(This note is not part of the Regulations.)
These Regulations give further effect to Council Directive 91/676/EEC (the Nitrates Directive) concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources.
Regulation 3 establishes the territory of Northern Ireland as the area to which an Action Programme will be applied.
Regulation 4 is a transitional measure and provides for the continuation of the existing Action Programme and the seven existing Nitrate Vulnerable Zones pending the application of an Action Programme to the territory of Northern Ireland.