These Regulations amend the Nitrate Pollution Prevention (Wales) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/2506 (W. 245)) (“the 2013 Regulations”) relating to monitoring of nitrate pollution and designation of nitrate vulnerable zones.

Regulation 5 amends regulation 7 of the 2013 Regulations to update the process by which the Welsh Ministers may designate areas as nitrate vulnerable zones. The current designation process is reliant on section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 which will be repealed once the United Kingdom leaves the European Union.

Regulation 4 amends regulation 6 of the 2013 Regulations to introduce a definition for “new holding” in light of the new designation process.

Regulation 3 amends regulation 4 of the 2013 Regulation so as to provide transitional arrangements for new holdings.

Regulations 6 to 8 make further consequential provision including introducing reporting requirements in relation to new holdings.

The Welsh Ministers' Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result, no impact assessment has been produced for these Regulations as there is no change to policy, or impact on business or the voluntary sectors foreseen.