Many NVZ queries still await answer
Many NVZ queries still await answer
By Andrew Swallow
WITH the consultation deadline on Nitrate Vulnerable Zones approaching, the Environment Agency has questioned the scientific justification for the 50mg/litre limit and accused government of not giving farmers all the facts.
Speaking at an Association of Independent Crop Consultants meeting earlier this week, head of land quality Mark Kibblewhite said evidence from professional toxicologists is needed to justify the EU directive limit of 50mg/litre of nitrate in water which the UK government is acting to enforce.
"This is a serious question that has to be answered. The government has the resources to do that."
The consultation paper, which offers a choice of a "targeted" designation area – predicted to affect 80% Englands land area – or a blanket designation, does not give farmers all the facts, he said.
Many are unaware of what the legislation, if implemented in a similar way to current NVZ areas, would mean for farm businesses.
"There are elements missing from the consultation, such as what will be the information requirements. Complying with NVZs involves a lot of paperwork, planning, collating and consulting."
Environment consultant Michael Payne, working on behalf of the NFU on NVZs, urged farmers to make sure consultation papers were returned to DEFRA by Feb 28.
"If you want your vote to count then answer the questions as they are laid out and add comments at the end, under question three."
That is the place to question the way in which the directive is being applied in England and also the science behind the 50mg/litre limit. Different methods of targeting areas in Scotland and Wales will lead to just 18% and 3% of land area being designated as an NVZ, he said.
"The methods used to determine the designated areas in England were changed without consultation, which will result in arbitrary and unfair NVZ designations. For example, the whole of the Peak District will be designated but not most of the North Yorks Moors or Pennines."
In NVZ designated areas, spreading slurry or poultry manure will be prohibited between Sept 1 and Nov 1 on grassland and Aug 1 and Nov 1 on arable land. "But these timing restrictions only apply to sandy or shallow soils. That is expected to be about 15% of farms."
Nonetheless all will need to meet the record requirements.
* Why NVZs?
In 1991 an EU directive set a 50mg/litre limit on nitrate in water. The UK took this to mean drinking water and designated 8% of land area as an NVZ to protect drinking water abstraction points.
But the EU Court has ruled this inadequate and that the UK must take action to designate NVZs where water sampling points exceed the limit or face fines of up to £50m a year.
"I do not believe we can appeal. The only recourse is to change the EU law," said Mr Payne. Medical grounds for the limit are increasingly doubtful and nitrate eutrophication is an issue for few of the UKs coastal waters, he adds. "We are doing this for the sake of legal compliance rather than any tangible benefit." *