Press Release from The European Commission DG XI, Environment, Nuclear Safety and Civil Protection,
date : 25 january 1999

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Commission acts against United Kingdom for its continuing failure to fully curb water pollution by nitrates

Brussels, 25 January 1999

The European Commission has decided to make an application to the European Court of Justice against the United Kingdom for non-respect of the European Union's (EU) Nitrates Directive (Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources). The Nitrates Directive aims to reduce water pollution caused by agricultural sources and to prevent further such pollution. It requires Member States to carry out monitoring of surface waters and groundwater, and to identify and designate vulnerable zones (i.e. zones affected by nitrate-related pollution) by 20 December 1993. Action programmes for such zones should be established by 20 December 1995 in order to control nitrate pollution from agricultural sources. Member States have the option of applying these action programmes throughout their territory. They must also adopt codes of good agricultural practice; these are a binding part of action programmes.

The decision taken reflects a number of weaknesses in the United Kingdom's implementation. In particular, the United Kingdom has only applied the criteria set out in the Directive for identifying waters affected by pollution from nitrates to drinking water sources, whether surface water or ground water sources, which are affected by over-enrichment by nitrates. The criteria should be applied to all surface waters and ground waters not just those destined for human consumption. The United Kingdom has now extended its monitoring to investigate such waters, but the additional monitoring will not be completed until 2000, several years after the Directive's deadline. In addition, in Northern Ireland no action programmes have been established for three nitrate vulnerable zones.

The decision underlines the Commission's determination to see the Nitrates Directive fully implemented across the EU. It should be noted that the Commission has similar infringement proceedings underway against a large number of other Member States.