Reduction and Prevention of Agricultural Diffuse Pollution (England) Regulations 2018
What this means for your business
- Enforced by
- Environment Agency, DEFRA
- Applies to
- United Kingdom
- On this page
- 9 compliance obligations, 3 practical guides
What you must do
9 compliance obligations under this legislation.
Risk assessment 1
Use up‑to‑date soil tests when planning manure or fertiliser applications
If you plan to spread organic manure or manufactured fertiliser on cultivated farmland, you must look at recent soil test results. The tests must show the soil’s pH and the levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium and must be no older than five years. This ensures you only apply what the soil needs and prevents excess nutrient pollution.
Management duties 7
Check soil conditions before applying manure or fertiliser
Unlimited fineIf you apply organic manure or manufactured fertiliser to your fields, you must first check that the soil is not waterlogged, flooded, snow‑covered or has been frozen for longer than 12 hours in the previous day. If any of those conditions are present, you must not apply the product.
Do not spread organic manure within 50 metres of springs, wells or boreholes
Unlimited fineIf you manage a farm and your land has a spring, well or borehole, you must keep a 50‑metre buffer zone around it. This means you cannot spread organic manure inside that distance – you’ll need to plan where you apply manure so it stays outside the buffer.
Keep manufactured fertiliser out of water sources
If you manage land that could use fertiliser, you must not apply any manufactured fertiliser within two metres of any inland or coastal water, or any spring, well or borehole. In practice that means you need to keep a clear record of where you spread fertiliser so you can prove it’s not too close to water.
Keep organic manure at least 10m from inland or coastal waters
If you apply organic manure on your farm, you must keep the application at least 10 metres away from any inland freshwater or coastal water. You can work closer (6 metres) if you use precision spreaders, or under certain special conditions you may apply certain livestock manure within 10 metres during the 1 June‑31 Oct period, provided you meet the other listed limits.
Keep organic manure away from nearby water and springs
Unlimited fineIf you run an agricultural farm or own land where you store manure, you must keep it out of reach of streams, lakes, and any nearby springs, wells or boreholes. The rule sets clear distance limits – 10 m from any inland or coastal water and 50 m from a spring, well or borehole – and if those limits do not apply you still need to judge the site carefully to avoid pollution.
Plan and manage manure and fertiliser applications to avoid pollution
If you use organic manure or manufactured fertiliser on your land, you must plan each application carefully so it’s no more than the soil and crop need and doesn’t pose a significant risk of pollution. You also have to factor in weather, slope, ground cover, nearby water bodies and soil or drain conditions, and take reasonable precautions such as checking equipment, applying within 12 hours and monitoring soil moisture.
Prevent livestock pollution by managing feeder location and soil practices
Unlimited fineYou must stop livestock from polluting nearby water by placing feeders away from streams, springs and other water sources. In addition to these distance rules, you need to adopt sensible soil‑ and livestock‑management measures such as fencing, buffer strips and regular livestock movement to keep the land clean. All of this applies whenever you manage agricultural land.
Offences and prohibitions 1
Fail to comply with regulations 3‑10 (agricultural pollution)
Unlimited fineIf you (or your business) do not follow any of the requirements set out in regulations 3 to 10 – for example rules on storing manure, managing livestock or soil – you commit a criminal offence. On conviction you will be liable to an unlimited fine, and the offence can be tried either in a Magistrates' Court or a Crown Court. Directors, managers or anyone acting as an officer can also be prosecuted personally if they consent to or neglect the breach.
Penalties for non-compliance
5 penalties under this legislation. 5 carry an unlimited fine.
Check soil conditions before applying manure or fertiliser
Unlimited fine
Do not spread organic manure within 50 metres of springs, wells or boreholes
Unlimited fine
Keep organic manure away from nearby water and springs
Unlimited fine
Prevent livestock pollution by managing feeder location and soil practices
Unlimited fine
Fail to comply with regulations 3‑10 (agricultural pollution)
Unlimited fine
Practical guidance
Our guides explain how to comply with the requirements above.
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 …
Sections and provisions
16 classified provisions from this legislation.
Duties 8
- s.3 Circumstances in which applying organic manure and manufactured fertiliser is prohibited A land manager
- s.4 Applying organic manure and manufactured fertiliser to agricultural land A land manager
- s.5 Applying organic manure and manufactured fertiliser to cultivated agricultural land a land manager
- s.6 Applying manufactured fertiliser near inland freshwaters or coastal waters, or near a spring, well or borehole A land manager
- s.7 Applying organic manure near inland freshwaters or coastal waters A land manager
- s.8 Applying organic manure near a spring, well or borehole A land manager
- s.9 Storing organic manure A land manager
- s.10 Managing livestock and soil A land manager