Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 14 September 2022

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Nitrates Derogation and Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion

Mr. John Enright:

Our understanding is the Commission looked for it and the decision was taken by Ireland. I think only four member states in Europe have a derogation at this stage. That can be a bit misleading. It does not mean farmers in other member states cannot be above 170 kg. They can because they may not be in what is known as a nitrate vulnerable zone.