Statutory review of the Control of Agricultural Pollution Regulations: evidence pack: summary of headings
Summary of headings within the supporting evidence pack about the effectiveness of measures in reducing or preventing water pollution from agricultural sources.
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In this page
Introduction
The introduction section provides additional background to the purpose of the review. It explores the origins of the (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 (CoAP Regulations) as well as providing an overview of Welsh Government’s obligations, objectives and international commitments. It also provides the legislative context elsewhere in the UK and the EU and potential impacts on trade.
Background to agriculture in Wales
This section provides a basic analysis of the agriculture sector in Wales, highlighting the prominence of livestock farming and the importance of grassland management within Wales.
Water quality monitoring evidence
This section provides an exploration of the water quality monitoring data available from a variety of sources. It highlights the challenges to both assessing the impacts of agricultural pollution and in understanding the effectiveness of measures within the regulations.
Stakeholder experience
The stakeholder experience section explores the conversations held by the Chair during the review period. It broadly summarises discussions on important aspects of the Regulations and seeks to reflect the views of stakeholders.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) enforcement outcomes
The enforcement of the CoAP Regulations is undertaken by NRW and inspections are undertaken through a service level agreement (SLA). This section explores the outcomes of this initial phase of inspection, highlighting common issues and areas of non-compliance.
Additional evidence relating to key areas of the Regulations
This section provides additional evidence and discussion in relation to some of the key areas of the CoAP Regulations, including nutrient management planning, nitrogen application limits, phosphorus management, closed periods, storage requirements, ammonia emissions, soil protection requirements, geographic and risk-based approaches as well as the accessibility, flexibility and enforceability of the regulations.
Alternative measures (Regulation 45)
The CoAP Regulations contained a provision under regulation 45 for alternative measures to be proposed where they could ‘deliver the outcomes more effectively than the measures contained in these Regulations’. Following an initial assessment, a commitment was made to further consider the alternative measures as part of the 4-year review. This section contains an assessment which considers the proposals in more detail.