Fertilisers
Responsible Body:
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and The Environment Agency
Summary:
These regulations aim to prevent fertilisers from entering watercourses such as rivers, streams, lakes or drainage ditches.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and The Environment Agency
Summary:
These regulations aim to prevent fertilisers from entering watercourses such as rivers, streams, lakes or drainage ditches.
Key Requirements:
Certain areas particularly vulnerable to nitrate pollution have been designated Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs). The occupier of any land within an NVZ is responsible for complying with certain rules, such as limiting the amount of organic and inorganic nitrogen fertiliser you use and keeping records.
You can find out if your farm is in an NVZ in England by looking at the maps on the Defra website.
You can find out if your farm is in an NVZ in England by looking at the maps on the Defra website.
Penalties & Implications of non-compliance:
The Environment Agency is responsible for assessing compliance with the rules. If you do not comply, you may be prosecuted and fined. Farmers must also comply in order to be entitled to their full subsidy payment under the single farm payment scheme.
Further Information:
Defra has produced nine detailed guidance leaflets which can be downloaded from the website You must refer to the Defra guidance to make sure you meet all the requirements.
The Environment Agency is responsible for assessing compliance with the rules. If you do not comply, you may be prosecuted and fined. Farmers must also comply in order to be entitled to their full subsidy payment under the single farm payment scheme.
Further Information:
Defra has produced nine detailed guidance leaflets which can be downloaded from the website You must refer to the Defra guidance to make sure you meet all the requirements.