Member States approve controversial proposal for the use of extra nitrates

EU Member States approved in the Nitrates Committee on September 19 the use of recovered nitrogen from manure, the so-called RENURE fertilisers above the limit for the application of manure and processed manure set by the Nitrates Directive. The decision was welcomed by the European Commission and is now shared with the European Parliament and the Council. Environmental and water organisations are shocked by this proposal and urge MEPs and Member States to reject it.

The European Commission stated in a press release that the use of RENURE fertilisers can be done safely to ensure the continued protection of waters and the environment. ‘By allowing the use of RENURE, Member States and farmers will have the possibility to replace chemical fertilisers with RENURE fertilisers. It will also reduce costs for farmers and increase the strategic autonomy of the EU agricultural sector’, the Commission said. If there are no objections from the European Parliament and the Council, the Commission will be able to adopt this amendment to the Nitrates Directive. The amendment would apply only in Member States that choose to authorise RENURE. They will need to transpose the amendment into national law.

Legal nitrate limits will be raised

The European Federation of National Associations of Water Services (EurEau) is less enthusiastic. The association is worried because this proposal would allow the application of RENURE up to 80kg of nitrogen per hectare on top of the normal limit of 170kg/ha. This would amount to raising the legal limit by 47%. In the proposal of the Nitrates Committee, it is explained that the Commission’s Joint Research Centre has assessed that under certain conditions RENURE fertilisers have a similar nitrogen leaching potential and agronomic efficiency to chemical fertilisers. According to the JRC these materials therefore ‘reduce the risks of nitrate losses in water compared to manure and, thanks to this environmental advantage, they could be used above the maximum amount for manure application set out in the Nitrates Directive, while ensuring the achievement of the Directive’s objectives and adequate agronomic benefits.’

Water pollution will increase

EurEau states that it strongly opposes the creation of such a loophole in the Nitrates Directive. “Nitrates are the pollutants that most commonly cause poor chemical status in water bodies, being the predominant groundwater pollutant throughout the EU. This has a massive impact on water resources used for human consumption, given that groundwater is the most important drinking water source for EurEau members. In many places, drinking water operators are forced to mix raw water of different sources to comply with the nitrates standard of 50 mg/L set by the Drinking Water Directive, build, rebuild or close wells or use technically complex and cost-intensive water treatment processes”, writes EurEau on their website. High level of nitrates in drinking water are dangerous for human health. A Danish study found out that nitrates in drinking water are increasing the risk of colorectal cancer.

Substitute for synthetic fertilisers

According to EurEau it does not make any difference whether nitrates come from RENURE or other fertiliser types makes no difference to water bodies; the impact on water bodies is the same. “The use of RENURE fertilisers should be allowed only as a substitute for manure or synthetic fertilisers, not in addition to them. They are also startled that this change, which amounts to a significant revision of the Nitrates Directive, is being made with no impact assessment, even as the Evaluation of the Directive is ongoing.”

Impact assessment was not made

The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) considers the proposal as a step backward for clean water and sustainable farming. In a press release they state the following. “The EU’s Nitrates Committee voted to allow the use of processed manure above existing nitrogen limits – a move largely driven by pressure from the Dutch government to avoid reducing livestock numbers.” EEB warns this decision will weaken one of the EU’s key water protection laws. They also declare, like EurEau, the decision was made without without proper impact assessment and that it ignores the ongoing evaluation of the Nitrates Directive. On top of that it threatens the achievement of the Water Framework Directive objectives. The EEB strongly condemns this decision and urges the European Parliament and Council of the European Union to reject the act and defend environmental safeguards.

Solution for farmers

Farmers’ associations are happy with the upcoming permission to use RENURE. The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Spain and Italy have been pleading for this extra amendment for years. According to them it is a huge milestone for farmers in countries that are dealing with severe manure problems, such as the Netherlands. It would prevent farmers in that country from having to reduce their livestock. Farmers they can reduce the dependence on synthetic fertilisers when they are allowed to use RENURE.