Objective:
Upon accession to the EU Malta, as all other Member
States was obliged to ensure compliance with the Nitrates
Directive 91/676/EEC. This Directive
lays down provisions that are specific to the protection of waters against
pollution caused by Nitrates (organic- manure/slurry and inorganic fertilisers)
from agricultural sources.
In Malta the directive has been transposed into S.L 549.25 establishing the Environment and Resource Authority as The CA for the coordination and monitoring of the implementation of the provisions required in the Directive. S.L 549.66 makes the Agriculture Directorate the Competent Authority for the implementation of the Nitrates Action Programme Regulations
The general provisions pertaining to the objective
of this table are summarised in Table 1.
| 2 |
Establish Action Programmes should include
measures to limit the land-application of all nitrogen-containing fertilizers
and in particular to set specific limits for the application of livestock
manure |
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| 3 |
Monitor waters and to apply reference methods of
measurement for nitrogen compounds to ensure that measures are effective |
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| 4 |
Establish a (Nitrates ) Committee to assist the
Commission on matters relating to the implementation of this Directive |
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| 5 |
Establish a code or codes of good agricultural
practice, to be implemented by farmers on a voluntary basis |
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| 6 |
Set up where necessary a programme, including
the provision of training and information for farmers, promoting the
application of the code(s) of good agricultural practice. |
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| 7 |
Draw up and implement suitable monitoring
programmes to assess the effectiveness of action programmes. |
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Directorate's Role:
The Agriculture Directorate is the Competent Authority in ensuring the implementation of the Nitrates Action Programme obligations Malta as Member State has with regards to the protection of groundwater from Nitrate Contamination specifically from agricultural sources
Registering parcels in the Nitrates Registry:
To Register your parcels within the Nitrates Registry kindly contact Front Office: on 2292 6148 Or Customer Service 2180 4981
Record Keeping
Record keeping
pertinent to the Nitrates Directive is established as provisions laid down in
Regulation 12 of S.L. 549.66
To facilitate farmers to reach the objective in
ensuring compliance to such obligations a standard policy is to be adopted for:
Controllers from the Nitrates Action
Unit (Agriculture Directorate) and Control Unit (Paying Agency - Cross
Compliance) in making checks to ensure farm management records are being
properly maintained
Availability/accessibility for
farmers to refer to templates (from website)
It is to be clear that there is no legal obligation
that farmer/livestock breeder must by force use such templates, rather, these
templates will be used as a guidance procedure. In complying with the
requirement stipulating that; Farmers shall keep adequate and updated farm
management records, and shall make them readily available for inspection to the
Department upon request.
Farm management records shall include the
following information, as applicable:
a) the farmer for the calendar year in question;
(To be indicated on every sheet submitted
applicable both livestock and land based)
b) the total agricultural area including the size and location of each
field;
(This is to be available on approved fertiliser
plans through the calculation performed on the IT system)
c) the cropping regimes and their individual areas;
(This is to be available in the system through the
issuing of approved fertiliser plans)
d) the number of livestock kept on the holding, their species and type and the length of time for which they
were kept on the holding;
(Information to be made available from the herd book, important
that this is kept up to date)
((Applicable only to livestock owners))
e) the capacity of livestock manure storage, and where applicable
the details of rented storage, livestock manure production, manure separation,
the details of any rental or contractual agreement;
certificate of warranted
architect having details of the manure clamp and cesspit
Livestock manure production-
farmer has indication of calculation as per annex V of NAP (annex II)
Manure separation- any
records of technical information pertaining to use of manure separation, eg.
Electricity used vis-a-vis rate of separation per hour.
(Applicable only livestock)
f) the quantity of each type of fertiliser moved on or off the
holding, the amount of each type of fertiliser applied, the nutrient content of
the inorganic fertiliser, the location used;
g) the
date of movement of farm manure, the name and address of the consignee, the
consignor and any third party transporter of the manure.
Advisors & Technical Experts
Regulation 18(j) of S.L 549.66 requires the Competent Authority to
have a List of Advisors and technical experts.
These advisors and technical experts would be recognised by the
Directorate as competent person to provide advice and technical input in
the compilation of Fertiliser Plans that is to be carried out in line with
Regulation 4 of S.L 549.66.
Any person interested to attain recognition from the Director to be
included in the list of Advisors and Technical experts is to contact the
relevant officials.
List of Advisors and Technical Experts
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Approved Training Courses - For the Use of Organic
& Inorganic Fertilisers
In line with Regulation 13(2) if S.L 549.66 the Agriculture Directorate organises periodical courses on the use of fertilisers. Anyone interested in attending one of these course can apply here or or contact the Customer Care of the Agriculture Directorate 2180 4981.
General Information:
For futher information, contact:
Registering parcels in the Nitrates
Registry:
To Register your parcels within the
Nitrates Registry kindly contact Front Office: on 2292 6162.
- Plant Nutrient Requirement Guidelines
- Record Keeping Templates
Record sheet ġarr ta’ demel barra ir-razzet
Record sheet għat-trasportaturi ta’ demel u slurry tal-bhejjem
Record sheet għax-xiri u l-użu tad-demel u l-fertilizzant
- Waste Storage Capacity Calculation for Livestock Farms
Calculation of need for manure and slurry storage