Implementation of the EU Nitrates Directive in different parts of Europe
2015
Knoden, D. | Vertès, Francoise | Foray, S.
The European Union Nitrates Directive is individually implemented by each member state. This study examined the directive's implementation by eight different European countries and regions (i.e., Flanders and Wallonia in Belgium, Germany, Denmark, France, England, Ireland, Netherlands) in which a significant amount of land surface area is covered by grassland. As part of the directive, each member state develops an action programme and a "Code of Good Agricultural Practices" and designates "Nitrate Vulnerable Zones". Several derogations to one part of the directive - that only 170 kg of organic nitrogen can be used per hectare of usable farm area - have been granted. From one country to the next, there is variability in the maximum amount of nitrogen fertiliser allowed, the periods during which organic fertilisers can be spread, and the quantity of nitrogen found in manure. Morever, the way in which manure N content is calculated is also member state-specific. The large diversity of agricultural settings in Europe might explain the diversity in agricultural norms.
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