S.L. 549.25 Art. 6Action programmes.

(1) The competent authority shall, following the initial designation referred to in regulation 4(2) or within one year of each additional designation referred to in regulation 4(4), for the purpose of realizing the objectives specified in regulation 2, establish action programmes in respect of designated vulnerable zones.

(2) The competent authority shall ensure that an action programme may relate to all vulnerable zones in the territory or, where the competent authority considers it appropriate, different programmes may be established for different vulnerable zones or parts of zones.

(3) Action programmes shall take into account:

(a) available scientific and technical data, mainly with reference to respective nitrogen contributions originating from agricultural and other sources;

(b) environmental conditions in the relevant regions of the competent authority concerned.

(4) Action programmes shall be implemented within four years of their establishment and shall consist of the following mandatory measures:

(a) the measures in Annex III;

(b) those measures which the competent authority have prescribed in the code(s) of good agricultural practice established in accordance with regulation 5, except those which have been superseded by the measures in Annex III.

(5) The competent authority shall moreover take, in the framework of the action programmes, such additional measures or reinforced actions as it considers necessary if, at the outset or in the light of experience gained in implementing the action programmes, it appears to the competent authority that the measures referred to in subregulation (4) will not be sufficient for achieving the objectives specified in regulation 2. In selecting these measures or actions, the competent authority shall take into account their effectiveness and their cost relative to other possible preventive measures.

(6) The competent authority shall draw up and implement monitoring programmes to assess the effectiveness of action programmes established pursuant to this regulation:

Provided that if the competent authority applies this regulation, the competent authority shall monitor the nitrate content of waters (surface waters and groundwater) at selected measuring points which make it possible to establish the extent of nitrate pollution in the waters from agricultural sources.

(7) The competent authority shall review and if necessary revise the action programmes, including any additional measures taken pursuant to subregulation (5), at least every four years.

(8) The Nitrates Action Programme, as revised from time to time, shall be published in the Gazette.