Regulatory measures to tackle agricultural pollution in Wales to be introduced

Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, has today confirmed regulations covering the whole of Wales to protect water quality from agricultural pollution will be introduced next spring.

The regulations will come into force in January 2020 with transitional periods for some elements to allow farmers time to adapt and ensure compliance.

The regulations will include the following measures:

There are already reports of poor practices being carried out in unsuitable weather conditions this winter, with the number of incidents this year already exceeding last year.

Cabinet Secretary Lesley Griffiths said:  “Last year, I outlined my intention to introduce a whole Wales approach to tackling nitrate pollution.  This year, we have seen an increase in the number of major polluting incidents, damaging both the environment and reputation of the agricultural industry. Equally damaging, in the context of Brexit, is the impact such incidents have on the work underway on Sustainable Brand Values for Welsh Products.

“As winter approaches, I am receiving reports of further incidents and of slurry spreading being carried out in unsuitable weather conditions. Not all slurry spreading is bad, but it must be done legally to avoid such destructive consequences.  

“This poor practice is leaving many stretches of rivers devoid of fish.  Our rural communities, which depend on tourism, angling and food industries, must be protected.

“I have carefully considered the need to balance regulatory measures, voluntary initiative and investment to address agricultural pollution.   

“In the long-term, we will develop a regulatory baseline, informed by responses to the Brexit and our Land consultation.  But in the short term, we must take action now to deal with these unacceptable levels of agricultural pollution.

“That is why I am today confirming I will introduce regulations next spring across Wales to tackle the issue.  The regulations will replicate good practice which many farms are already implementing routinely - this must become the norm.

“The regulations will enable firm and consistent enforcement to be taken.  The regulations will also ensure there are no barriers to trade of agricultural produce with the European Union following Brexit and help us meet national and international obligations on water quality.

“This is the right thing to do – for the environment, for the economy and for the reputation of farming in Wales.”

Notes to editors

Please find attached a copy of the Written Statement

 

In December 2017, I issued a statement outlining my intention to introduce a whole Wales approach to tackling nitrate pollution. 

This year, we have seen an increase in the number and scale of agricultural pollution incidents, damaging both the environment and the reputation of the agriculture industry. Equally damaging, in the context of Brexit, is the impact such incidents have on the work underway on Sustainable Brand Values for Welsh Products.

As winter approaches, I am receiving reports of further incidents and of slurry spreading being carried out in unsuitable weather conditions. Not all slurry spreading is bad, but it must be done legally to avoid such destructive consequences.  

Poor practice is leaving stretches of our rivers devoid of fish. Our rural communities, which depend on tourism, angling and food industries, must be protected. We must also protect the 80,000 people in Wales who rely on private water supplies. 

I have considered the need to balance regulatory measures, voluntary initiatives and investment to address agricultural pollution. I have listened to the views of stakeholders and considered the reports produced by the Wales Land Management Forum sub-group, the Wales Environment Link and World Wildlife Foundation, The Rivers Trust and The Angling Trusts. I have also taken account of responses to the consultations on NVZs, the storage of slurry and silage and the sustainable management of natural resources in Wales.

Of particular note is how well key stakeholders have come together in the Wales Land Management Forum sub group. The group is doing valuable work and I see an ongoing role for it in helping to take forward the action I am announcing.

In the longer-term, we will develop a regulatory baseline, informed by responses to the Brexit and Our Land Consultation. More immediately, in the spring of next year, I will introduce regulations to tackle agricultural pollution. These will apply across the whole of Wales to protect water quality from excessive nutrients. The regulations will come into force in January 2020, with transitional periods for some elements to allow farmers time to adapt and ensure compliance. The regulations will include the following measures:

The regulations will replicate good practice measures which many farmers across Wales are already implementing routinely and for whom very little will change as a result of my statement.  

Good practice must quickly become the norm across the agriculture industry as a whole. Support and advice to help achieve this is available through Farming Connect and our Strategic Production Grant. The SPG has already targeted support at agricultural pollution prevention and nutrient management with nearly 500 applications to that scheme now being processed. 

The new regulations will enable firm, consistent and effective enforcement to be taken as industry and government work side-by-side to address the significant problems we are facing. They will help drive improvements, avoiding potential  barriers to the trade of agricultural produce with the European Union after the UK leaves the EU and at the same time help us to meet our national and international obligations on water quality.