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Nitrate pollution prevention regulations: appeals deadline extended

   

INFORMATION BULLETIN

Ref: 09/09
Date: 14 January 2009

Farmers wishing to appeal against the designation of their land within a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) now have until 10 March 2009 to submit evidence.

The notification of an appeal still must be made by 31 January 2009 but evidence for the appeal can now be submitted up until 10 March.  This follows a decision by the independent appeals panel. 

Appeals may be made free of charge on either or both of the following grounds:

  • the land does not drain into water that has been identified as polluted;
  • the land drains into water that should not have been identified as polluted.

The new Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations came into force on 1 January 2009 and update the UK’s implementation of the 1991 EU Nitrates Directive.

Further guidance on the process and an application form are available at: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/water/quality/nitrate/nvz2008.htm 

Meetings to help those with land within NVZs to meet the new regulations are being organised throughout England. Representatives from Natural England and the Environment Agency will give short presentations and be available to offer advice and answer questions. Farmers and landowners can find out about events in their region at www.crosscompliance.org.uk/cms/nvz or by calling  0845 345 1302.

Further information

More information on the Nitrates Pollution Prevention Regulations 2008 is available at: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/water/quality/nitrate/

A helpline is available to answer technical queries from farmers and advisers - 0845 345 1302 (Monday – Friday, 7am – 7pm until 31 March 2009).  Calls will be charged at the local rate.

NVZ guidance leaflets covering different aspects of the new rules are available on the Defra website at: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/water/quality/nitrate/

Software tools, developed to provide extra help with some of the calculations required under the new rules, are available free of charge at www.planet4farmers.co.uk or by telephoning 08456 023864.

End

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Page published: 14 January 2009