GAP Regulations
European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2022. (GAP Regs 2022), provide statutory support for good agricultural practice to protect waters against pollution from agricultural sources and include measures such as:
- Set periods when land application of fertilisers is prohibited
- Limits on the land application of fertilisers
- Storage requirements for livestock manure, and
- Monitoring of the effectiveness of the measures in terms of agricultural practice and impact on water quality.
The duties and implications for farmers are outlined under the following headings:
Farmyard Management
- Minimisation of soiled water.
- Provision and management of storage facilities
- General obligations as to capacity of storage facilities
- Capacity of storage facilities for effluents and soiled water
- Capacity of storage facilities for pig manure
- Capacity of storage facilities for poultry manure
- Capacity of storage facilities for manure from deer, goats and sheep
- Capacity of storage facilities for manure from cattle
- Reduced storage capacity in certain circumstances
Nutrient Management
- Interpretation, commencement etc.
- Duty of occupier in relation to nutrient management
Prevention of Water Pollution from Fertilisers and Certain Activities
- Distances from water body and other issues
- Requirements as to manner of application of fertilizers soiled water etc.
- Periods when application of fertilisers is prohibited.
- Limits on the amount of livestock manure applied.
- Ploughing and the use of non-selective herbicides.
General
- General duty of occupier
- Keeping of records by occupier
- False or misleading information
- Authorised person
- Offences and related matters
