Introduction to Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZ's)
DEFRA NVZ UK regulations to come into force in 2012
Regulations governing the storage and application of slurry and livestock waste will come into force in many parts of the UK in January 2012. Livestock farms in NVZ designated areas will be required to comply with these regulations. Failure to do so could mean a reduction in DEFRA Single Farm Payments under the single payment scheme and the possibility of fines.
The extent of the changes which need to be made to the farm infrastructure (slurry storage, dirty water management etc.) in order to comply will vary from farm to farm. In some instances the scope of the works to be carried out will be broad and could take some time to plan and implement.
Affordable funding will also be an important consideration for most NVZ related farm improvement projects.
The pages within this section of our website are aimed at providing a guide to the regulations and include:
A background to Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZ) in the UK
New NVZ regulations governing certain livestock farming operations including the storage and spreading of slurry and animal wastes, come into force in some parts of the UK in January 2012. The Agricultural Mortgage Corporation offers straightforward funding solutions for NVZ related projects.
The NVZ regulations form part of the The Nitrates Directive (1991) which is an EC Law aimed at reducing the amount of nitrogen entering the watercourse as a result of agricultural related operations. All land in the UK, identified as draining to polluted waters (waters which contain or could contain, if preventative action is not taken, more than 50mg of nitrate per litre, according to the Environment Agency in 2006, published 2008), has been designated as a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone.
Certain farming operations on livestock farms within the designated NVZ areas will be governed by the regulations. These include being able to demonstrate adequate slurry storage capacity relative to the livestock enterprise size and type and restrictions over the times of the year when slurry and farm animal waste can be applied to land. Non compliance could prove costly.