The exception, which would otherwise expire in three weeks, allows several thousand Irish farmers to spread more fertilizer per hectare and thus keep more livestock than is permitted in the rest of the EU countries. According to Irish agricultural organizations, the extension is crucial for the dairy sector.
The new derogation brings stricter conditions that still need to be fixed by Brussels in an implementing decision. The details are not yet known. It is already known, however, that from 2028 Irish farmers will be allowed to use five percent less artificial fertilizer in river catchment areas where nitrogen pollution is highest. These areas are around the rivers Barrow, Slaney, Nore, and Blackwater.
Buffer zones around rivers will also be expanded. These are strips of land where no artificial fertilizer may be used at all. The zones are being enlarged to prevent fertilizers from entering surface water. From 2028, greater distances to the water’s edge and stricter restrictions on slopes will also apply to animal manure.
In addition, Irish authorities will have to carry out annual inspections on at least ten percent of the farms to verify compliance with the conditions. Ireland must also be able to demonstrate better compliance with the Habitats Directive, especially in areas where pollution reduction is lagging the most.
Meanwhile, the Irish government announces that other measures from the Nitrates Action Programme will also be tightened in the coming years. For many Irish farmers, this means preparing for structural changes in their operations.
Industry organizations warn that losing the derogation would have been disastrous for a significant part of the dairy sector. They also point out that Brussels has not yet disclosed all details of the additional conditions. They fear that due to stricter requirements, one in eight dairy farms could disappear.
At the same time, opponents point out that water quality in Ireland has been deteriorating for years and that stricter rules are necessary to prevent further environmental damage.