireland
Denmark
Netherlands
Czech Republic

Cyprus

Slovakia

Poland
Hungary

Austria
Lithuania

Latvia

Finland

Sweden

EU-27

EU-15

< 25

25-40

40-50

≥ 50 mg nitrate per L

1 

Germany: Agricultural monitoring network only 

EN 

3 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
                                                 
Figure 3. Frequency diagram of trends in groundwater classes. Digital data provided by Member States2. The figure shows for each MS the 
percentage of sampling points per water quality trend class as compared with the previous 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 

s
t
n
i
o
p
g
n
i
l
p
m
a
s
f
o
% 

100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

Austria

Ireland

Hungary

United Kingdom
Finland
Netherlands

Denmark

Luxembourg
Cyprus

Bulgaria

Italy

Belgium 

Portugal

Spain

France

Estonia

Germany

EU-15+4*

EU-15**

< -5

-5 to -1

-1 to +1

1 to 5

≥ 5 mg nitrate per L

2 

Germany: See foot note 1 

EN 

4 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
                                                 
Figure 4. Frequency diagram of groundwater classes at different depths. Digital data provided by Member States. The figure shows -the percentage of 
sampling points per water quality class and depth: (i) nitrate values measured below 25 mg/l;(ii) between 25 and 40 mg/l; (iii) between 40 and 50 
mg/l; (iv) above 50 mg/l. 

s
t
n
i
o
p
g
n
i
l
p
m
a
s

f
o
%

100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

Phreatic
groundwater
(shallow):0-5m

Phreatic
groundwater
(deep) 5-15 m

Phreatic
groundwater
(deep) 15-30 m

Phreatic
groundwater
(deep) > 30 m

Phreatic
groundwater
(deep)

Captive
groundwater 

Karstic
groundwater

Not Indicated

EU 27

< 25

25-40

40-50

≥ 50 mg nitrate per L

EN 

5 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
Figure  5.  Frequency  diagram  of  surface  water  classes.  Digital  data  provided  by  Member  States.  The  figure  shows  for  each  MS  the  percentage  of 
sampling points per water quality class: (i) nitrate values measured 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. 

s
t
n
i
o
p
g
n
i
l
p
m
a
s

f
o
%

100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

Belgium 
Malta
United Kingdom
Hungary
Netherlands

France

Poland
Spain
Romania
Denmark
Czech Republic

Italy
Luxembourg
Cyprus
Greece

Estonia
Germany

Ireland
Lithuania

Latvia

Austria

Slovenia

Portugal

Slovakia

Bulgaria

Finland

Sweden

EU-27

EU-15

0 - 2 

2 - 10

10 - 25

25 - 40

40 - 50

≥ 50 mg nitrate per L

EN 

6 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
Figure 6. Frequency diagram of trends in fresh surface water classes. 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 previous 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 

s
t
n
i
o
p
g
n
i
l
p
m
a
s

f
o
%

100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

DE-Germany

DK-Denmark

BG-Bulgaria

AT-Austria

PT-Portugal

EE-Estonia
LU-Luxembourg

IE-Ireland

EL-Greece

HU-Hungary

FI-Finland

ES-Spain
UK-United Kingdom
NL-Netherlands

< -5

-5 to -1

-1 to +1

1 to 5

≥ 5 mg nitrate per L

BE-Belgium 
IT-Italy

FR-France

CY-Cyprus

EU-15+4*

EU-15**

EN 

7 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
Figure  7.  Frequency  diagram  of  fresh  surface  water  trophic  classes.  All  fresh  waters  except  for  Austria,  Germany,  Spain,  Portugal  Romania  and 
Slovenia (lakes only) and for Czech Republic and Slovakia (rivers only). Digital data provided by Member States. The figure shows for each MS the 
percentage of sampling points per water quality class: (i) ultra-oligotrophic; (ii) oligotrophic; (iii) mesotrophic; (iv) eutrophic; (v) hypertrophic.  

EU*  =  EU-27  minus  Cyprus,  Denmark,  Estonia,  Greece,  France,  Italy,  Luxembourg, the  Netherlands,  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)  

100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

Austria

Lithuania

Portugal

Sweden

Ireland

Germany

Slovenia

Hungary

Malta

Ultra-Oligotrophic Oligotrophic Mesotrophic Eutrophic Hypertrophic

Belgium 
Czech Republic

Spain

Slovakia

Finland

Romania

Latvia

Bulgaria

EU*

EN 

8 

EN 

 
  
 
Table 1. Average groundwater: percentage of points per water quality class for all stations for 
EU  15  Member  States  for  the  period  2000-2003  and  2004-2007.  Reduced  comparability  of 
data  between  the  2  reporting  periods  due  to  possible  changes  in  monitoring  networks  and 
inconsistencies in reported data.  

mg/l 
Austria  

Belgium  

Germany*  

Denmark *** 

Greece  

Spain  

Finland  

France  

Ireland  

Italy  

Luxembourg  

Netherlands  

Portugal  

Sweden  

United Kingdom 
**  

25-40  40-50 
1.3% 
1.4% 

≥ 50 
< 25 
2.6% 
89.3%  6.9% 
91.3%  5.7% 
1.6% 
56.8%  22.1%  7.6%  13.5%
60.0%  14.7%  6.9%  18.4%
9.3%  16.7%  20.7% 53.0%
11.8%  20.0%  18.2% 50.0%
1.4% 
85.5%  7.2% 
5.8% 
4.9%  17.0%
70.4%  7.7% 
91.0%  4.8% 
3.0% 
1.2% 
58.1%  14.5%  6.3%  21.2%
55.6%  12.7%  6.7%  24.9%
54.0%  13.5%  6.1%  26.5%
15.8%
73.7%  10.5% 
96.3%  1.9% 
1.9% 
51.0%  24.9%  10.7% 13.4%
50.3%  25.8%  10.3% 13.6%
1.4% 
79.0%  13.7%  5.9% 
73.3%  19.5%  4.8% 
2.4% 
68.1%  15.9%  5.0%  11.0%
65.9%  15.5%  6.2%  12.5%
42.1%  31.6%  5.3%  21.1%
40.0%  35.0%  10.0% 15.0%
6.5% 
90.1%  2.0% 
1.3% 
70.9%  5.1% 
3.1%  20.9%
41.3%  14.1%  6.5%  38.1%
65.1%  11.6%  3.5%  19.8%
98.6%  0.7% 
98.8%  1.2% 
60.0%  23.5%  6.6%  10.0%
61.4%  17.0%  6.6%  15.0%

0.7% 

reporting period number of stations

2000-2003 
2004-2007 
2000-2003 
2004-2007 
2000-2003 
2004-2007 
2000-2003 
2004-2007 
2000-2003 
2004-2007 
2000-2003 
2004-2007 
2000-2003 
2004-2007 
2000-2003 
2004-2007 
2000-2003 
2004-2007 
2000-2003 
2004-2007 
2000-2003 
2004-2007 
2000-2003 
2004-2007 
2000-2003 
2004-2007 
2000-2003 
2004-2007 
2000-2003 
2004-2007 

392 
368 
944 
3020 
150 
170 
69 
1479 
433 
415 
6706 
4078 
19 
54 
3174 
2666 
219 
210 
3041 
5782 
19 
20 
902 
1244 
341 
630 
147 
163 
904 
3061 

* for Germany only agriculture monitoring network 

** for the reporting period 2000-2003 United Kingdom reported only stations within England.  

*** Denmark for the reporting period 2000-2003 provided aggregated number of stations 

EN 

9 

   EN 

 
  
  
  
  
  
Table 2. surface water: percentage of points per water quality class for all stations for EU 15 
Member  States  for  the  period  2000-2003  and  2004-2007.  Reduced  comparability  of  data 
between  the  2  reporting  periods  due  to  possible  changes  in  monitoring  networks  and 
inconsistencies in reported data.  

mg/l 
Austria  

Belgium * 

Germany  

Denmark  

Greece  

Spain  

Finland  

France  

Ireland  

Italy  

Luxembourg  

Netherlands  

Portugal  

0 - 2  
16.1% 
22.9% 
22.6% 
3.0% 
0.7% 
12.3% 
52.6% 
60.1% 
26.5% 
33.1% 
47.0% 
45.9% 
61.0% 
65.3% 
4.2% 
3.4% 
40.6% 
47.8% 
26.4% 
36.5% 

2-10 
68.2% 
61.6% 
51.8% 
24.8% 
19.7% 
22.2% 
10.3% 
12.1% 
62.7% 
58.5% 
37.5% 
36.7% 
33.9% 
33.7% 
29.7% 
31.0% 
33.3% 
32.1% 
48.9% 
45.3% 

8.6% 
13.6% 
21.3% 
58.0% 
86.7% 
97.0% 
7.2% 
11.7% 

6.3% 
47.4% 
48.6% 
70.5% 
37.3% 
11.9% 
2.7% 
28.5% 
25.4% 

10-25 
15.7% 
14.1% 
22.4% 
41.6% 
68.4% 
61.4% 
20.5% 
15.7% 
8.8% 
7.6% 
13.1% 
13.2% 
5.1% 
1.0% 
40.9% 
46.8% 
23.2% 
18.4% 
21.0% 
16.2% 
100.0% 
62.5% 
34.2% 
30.4% 
8.2% 
4.1% 
1.2% 
0.4% 
29.3% 
29.1% 

25 - 40 

40 - 50 

≥ 50 

0.1% 
5.6% 

0.1% 
9.3% 

2.3% 
2.0% 

0.8% 
0.4% 
0.6% 

0.3% 
0.6% 

0.6% 
1.0% 

4.9% 
2.3% 

1.9% 
1.4% 

0.6% 
0.1% 

0.3% 
0.1% 

1.2% 
0.7% 

1.2% 
1.8% 

1.3% 
3.0% 
15.8% 
11.2% 
4.1% 
13.9% 
9.6% 
2.0% 

1.4% 
2.6% 

18.4% 
15.1% 
2.9% 
1.7% 
2.9% 
1.8% 

31.3% 
7.3% 
4.8% 

0.6% 
0.2% 

reporting 
period 
2000-2003 
2004-2007 
2000-2003 
2004-2007 
2000-2003 
2004-2007 
2000-2003 
2004-2007 
2000-2003 
2004-2007 
2000-2003 
2004-2007 
2000-2003 
2004-2007 
2000-2003 
2004-2007 
2000-2003 
2004-2007 
2000-2003 
2004-2007 
2000-2003 
2004-2007 
2000-2003 
2004-2007 
2000-2003 
2004-2007 
2000-2003 
2004-2007 
2000-2003 
2004-2007 

number 
of 
stations 
242
297
953
1179
152
171
302
356
102
118
2505
3083
59
193
1720
1769
69
343
1543
2572
10
16
914
543
61
169
579
2414
8007
8831

Sweden  
United 
Kingdom  
* In the period 2000-2003 for Belgium for the Region of Flanders, the data were reported in 
nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) and were considered as nitrates (NO3

23.8% 
20.9% 

4.5% 
6.3% 

6.7% 
6.6% 

-)

EN 

10 

   EN 

 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Table 3. Change of animal numbers between the 2003 and 2007; year 2003=100, blank –no 
information (data source Eurostat, data set accessed 17th November 2009). 

Belgium 
Austria 
Bulgaria 
Cyprus 
Czech 
Republic 
Denmark 
Estonia 
Finland 
France 
Germany 
Greece 
Hungary 
Ireland 
Italy 
Latvia 
Lithuania 
Luxembourg 
Malta 
Netherlands 
Poland 
Portugal 
Romania 
Slovakia 
Slovenia 
Spain 
Sweden 
United 
Kingdom 
European 
Union (15 
countries)* 
European 
Union (27 
countries)* 

all cattle 
95.9 
97.5 
83.0 
95.4 

95.8 
91.9 
93.5 
92.3 
99.8 
94.9 
104.8 
95.4 
94.8 
97.8 
105.3 
97.0 
104.5 
108.4 
102.3 
102.4 
103.9 
97.3 
84.6 
106.6 
100.6 
97.6 

dairy 
cows 

goats  sheep pigs 

91.6 
94.0  110.8
68.3
92.8 
90.2
89.1 

90.7  127.7
93.5 
88.2  114.3
90.3  112.5
93.4  101.2
94.2  112.5
96.4
100.7 
81.7
85.8 
81.1
95.8 
95.7
96.1 
86.7
96.8 
90.3 
72.4
97.6  137.5
98.7  114.8
96.0  122.4
95.1 
93.1  101.4
127.6
84.0 
96.7
89.7  121.0
91.4
80.8 
0.0
90.6 

107.9
95.5
110.4

158.3
93.3
239.9
134.0
92.6
90.6
96.3
95.1
72.8
103.6
137.5
256.2
110.8
82.6
116.2
95.3
100.0
113.7
106.7
124.1
94.5
115.5

97.4
101.0
86.1
95.7

80.4
101.5
108.7
102.3
98.1
102.3
104.5
78.8
91.0
101.3
93.2
87.3
113.8
105.2
108.8
95.6
105.5
127.6
66.0
87.4
108.1
86.2

broilers
110.8
122.4
79.3
85.6

103.8
96.3
83.5
83.8
90.9
108.7
95.4
73.8
85.9
86.7
183.9
154.0
200.0
77.6
102.5
69.7
80.9
186.6
93.5
131.9
85.8
112.5

laying 
hens 

other 
poultry 

91.7 
110.7 
76.9 
71.1 

84.4 
84.9 
69.1 
99.1 
99.8 
92.4 
73.8 
91.2 
116.1 
104.6 
111.8 
115.7 
100.0 
109.8 
133.7 
99.6 
79.3 
96.4 
97.4 
91.4 
100.7 
117.8 

77.9
101.5
91.2
91.3

108.4
111.6
50.0
70.3
92.1
101.3
42.3
104.9
92.9
89.5
77.8
43.6

0.0
147.5
88.1
61.5
29.5
103.1
57.9
95.2
34.5

95.8 

89.6 

97.0

96.5

95.9

100.8 

76.3

97.6 

93.0 

96.8

95.5

102.5

93.4

101.4 

84.2

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 

11 

   EN 

 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
Map 1. Manure nitrogen fertilizer application for year 2005 (Bouraoui F., Grizzetti B. Aloe 
A., 2009. Nutrient discharge from rivers to seas. JRC EUR 24002 EN, 72pp.). 

EN 

12 

   EN 

 
Map 2. Manure phosphorus fertilizer application for year 2005 (Bouraoui F., Grizzetti B. Aloe 
A., 2009. Nutrient discharge from rivers to seas. JRC EUR 24002 EN, 72pp.). 

EN 

13 

   EN 

 
 
Map 3. Mineral nitrogen fertilizer application for year 2005 (Bouraoui F., Grizzetti B. Aloe 
A., 2009. Nutrient discharge from rivers to seas. JRC EUR 24002 EN, 72pp.). 

EN 

14 

   EN 

 
 
Map 4. Mineral phosphorus fertilizer application for year 2005 (Bouraoui F., Grizzetti B. 
Aloe A., 2009. Nutrient discharge from rivers to seas. JRC EUR 24002 EN, 72pp.). 

EN 

15 

   EN 

 
 
Map 5. Total nitrogen application, manure and chemical fertilizer for year 2005 (Bouraoui F., 
Grizzetti B. Aloe A., 2009. Nutrient discharge from rivers to seas. JRC EUR 24002 EN, 
72pp.). 

EN 

16 

   EN 

 
 
Map 6. Total phosphorus application, manure and chemical fertilizer for year 2005 (Bouraoui 
F., Grizzetti B. Aloe A., 2009. Nutrient discharge from rivers to seas. JRC EUR 24002 EN, 
72pp.). 

EN 

17 

   EN 

 
 
Map 7. Estimation of nitrogen source apportionment for Europe (Bouraoui F., Grizzetti B. 
Aloe A., 2009. Nutrient discharge from rivers to seas. JRC EUR 24002 EN, 72pp.). 

EN 

18 

   EN 

 
 
Map 8.Groundwater average nitrate concentrations for reporting period 4 (2004-2007). 

EN 

19 

EN 

 
  
  
Map 9. Groundwater maximum nitrate concentrations, reporting period 4 (2004-2007).

EN 

20 

EN 

 
  
 
Map 10. Trends in ground water nitrates concentrations between reporting period 3 (2000-2003) and 4 (2004-2007). 

EN 

21 

EN 

 
  
 
Map 11. Average surface water nitrate concentrations for reporting period 4 (2004-2007). 

EN 

22 

EN 

 
  
 
Map 12. Maximum surface water nitrate concentrations for reporting period 4 (2004-2007).

EN 

23 

EN 

 
  
 
Map 13. Trends of nitrate concentrations in surface water between reporting period 3 (2000-2003) and 4 (2004-2007). (Greece is revising data on 
surface water trends).

EN 

24 

EN 

 
  
  
Map14. Winter averages of nitrate concentration in surface water for reporting period 4 (2004-2007). 

EN 

25 

EN 

 
  
 
Map  15.  Trophic  status  of  surface  water  for  reporting  period  4  (2004-2007),  (Greece  submitted  data  however  they  were  not  covering  required 
information to be included in the map).  

EN 

26 

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 territory 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 

27 

EN 

 
  
 
Table 4. Nitrate vulnerable zones in EU Member States 1999-2008 (# Values as provided by Eurostat in July 2009). 

Member State 

Austria* 

Belgium 

Bulgaria 

Cyprus*** 

Czech Republic 

Denmark* 

Estonia 

Finland* 

France 

Germany* 

Greece 

Hungary 

Ireland* 

Italy 

Lithuania* 

Luxembourg* 

Latvia 

Malta* 

Netherlands* 

Poland 

Portugal 

Romania 

Slovakia 

Slovenia* 

Spain 

Sweden 

United Kingdom 

TOTAL EU15/EU27 

Total Area# 

(km2)*1000 

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 

% 

83.9 

30.5 

111.0 

9.3 

78.9 

43.1 

45.2 

338.4 

549.1 

357.1 

132.0 

93.0 

70.3 

301.3 

65.3 

2.6 

64.6 

0.3 

37.4 

312.7 

91.9 

238.4 

49.0 

20.3 

505.4 

450.3 

244.1 

4,325.1 

83.9 

1.8 

100.0 

5.9 

83.9 

7.2 

100.0 

23.6 

43.1 

100.0 

43.1 

100.0 

338.4 

197.9 

357.1 

- 

- 

5.7 

2.6 

100.0 

36.0 

100.0 

1.9 

100.0 

37.4 

100.0 

0.2 

0.2 

26.0 

41.6 

5.8 

119.2 

5.1 

9.2 

2.4 

3.7 

338.4 

239.7 

357.1 

14.0 

70.3 

18.4 

2.6 

37.4 

0.3 

55.4 

67.1 

79.9 

1,414.7 

100.0 

43.7 

100.0 

10.6 

100.0 

6.1 

100.0 

100.0 

0.3 

11.0 

14.9 

32.7 

43.7 

83.9 

7.20 

58.96 
0.46 

28.86 

43.1 

3.0 

338.4 

239.7 

357.1 

14.0 

43.3 

70.3 

24.9 

65.3 

2.6 

8.1 

0.3 

37.4 

5.5 

1.1 

16.0 

16.5 

20.3 

63.9 

67.2 

93.7 

1,711.0 

100.0 

23.6 

53.1 

5.0 

36.6 

100.0 

6.7 

100.0 

43.7 

100.0 

10.6 

46.5 

100.0 

8.3 

100.0 

100.0 

12.5 

100.0 

100.0 

1.7 

1.2 

6.7 

33.6 

100.0 

12.6 

14.9 

38.4 

39.6 

83.9 

20.7 

59.0 

0.6 

31.4 

43.1 

3.4 

338.4 

250.1 

357.1 

32.0 

42.6 

70.3 

38.1 

65.3 

2.6 

8.2 

0.3 

37.4 

4.6 

3.4 

16.0 

16.4 

20.3 

63.7 

67.5 

94.4 

1,770.6 

100.0 

67.8 

53.1 

6.8 

39.8 

100.0 

7.5 

100.0 

45.6 

100.0 

24.2 

45.8 

100.0 

12.6 

100.0 

100.0 

12.7 

100.0 

100.0 

1.5 

3.7 

6.7 

33.5 

100.0 

12.6 

15.0 

38.7 

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 vulnerable according to Article 3 (2) of the Nitrates Directive; **based 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 

28 

EN 

 
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Figure 8. Percentage of territory of Member states designated as NVZ. (Member States that apply the whole territory approach are not included in the 
figure: Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands and Slovenia). 

80.0

70.0

60.0

50.0

40.0

30.0

20.0

10.0

0.0

Belgium

Bulgaria

Hungary
Slovakia
Czech Republic
United Kingdom
France

Greece

Sweden

Latvia

Spain

Estonia

Cyprus

Romania

Portugal

Poland

Italy

29 

EN 

EN 

 
  
 
Table 5. Density of groundwater (GW) and freshwater stations (SW) measured for the whole 
land surface (yellow: MS that apply the whole territory approach). 

Total  land  surface 
km2*  

GW stations 

density  of  GW  stations
(points / 1000 km²) 

SW stations  

density SW stations 
(points / 1000 km²) 

MS 

AT-Austria 

BE-Belgium  

BG-Bulgaria 

CY-Cyprus 

83870 

30528 

110910 

9250 

CZ-Czech Republic 

78866 

DE-Germany 

DK-Denmark 

EE-Estonia 

EL-Greece 

ES-Spain 

FI-Finland 

FR-France 

HU-Hungary 

IE-Ireland 

IT-Italy 

LT-Lithuania 

LU-Luxembourg 

LV-Latvia 

MT-Malta 

NL-Netherlands 

PL-Poland 

PT-Portugal 

RO-Romania 

SE-Sweden 

SI-Slovenia 

SK-Slovakia 

357110 

43090 

45222 

131940 

504782 

338420 

547030 

93030 

70280 

301230 

65200 

2580 

63589 

316 

37350 

312685 

92391 

237500 

449964 

20270 

49035 

United Kingdom 

244820 

* Data from Eurostat - July 2009 

368 

3020 

128 

222 

408 

893 

1479 

621 

418 

4078 

54 

2664 

1868 

210 

5479 

53 

20 

176 

14 

1244 

1266 

630 

1371 

163 

112 

1767 

3061 

4.4 

98.9 

1.2 

24.0 

5.2 

2.5 

34.3 

13.7 

3.2 

8.1 

0.2 

4.9 

20.1 

3.0 

18.2 

0.8 

7.8 

2.8 

44.3 

33.3 

4.0 

6.8 

5.8 

0.4 

5.5 

36.0 

12.5 

297 

1154 

109 

10 

949 

171 

220 

70 

107 

2544 

147 

1746 

535 

217 

2111 

108 

16 

325 

7 

502 

3397 

127 

1240 

2185 

117 

224 

7988 

3.5 

37.8 

1.0 

1.1 

12.0 

0.5 

5.1 

1.5 

0.8 

5.0 

0.4 

3.2 

5.8 

3.1 

7.0 

1.7 

6.2 

5.1 

22.2 

13.4 

10.9 

1.4 

5.2 

4.9 

5.8 

4.6 

32.6 

EN 

30 

   EN 

 
Table 6. Density of groundwater (GW) and freshwater stations (SW) within the NVZ areas.  

density GW 
stations 
within NVZ 

NVZ 
surface 

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 

CY-Cyprus 

CY 

630 

CZ-Czech Rep 

CZ 

31370 

EE-Estonia 

EL-Greece 

ES-Spain 

EE 

EL 

ES 

3390 

31960 

63690 

1512 

FR-France 

FR 

250130 

2260 

HU-Hungary 

HU 

52240 

IT-Italy 

LV-Latvia 

PL-Poland 

PT-Portugal 

IT 

LV 

PL 

PT 

38090 

8170 

4608 

3370 

RO-Romania 

RO 

16040 

110 

74 

211 

570 

114 

1627 

2549 

62 

168 

208 

298 

35 

1.9 

117.5 

67 

4 

1.1 

6.3 

6.7 

552 

17.6 

168.1 

3.6 

23.7 

9.0 

31.1 

66.9 

7.6 

36.5 

61.7 

18.6 

0.5 

77.7 

10 

41 

378 

1209 

369 

707 

53 

135 

8 

145 

442 

120 

2.9 

1.3 

5.9 

4.8 

7.1 

18.6 

6.5 

29.3 

2.4 

9.0 

6.5 

7.3 

67520 

SE 

SK 

16410 

1275 

SE-Sweden 

SK-Slovakia 

UK-United 
Kingdom 

UK 

94410 

1818 

19.3 

4203 

44.5 

EN 

31 

   EN 

 
 
 
  
 
Chapter II  

Commission Decisions on derogation requests submitted by Member States 

•  Austria:  Up  to  230  kg  N/ha  from  livestock  manure  on  cattle  farms  on  which  the  crop 
rotation includes more than 70% of particularly nitrogen consuming crops like grass, grass 
catch crops or beets and other crops being undersown  by grass with  low nitrate leaching 
potential  
(Decision 2006/189/EC3; expired on 31 December 2007)  

•  Belgium 

–  Flanders:  Up  to  250  kg  N/ha  from  grazing livestock manure and  treated  manure 
on parcels from any type of farms cultivated with grassland and maize undersown 
with  grassland;  Up  to  200  kg  N/ha  from  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/EC4) 

–  Wallonia: Up to 230 kg N/ha from livestock manure on cattle farms for grassland 
than  115  kg  N/ha  on  other  farmland  on  cattle  farms.  

and  not  more 
(Commission Decision 2008/96/EC5)  

•  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 2007/697/EC6) 

•  Germany:  Up  to  230  kg  N/ha  from  livestock  manure  on  cattle  farms  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  livestock  manure  on  cattle  farms  on  which  the  crop 
rotation includes more than 70% of particularly nitrogen consuming crops like grass, grass 
catch crops or beets and other crops being undersown  by grass with  low nitrate leaching 
potential. 
(Decision 2002/915/EC9 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 
grassland 
of 

agricultural 

or  more 

least 

70% 

with 

land 

the 

at 

is 

3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 

OJ L 66/44, 8.3.2006 
OJ L16/28, 19.1.2008 
OJ L 32/21, 6.2.2008 
OJ L 284/27, 30.10.2007 
OJ L 382/1, 28.12.2006 
OJ L 268/35, 13.10.2009 
OJ L 319/24, 23.11.2002 
OJ L 94/34, 13.4.2005 
OJ L 217/16, 13.8.2008 

EN 

32 

   EN 

 
 
 
                                                 
(Commission  Decision  2005/880/EC12;  a  draft  proposal  for  extension  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/EC13 

–  Northern Ireland: Up to 250 kg N/ha from grazing livestock manure on grassland 
is  grassland. 

the  agricultural 

land 

farms  where  80%  or  more  of 
(Commission Decision 2007/863/EC14)  

12 
13 
14 

OJ L 324/89, 10.12.2005 
OJ L 141/48, 29.5.2009 
OJ L 337/122, 21.12.2007 

EN 

33 

   EN 

 
                                                 
Chapter III 

Examples of progress made in action programmes 

Italy  revised  its  national  framework  decree  on  action  programmes  in  2006,  after  which  the 
regions updated the specific regional action programmes in 2007-2008. The ministerial decree 
contains  specific  provisions  on  how  to  implement  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 storage differentiated by geographic areas, provisions on storage of 
solid manure, tables for design of storage constructions, 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 authorities of all livestock farms above a certain 
size, including the obligation of preparing detailed fertilisation plans. In addition, the decree 
sets out a series of obligations that also apply to farms outside designated nitrate vulnerable 
zones. 

Based on the ministerial decree, the regions amended their action programmes or established 
new  action  programmes  further  specifying  some  provisions  like  the  start  of  closed  periods 
depending on the geographic area, detailed instructions on fertilisation plans and total N limit. 

Spain  carried  out  a  revision  of  its  action  programmes  with  all  regions  with  designated 
vulnerable zones having amended their action programmes in the period 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  excretion  for  the  evaluation  of  compliance  with 
this standard which are based on a detailed scientific study. The specific measures related to 
annex  II  and  III  of  the  directive  were  revised  for  all  action  programmes  with  particular 
attention  to  limitation  of  fertilisation  (application  standards  in  function  of  crop  rotation, 
fertiliser  plans,  etc),  storage  capacity  and  specific  technical  requirements  for  construction, 
reinforcement  of  closed  periods  in  function  of  local  climatic  conditions  and  practices  and 
specific provisions for fertilisation through irrigation systems. 

Portugal  intends  to  integrate  the  different  action  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 available aiming to be approved early 2010. 

Ireland  established  an  action  programme  applicable  on  its  whole  territory  in  2006.  The 
programme covers all measures referred to in the annex of the directive and set detailed rules 
for farmyard management, storage requirements, closed periods for fertilisation, distance rules 
towards  waters  for  fertilisation,  procedures  for  land  application  to  minimise  pollution  risks 
and  provisions  for  nutrient  management  aiming  balanced  fertilisation  for  both  nitrogen  as 
phosphorus through a system of detailed 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 England, Scotland and Wales a new action programme 
was established in 2008 referring to specific designated vulnerable zones. Both programmes 
covers all the measures referred to in the directive, including detailed rules on closed periods, 
land application procedures including application techniques, storage requirements, limitation 

EN 

34 

   EN 

 
 
of fertilisation through means of a calculated balance system in combination with maximum 
application standards for grassland (Northern Ireland) and application standards based on crop 
type and soil conditions and land cover and specific provisions for application 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  whole  territory  and  includes  reinforced  action 
regarding closed periods, nitrogen application standards, storage capacity, livestock excretion 
values  for  nitrogen  and  phosphorus,  and  a  reinforced  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 like 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, procedures for land application, including closed 
periods  and  maximum  application  standards.  The  action  programme  includes  in  addition 
reinforced  measures  that  apply  only  to  the  designated  vulnerable  zones  like  the  application 
standard of 170 kg N/ha from livestock manure, land management procedures, particularly for 
grassland, land application on slopes 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  standards,  closed  periods,  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 action programme into the new green growth 
strategy  policy  aiming  to  ensure  that  a  high  level  of  environmental,  nature  and  climate 
protection  goes  hand  in  hand  with  modern  and  competitive  agriculture  and  food  industries. 
The  strategy  sets  specific  reduction  targets  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  the  period  2006-2009  a  thorough  revision  process  of 
their  action  programmes  in  close  cooperation  the  Commission.  Detailed  discussions, 
including field visits carried out by Commission staff, were held in Czech Republic, Slovakia, 
Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia and Poland. 

Poland,  Czech  Republic,  Slovakia  and  Hungary  established  new  action  programmes  in 
2008.  The  polish  implementation  exists  of  a  national  ministerial  framework  order  and  21 
regional action programmes detailing the specific measures referred to in the annexes of the 
directive.  The  other  countries  have  established  one  action  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 

35 

   EN 

 
The  new  programmes  substantially  improve  the  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,  the  Commission  has  started  first 
discussions  on  the  quality  of  the  action  programmes.  Bulgaria  established  one  action 
programme  that  applies  to  all  designated  vulnerable  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 systems requiring farmers to take into account 
both the amount of water and the level of fertilizer 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  permit  issued  on  the  basis  of  this  plan.  In  Cyprus, 
about  85-90%  of  farmers  apply  advanced  irrigation  techniques  regulating  water  supply  in 
function of actual crop water needs and for this reducing leaching risks.  

EN 

36 

   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  Directive  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  needs  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  phosphorus  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  networks  established  under  the  Water  Framework 
Directive16. 

The  Groundwater  Directive17,  which  entered  into  force  in  January  2007,  aims  to 
prevent  and  control  groundwater  pollution.  The  transposition  of  this  directive  was 
due  by  January  2009.  The  Directive  requires  Member  States  to  establish  threshold 
values for pollutants and indicators 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  complements  the  Nitrates  Directive  by  giving  a 
clear  time  line  for  attaining  the  threshold  of  50  mg/l  in  groundwater  bodies. 
Furthermore,  Member  States  are  required  to  identify  any  significant  and  sustained 
upward  trends  of  pollutants,  including  nitrates,  and  to  reverse  these  trends  on  the 
basis of the programme of measures defined under the Water Framework Directive. 
Consequently, the requirements of the Nitrates Directive 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 
16 
17 

Directive 2000/60/EC 
See also point 4, monitoring networks 
Directive 2006/118/EC 

EN 

37 

   EN 

 
 
                                                 
established by Member States and several Member States have already indicated to 
set a more stringent threshold value for nitrates than the 50 mg nitrates per litre18.  

Air quality and climate change 

All  activities  related  to  livestock  management,  including  housing,  chemical  and 
organic  fertiliser  management,  manure  storage  and  fertilizers  application  have  an 
-) to waters, the emissions 
impact on the environment. Besides losses of nitrates (NO3
of  the  greenhouse  gasses  nitrous-oxide  (N2O)  and  methane  (CH4)  cause  impacts. 
Those gases are characterised by a global warming potential of 310 (for N2O) and 21 
(for CH4) times higher than CO2
. The emissions of ammonia (NH3) are responsible 
for impacts on human health, eutrophication of waters and acidification of soils. The 
field of application of the Nitrates Directive overlaps with EU policies related to the 
limitation of pollutants responsible for acidification, 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.  

19

Scientific analysis22 has shown that measures to be established in action programmes 
taken  under  the  scope  of  the  Nitrates  Directive  -  therefore  aiming  at  the  emission 
reduction of nitrates to waters – represent "win win" solutions, as they also decrease 
atmospheric  emissions  of  nitrogen  compounds.  In  particular,  the  analysis  showed 
that  a  "Nitrate  Directive  fully  implemented"  scenario  would  result  in  additional 
emission reductions of 14% and 6% respectively 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 apply higher amounts of manure on land. 

Agricultural policies 

The  implementation  of  the  Nitrates  Directive  has  strong  links  with  the  common 
agricultural policy (CAP), related both to direct support and rural development.  

Direct payments to farmers as well as certain rural development payments are subject 
to cross compliance. This means that, in order to avoid any possible reduction in the 
total level of support received under these aid schemes, farmers must comply with 18 
statutory management requirements, including the Nitrates Directive, and a number 
of  requirements  for  ensuring  the  'good  agricultural  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 

19 

20 
21 
22 

Austria (45 mg/l); Ireland (37.5 mg/l); United Kingdom (between range 18-42 mg/l); Hungary (range 
between (25-50 mg/l); Latvia (48.7 mg/l) 
Climate  Change  1995,  The  Science  of  Climate  Change:  Summary  for  Policymakers  and  Technical 
Summary of the Working Group I Report. 
Directive 2001/81/EC on National Emission Ceilings for certain pollutants (NEC Directive). 
Directive 2008/1/EC concerning integrated pollution and control (IPPC directive, codified version). 
Commission report 'Integrated measures in agriculture to reduce ammonia emissions', Alterra, 2007 

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environmental integration. Agri-environment commitments must go beyond baseline 
standards,  including  cross  compliance  standards  as  well  as  minimum  requirements 
for  fertiliser  and  plant  protection  product  use  established  by  national  legislation.  In 
relation  to  the  Nitrates  Directive,  this  means  that  farmers  must  go  beyond  the 
obligations  specified  in  the  nitrate  action  programmes  for  nitrate  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-environmental  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  development  measure  contributing  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  pathways.  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 project expects to provide tools to assess 
land use and climate impacts on ground water and related ecosystems which will set 
the basis for future and better groundwater management. 

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Chapter V 

References  

•  European Fertilizer Manufacturers Association (EFMA) 

•  Eurostat statistics: http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu 

•  OECD statistics: http://stats.oecd.org 

•  Draft  Guidelines  for  the  monitoring  required  under  the  Nitrates  Directive,  European 

Commission, 2004 

•  Commission  report  'Integrated  measures  in  agriculture  to  reduce  ammonia  emissions', 
Alterra 2007; http://ec.europa.eu/environment/archives/air/cafe/activities/ammonia_en.htm 

•  Climate  Change  1995,  the  Science  of  Climate  Change:  Summary  for  Policymakers  and 
22; 

the  Working  Group 

Report, 

page 

I 

Technical 
http://unfccc.int/ghg_data/items/3825.php 

summary 

of 

•  Member State reports on implementation of the Nitrates directive for the period 2004-2007 

•  Bouraoui F., Grizzetti B. Aloe A., 2009. Nutrient discharge from rivers to seas. JRC EUR 

24002 EN, 72pp. 

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