Written answers
Wednesday, 8 May 2024
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Pesticide Use
Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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402. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 138 of 24 April 2024, if he will advise on flexibility around sanctions in situations where a farmer may not be aware that they have spread fertiliser containing phosphorus; if he will advise on what communication has been made with farmers to advise of rule changes and possible penalties on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20329/24]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Following the finalisation of the current Nitrates Action programme (NAP), and introduction of the current GAP Regulations (SI 113 of 2022, as amended), my Department informed farmers and advisors of all the relevant changes, which included restriction of chemical and/or imported organic phosphorus to soils where there is no valid soil test for phosphorus.
These forms of communication included the following:
- Published a press release in March 2022 referring to the introduction of the new GAP legislation.
- A webinar open to all Farm Advisory Service advisors on the 30th of March 2022.
- Teagasc Signpost webinar open to the public in May 2022.
- Publication of the Nitrates Explanatory Handbook 2022, and Nitrates Leaflet available to download on my department’s website www.gov.ie/nitrates.
- Nitrates Information leaflets provided at the National Ploughing Championships in 2022 and 2023.
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