The requirements in relation to phosphorus are set out in the Nitrates Regulations introduced by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in 2006 (SI No. 378 of 2006). The Regulations set maximum limits on the application of fertilisers containing nitrogen and phosphorus and require a farmer to take account of the phosphorus content of any concentrated feedstuffs fed to grazing livestock on the holding in calculating the maximum amount of phosphorus that may be applied on that holding in a given year. While the usage of feedstuffs may have increased as a result of the recent bad weather, the sales of fertilisers containing phosphorus are significantly reduced this year with the result that abiding by the maximum fertilisation rates should be easier for farmers.
The overall objective of the Regulations is to protect water quality and these provisions are designed to control the application of fertilisers, including the timing, method and maximum amounts that may be applied, in order to prevent fertiliser losses to water. The contents of the Regulations, including the maximum fertilisation rates and method of calculation, were the subject of extensive consultation with stakeholders, including the farming bodies, and were finalised following a long period of negotiation with the EU Commission. I am informed that there are no plans to review the maximum fertilisation rates.