Directive (EU) 2016/2284 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

PART 2 U.K. Emission reduction measures referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 6(2)

Member States shall take into account the relevant Ammonia Guidance Document, and shall make use of best available techniques in accordance with Directive 2010/75/EU.

A. Measures to control ammonia emissions U.K.

1. Member States shall establish a national advisory code of good agricultural practice to control ammonia emissions, taking into account the UNECE Framework Code for Good Agricultural Practice for Reducing Ammonia Emissions of 2014, covering at least the following items: U.K.

(a)

nitrogen management, taking into account the whole nitrogen cycle;

(b)

livestock feeding strategies;

(c)

low-emission manure spreading techniques;

(d)

low-emission manure storage systems;

(e)

low-emission animal housing systems;

(f)

possibilities for limiting ammonia emissions from the use of mineral fertilisers.

2. Member States may establish a national nitrogen budget to monitor the changes in overall losses of reactive nitrogen from agriculture, including ammonia, nitrous oxide, ammonium, nitrates and nitrites, based on the principles set out in the UNECE Guidance Document on Nitrogen Budgets(1). U.K.

3. Member States shall prohibit the use of ammonium carbonate fertilisers and may reduce ammonia emissions from inorganic fertilisers by using the following approaches: U.K.

(a)

replacing urea-based fertilisers by ammonium nitrate-based fertilisers;

(b)

where urea-based fertilisers continue to be applied, using methods that have been shown to reduce ammonia emissions by at least 30 % compared with the use of the reference method, as specified in the Ammonia Guidance Document;

(c)

promoting the replacement of inorganic fertilisers by organic fertilisers and, where inorganic fertilisers continue to be applied, spreading them in line with the foreseeable requirements of the receiving crop or grassland with respect to nitrogen and phosphorus, also taking into account the existing nutrient content in the soil and nutrients from other fertilisers.

4. Member States may reduce ammonia emissions from livestock manure by using the following approaches: U.K.

(a)

reducing emissions from slurry and solid manure application to arable land and grassland, by using methods that reduce emissions by at least 30 % compared with the reference method described in the Ammonia Guidance Document and on the following conditions:

(i)

only spreading manures and slurries in line with the foreseeable nutrient requirement of the receiving crop or grassland with respect to nitrogen and phosphorous, also taking into account the existing nutrient content in the soil and the nutrients from other fertilisers;

(ii)

not spreading manures and slurries when the receiving land is water saturated, flooded, frozen or snow covered;

(iii)

applying slurries spread to grassland using a trailing hose, trailing shoe or through shallow or deep injection;

(iv)

incorporating manures and slurries spread to arable land within the soil within four hours of spreading;

(b)

reducing emissions from manure storage outside of animal houses, by using the following approaches:

(i)

for slurry stores constructed after 1 January 2022, using low emission storage systems or techniques which have been shown to reduce ammonia emissions by at least 60 % compared with the reference method described in the Ammonia Guidance Document, and for existing slurry stores at least 40 %;

(ii)

covering stores for solid manure;

(iii)

ensuring farms have sufficient manure storage capacity to spread manure only during periods that are suitable for crop growth:

(c)

reducing emissions from animal housing, by using systems which have been shown to reduce ammonia emissions by at least 20 % compared with the reference method described in the Ammonia Guidance Document;

(d)

reducing emissions from manure, by using low protein feeding strategies which have been shown to reduce ammonia emissions by at least 10 % compared with the reference method described in the Ammonia Guidance Document.

B. Emission reduction measures to control emissions of fine particulate matter and black carbon U.K.

1. Without prejudice to Annex II on cross-compliance of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council(2), Member States may ban open field burning of agricultural harvest residue and waste and forest residue. U.K.

Member States shall monitor and enforce the implementation of any ban implemented in accordance with the first subparagraph. Any exemptions to such a ban shall be limited to preventive programmes to avoid uncontrolled wildfires, to control pest or to protect biodiversity.

2. Member States may establish a national advisory code of good agricultural practices for the proper management of harvest residue, on the basis of the following approaches: U.K.

(a)

improvement of soil structure through incorporation of harvest residue;

(b)

improved techniques for incorporation of harvest residue;

(c)

alternative use of harvest residue;

(d)

improvement of the nutrient status and soil structure through incorporation of manure as required for optimal plant growth, thereby avoiding burning of manure (farmyard manure, deep-straw bedding).

C. Preventing impacts on small farms U.K.

In taking the measures outlined in Sections A and B, Member States shall ensure that impacts on small and micro farms are fully taken into account.

Member States may, for instance, exempt small and micro farms from those measures where possible and appropriate in view of the applicable reduction commitments.

(1)

Decision 2012/10/EC, ECE/EB.AIR/113/Add 1.

(2)

Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the financing, management and monitoring of the common agricultural policy and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 352/78, (EC) No 165/94, (EC) No 2799/98, (EC) No 814/2000, (EC) No 1290/2005 and (EC) No 485/2008 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 549).