Mr. Niall Ryan:

Second, we must set out the detail. A number of physical, chemical and biological tests have been proposed in the proposed directive. Currently, member states are looking for flexibility around the number of tests they will have to carry out under this directive. I refer to flexibility in respect of whether we will have to do all these tests, only some of them or if we can do a suite of them. Regardless of the type of soil, if we have flexibility around these tests we will be looking at the physical, chemical and biological properties. Thresholds have also been set out in relation to these tests. If the results are over or under a threshold, that gives rise to the status of land. The tests do not get into what happened on land before this directive. If land meets, for argument's sake, a bulk density test, a phosphorous test or is biologically active, then the soil could be deemed as being of improved status. If it does not, then farmers will be asked to take steps and a number of practices. Many of our farmers, we must remember, are looked after under CAP. They are looking after their land.