Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2015
What this means for your business
- Enforced by
- Environment Agency, DEFRA
- Applies to
- United Kingdom
- On this page
- 16 compliance obligations, 5 practical guides
What you must do
16 compliance obligations under this legislation.
Equipment and safety 1
Use slurry‑spreading equipment that meets trajectory and rate limits
Unlimited fineIf you broadcast slurry on your land, the machine you use must either spray less than 4 m above the ground, or, if it sprays higher, it must be able to cap the application to no more than 1 mm per hour when running continuously. In practice you need to check the equipment’s specifications and keep proof that it stays within these limits.
Management duties 7
Keep nitrogen spreading within the legal limit
Unlimited fineIf you occupy land where crops are grown, you must make sure the total nitrogen you spread – from fertiliser and manure – never exceeds the amount set out in the regulations for each crop and hectare, calculated over any rolling 12‑month period. You need to work out the limit, track what you spread, and adjust your fertiliser use so you stay within the cap.
Limit nitrogen from livestock manure to 170 kg per hectare each year
Unlimited fineIf you occupy a farm, you must make sure the total nitrogen you spread from livestock manure in any calendar year does not exceed 170 kg for each hectare of land you can actually use for farming. You need to work out the usable area (ignoring buildings, roads, water, hard‑standing, non‑grazing woodland and year‑round greenhouses) and calculate the nitrogen content using Schedule 1. The limit does not apply if you have been granted a derogation.
Limit nitrogen from organic manure per hectare
Unlimited fineYou must make sure that no more than 250 kg of nitrogen from organic manure is spread on each hectare of your land in any 12‑month period. You can spread more only if you use certified green or green/food compost and stay within the higher limits over longer periods with no other manure, or if you meet a special set of farming criteria and keep a record of it.
Limit nitrogen spreading on grass for dehydration and report soil analyses
Unlimited fineIf you grow grass for dehydration or chlorophyll and aim for at least 16% protein, you must keep the amount of nitrogen you spread on each hectare within set limits (700 kg if irrigated, 500 kg if not). You also need to calculate nitrogen from organic manure correctly and send autumn soil test results to your FACTS adviser each year.
Prepare and keep a fertilisation plan before spreading nitrogen
Unlimited fineBefore you spread any nitrogen fertiliser on your land, you must work out how much nitrogen the soil can supply, decide the optimum amount to apply, and record all the details in a permanent fertilisation plan. The plan must be ready before the first spreading each season (each calendar year for permanent grassland) and must include field, crop, soil and yield information.
Separate slurry mechanically or on an impermeable surface
Unlimited fineIf you occupy land where slurry is stored and you need to split it into solid and liquid parts, you must do it using a mechanical separator or on a surface that won’t let liquid seep through, and the liquid must flow into a proper container. This keeps the liquid from contaminating the ground and helps you stay within nitrate pollution rules.
Store organic manure only in approved locations and ways
Unlimited fineIf you keep organic manure (other than slurry) on your farm, you must store it only in a vessel, a covered building, on an impermeable surface, or as a temporary heap that meets strict size, location and time limits. You also have to keep solid poultry manure on a temporary heap covered with impermeable material and avoid storing manure near water sources, on flood‑prone land or on steep slopes.
Offences and prohibitions 1
Fail to comply with Nitrate Pollution Regulations
Unlimited fineIf you or your company do not meet the requirements set out in regulations 7, 8, 10‑13, 15‑35 or 37(3) of the Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2015, you are committing a criminal offence. On conviction you will be subject to a fine – either a summary fine in the magistrates’ court or an unlimited fine if the case goes to the Crown Court. Directors or senior officers can also be personally liable if the breach was due to their consent, connivance or neglect.
Record keeping 7
Keep a copy of FACTS advice
Unlimited fineIf you are the occupier of a holding and you have used advice from a FACTS adviser for any purpose under the Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations, you must retain a copy of that advice. This means keeping the written or electronic advice on file so it can be shown to the Environment Agency if required.
Keep original laboratory report for manure nitrogen tests
Unlimited fineIf you have any organic manure tested for its nitrogen content, you must retain the original report from the laboratory. This record proves what you’ve measured and may be needed by the Environment Agency if they check your compliance.
Record and calculate nitrogen from livestock each year
Unlimited fineIf you run a farm or hold livestock, you must count the animals and the days they spend on your land, work out how much nitrogen their manure produces, and keep a written record of these calculations. The record (and a print‑out if you use approved software) must be ready by 30 April each year.
Record manure production and storage capacity for new livestock holdings
Unlimited fineIf you set up a new farm that keeps livestock, you must work out how much manure the animals will produce, how much storage you need (taking into account any manure you’ll export, spread on low‑run‑off land and other liquids), and note the storage you already have. Keep these calculations as a record.
Record nitrogen data before spreading manure or fertiliser
Unlimited fineBefore you spread any organic manure or manufactured nitrogen fertiliser on your land, you must work out how much nitrogen will be available to crops and write down the details – the area, amount, month, type of material, total nitrogen content and the calculated nitrogen that crops can use. Keep a record for every spreading event.
Record the size of any new holding you occupy
Unlimited fineWhen you become the occupier of a new piece of land, you must write down the total size of that holding, using the calculation method specified in regulation 7(4). Keep this record as evidence that you have complied with the nitrate pollution rules.
Update nitrate‑pollution records when holding details change
Unlimited fineIf the size of your farm, the amount of manure storage you have, or the first time you bring livestock onto the land changes, you must bring the relevant nitrate‑pollution records up to date. The updates must be made within the time‑limits set in the regulation (usually one month or one week). Failure to do so can lead to prosecution.
Penalties for non-compliance
16 penalties under this legislation. 16 carry an unlimited fine.
Use slurry‑spreading equipment that meets trajectory and rate limits
Unlimited fine
Keep nitrogen spreading within the legal limit
Unlimited fine
Limit nitrogen from livestock manure to 170 kg per hectare each year
Unlimited fine
Limit nitrogen from organic manure per hectare
Unlimited fine
Limit nitrogen spreading on grass for dehydration and report soil analyses
Unlimited fine
Prepare and keep a fertilisation plan before spreading nitrogen
Unlimited fine
Separate slurry mechanically or on an impermeable surface
Unlimited fine
Store organic manure only in approved locations and ways
Unlimited fine
Fail to comply with Nitrate Pollution Regulations
Unlimited fine
Keep a copy of FACTS advice
Unlimited fine
Keep original laboratory report for manure nitrogen tests
Unlimited fine
Record and calculate nitrogen from livestock each year
Unlimited fine
Record manure production and storage capacity for new livestock holdings
Unlimited fine
Record nitrogen data before spreading manure or fertiliser
Unlimited fine
Record the size of any new holding you occupy
Unlimited fine
Update nitrate‑pollution records when holding details change
Unlimited fine
Practical guidance
Our guides explain how to comply with the requirements above.
Comply with farming environmental regulations
How to comply with environmental regulations for fertiliser storage and application, pesticide use, cross-compliance standards, and nutrient management planning. Covers …
Comply with Farming Rules for Water
How to comply with the 8 Farming Rules for Water that apply to all farmers in England. Covers planning fertiliser …
Comply with Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) regulations
How to comply with NVZ regulations if your land is in a designated Nitrate Vulnerable Zone. Covers nitrogen application limits, …
Understand your farm's regulatory obligations
A regulatory map for UK farms, showing which of 10+ regulatory bodies apply by farm type. Links to detailed compliance …
Slurry and silage storage compliance (SSAFO)
How to comply with SSAFO regulations for storing silage, slurry, and agricultural fuel oil on farms. Covers construction standards, storage …
Sections and provisions
48 classified provisions from this legislation.
Duties 18
- s.5 Recommendations and proposals person appearing
- s.7 Application of livestock manure: total nitrogen limit for the whole holding
- s.8 Spreading organic manure: nitrogen limits per hectare
- s.10 Planning the spreading of nitrogen fertiliser the occupier
- s.11 Additional information to be recorded
- s.12 Total nitrogen spread on a holding
- s.18 Restrictions on spreading slurry
- s.23 Storage of organic manure
- s.24 Separation of slurry
- s.27 Record of nitrogen produced by animals on the holding animal by reference
- s.29 Sampling and analysis
- s.33 FACTS advice the occupier
- s.34 Keeping records up to date
- s.39 Review of the action programme the Secretary of State
- s.40 Regulatory review
- Implementation report Implementation report steps taken
- Record of size of holding Record of size of holding
- Record of storage capacity Record of storage capacity
Definitions 5
Exemptions 16
- s.9 Exclusion for crops in greenhouses
- s.15 Risk map
- s.16 Restrictions on spreading nitrogen fertiliser
- s.17 Spreading organic manure near surface water, boreholes, springs or wells
- s.19 Incorporating organic manure into the ground
- s.20 Closed periods for organic manure
- s.21 Exemption for organic holdings
- s.22 Closed period for manufactured nitrogen fertiliser
- s.25 Storage capacity
- s.28 Livestock manure brought on to or sent off the holding
- s.30 Records of crops sown
- s.31 Records of spreading nitrogen fertiliser
- s.32 Subsequent records
- s.36 Application
- s.38 Appeal
- Transitional periods for new holdings Transitional periods for new holdings