ARCHIVE: Nitrate Vulnerable Zones in England

What is a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone?

Defra has designated areas as NVZs, in accordance with the EC Nitrates Directive, in order to reduce nitrogen loss from agriculture to water. Farmers within NVZs are required to comply with measures in the Nitrates Action Programme. Defra wrote to farmers in October 2008 alerting them to the extension of the NVZ and the Action Programme rules with which farmers in these areas must comply.

Recent changes to the NVZ boundary

The NVZ boundary was revised in May 2010 as a result of appeals by farmers against the decision to designate land within an NVZ.

The Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2008 allowed for appeals to be made against the decision to designate certain areas of England as NVZs if there was evidence to demonstrate that:

  • the land does not drain into water identified as nitrate-polluted, and/or
  • the water to which the land drains should not have been identified as polluted.

The closing date for submitting an appeal was 31 January 2009. Over 750 appeals were submitted by this deadline. Summary information about all appeals submitted is available in the table below:

All appeals were considered by an independent Appeals Panel.  Where an appeal has been upheld, the land under consideration has been removed from the NVZ and where the Appeals Panel has found that a body of water should not have been identified as polluted, all land draining into that water has also been removed from the NVZ.  This means that even if you did not appeal, your farm may no longer be within the NVZ and you should check the NVZ map below.

How do I find out if I'm in a NVZ?

If your farm is no longer in the NVZ, you no longer have to comply with the NVZ rules, although you should follow the Code of Good Agricultural Practice and must comply with the requirements of the Water Resources (Control of Pollution) (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) Regulations.

If your farm remains in the NVZ, you will need to continue to comply fully with the requirements of the Nitrates Action Programme.  You may wish to consult the guidance leaflets produced by Defra and the Environment Agency to help farmers in NVZs understand the requirements, and implement and comply with the Action Programme measures. Printed copies of the leaflets can be requested from Defra Publications (0845 955 6000).

Please note that in accordance with the requirements of the Nitrates Directive, the NVZ designation must be reviewed every four years.  A review is currently planned for 2012 and designations may change again as a result of this review.

Methodology used to identify NVZs

The methodology used to identify NVZs in England builds upon the designation criteria established in the Nitrates Directive. It was developed by the Environment Agency, and the development was advised by a Defra Steering Group external to the Environment Agency which included Government officials, industry stakeholders and academic experts.

It has been peer reviewed by independent academics who are leaders in the field of surface and groundwater management. The methodology was then applied by the Environment Agency, in close consultation with Defra, to identify NVZs in England.

Contact us

Email:  nitratesdirectiveteam@defra.gsi.gov.uk

The Secretariat – NVZ Appeals Panel
Room 2A
Ergon House
Horseferry Road
London
SW1P 2AL

Page published: 6 May 2010