IMPLEMENTION OF THE
91/676/EEC NITRATES DIRECTIVE
Gheorghe CONSTANTIN,
Director
Ministry of Waters and Forests
CONTENT
1. Legal Framework
2. Current status of the implementation process
3. Conclusions
One Coherent Management Frame
Protected area
agriculture
Habitats
Directive
Birds Protection
Directive
Pesticides
Directive
Env.
Impact
Assessment
Directive
Nitrates
Directive
WFD
objectives
and
programme of
measures
Bathing Water
Directive
Seveso
Directive
Drinking Water
Directive
Urban Waste
Water Directive
agglomeration
3
Sewage Sludge
Directive
IPPC
Directive
industry
Results: GWBs – Chemical status
Results: SWBs - Ecological status/potential
Legal framework (1)
The Nitrates Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection
of waters against pollution with nitrates from agriculture
sources was fully adopted through the following national legal
acts:
Transposition
Government Decision nr. 964/2000 for the approval of the
Action Plan for the water protection against pollution with
nitrates from agriculture sources and for starting up the
Commission and Support Group for the implementation of the
Action Plan for the protection of water against pollution with
nitrates from agriculture sources;
Legal framework (2)
Ministerial Order no. 1072/2003 regarding the monitoring system of the
surface water and groundwater from the agricultural sources;
Joint Ministerial Order no. 242/197/2005 regarding the monitoring system
of the soil from the vulnerable and potential vulnerable zones and the
system management of organic residues from agriculture
Ministerial Order no.387/2006 on approval of the procedure for public
participation in the development, amendment or revision of Actions
Programmes for vulnerable zones.
Joint Ministerial Order no. 990/1809//2015 for the approval of the new Code for
Good Agriculture Practices;
Land Use
(FAO-LCCS remote sensing based data)
Implementation Plan
 Definition of the vulnerable zones (Romania implement
the Action Plans at the entire territory )
 Development of the Code of Good Agricultural Practices
(3rd version have been approved in 2015)
 Establishment of a specific water and soil monitoring
system
 Development of the Action Programs (second version
approved in 2014)
 Implementation of the Action Plans in 4 years
 Reporting to the Commission
 Estaimated costs in 2004 ~2 billions Euro
Action Program (1)
In June 2013,
it was decided to apply an action program for water
protection against pollution with nitrates from agricultural
sources at the level of the whole Romanian territory.
The Action Programs:
- were subjects to public consultation;
- were posted on the MWF sites;
- were discussed and approved by the Basin Committees
created at basin river level for consultation purposes.
Action Programs (2)
Main requirements:
interdiction periods for applying manure based on the
interval between earliest freezing of the soil (autumn) /
latest freezing (spring)
evaluation of minimum storage volumes based on animal
type, grazing conditions and interdiction period for applying
manure
application of the Code of Good Agriculture Practices
nutrient management plans
Action Programs (3)
evaluation of the land for manure spreading from animal
complexes
evaluation of grass strips area along/around the surface
waters
maximum Nitrogen amount
manure:170 kg / ha /year
applied
vegetations cover in winter periods
with livestock
Competent authorities
According to the Implementation Plan the authorities
involved in the Nitrates Directive implementation are:
Ministry of Waters and Forests - responsible for the
Implementation of the Directive
co-operating Ministries and authorities:
-Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
-Ministry of Health and county authorities
Stakeholders and their responsibilities
National Institute for Research and Development of
Pedology, Agro-chemistry and Environmental Protection
(NIRPA)
Focal point centre, monitors the quality of farmland
Identifies /revises vulnerable zones
Participates in developing and coordinating the
implementation of action programs in the vulnerable zones.
Stakeholders and their responsibilities
The National Administration ”Romanian Waters ”(NARW) and the National
Institute of Hydrology and Water Management, subordinated to the NARW
monitoring the surface water and groundwater quality (nitrate level)
monitoring the eutrophication of fresh waters and coastal waters
identifying and elaborating the cadastre of waters affect by nitrates pollution
participating in the development and coordination of the implementation of
Action Programmes
supervising the implementation of actions programmes and proposed
measures
Stakeholders and their responsibilities
The Institute for Public Heath (IPH)
Monitoring of nitrates in drinking water
Local Public Administrations at county and commune level
Developing and administering communal manure storage
platforms
Implementing rules for management, handling and
application of manure
Participating in the implementation of the Action
Programmes
Stakeholders and their responsibilities
Agriculture and Rural Development County Directorates
participation in implementing Action Programmes
participation in developing and coordinating the
implementation of action programs for vulnerable zones
supervising
the implementation of proposed action
programmes and measures.
Stakeholders and their responsibilities
The National Environmental Guard (NEG) and county
Commissariats
Inspection and control of the specific environmental
enforcement legislation
Stakeholders and their responsibilities
Farmers
Change in practices and mentality
Invest in the infrastructure for manure management
Ensure the protection of water courses by leaving grass
strips
Change the patterns related to the use of fertilizers
Main problems
Large number of small farms
Climate change
Administrative capacity particularly for monitoring of implementation
Difficulty to delineate between pollution coming from agriculture and
from lack of sewerage
Insufficient financing (particularly for small farms)
Economic crisis
Main opportunities
World Bank support through specific projects
EU funds for the support of agricultural activities
EU funds in the water sector
EU funds for strengthening the capacity of human resources
Research projects
Annual average nitrate concentration in groundwater
Annual average nitrate concentration in surface water
Implementation of future activities
 A general reassessment for updating legislation
 A revision of the Action Programme
All the discussion will take place during the Inter ministerial
Commission meeting.
Implementation of future activities
Problems to be solved:
 a program including the provisions for training and information
of farmers in order to promote the CGAP
Identifying the financial instruments for the implementation of
the Action Programs measures
Strengthening the control capacity
Conclusions
The Nitrates Directive is an instrument protecting the water
from pollution from agricultural sources.
The Nitrates Directive implementation is essential to reach
the WFD objectives.
An increased involvement of all actors in the Nitrates
Directive implementation process is necessary.
Thank you for your kind attention!