Defra publishes response to consultation on implementation of Nitrates Directive

Defra has published its response to the consultation on the implementation of the Nitrates Directive. It has been decided that NVZs will continue to be designated on a selective basis, rather than adopting a "whole territory approach", which will see around 70 per cent of England being designated, an increase from the current 55 per cent situation. The Government is pursuing a derogation from the European Commission with regard to the 170kg/ha whole farm nitrogen limit, however closed periods and storage capacity proposals laid out in the consultation document are to remain unchanged, with the introduction of transitional arrangements to meet these requirements. Further information is available in Defra's News Release.