The Farmers’ Union of Wales has given a cautious welcome to the Welsh Government’s announcement on Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) in Wales.  

The announcement comes following a four year review of the existing NVZ areas in Wales, as required in the EC Nitrates Directive.

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It has now been agreed that an All-Wales approach will be introduced instead of a targeted designation.

Responding to the announcement FUW President Glyn Roberts, said: “This seems to be a far more proportionate way forward than some of the options that had been proposed, but we need time to assess the details and their implications.”

In a Cabinet Statement issued earlier today (December 13), Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, said: “Over coming months I will work with stakeholders to get the right balance of regulatory measures, voluntary initiatives and investment.

"I intend to explore options to provide land managers with flexibility, where these would achieve the same or better outcomes than a regulatory approach. This includes further consideration of a proposal from the agriculture industry based on the First Milk off-set project.”

"We should not be seeing significant stretches of rivers largely devoid of fish in the 21st Century," said Ms Griffiths.

"Most respondents to the consultation recognised the significant impact nitrate pollution is having and agreed with the need for further action."

The minister said she wanted to ensure the regulatory regime was "sufficiently robust to achieve the outcomes Wales requires, while offering flexibility".

Mr Roberts said: “As a member of the three groups which will be looking at these approaches, the FUW looks forward to working on approaches which are proportionate proactive voluntary approaches which deliver positive outcomes.

“NVZ and other regulatory approaches are blunt instruments which often do not tackle the main sources of problems, and what can be complex problems. More targeted and flexible approaches can therefore better address the real causes of problems, as well as increasing engagement with industry.”

Nearly 60% of responses to a consultation backed an all-Wales zone.

So-called NVZs cover only about 3% of land in Wales, which is designated as being at risk from agricultural nitrate pollution.

Restrictions on fertiliser and muck-spreading apply within them and they are designed to improve water quality in rivers and lakes.

There was speculation they could be extended over a larger part of Pembrokeshire and parts of Carmarthenshire and Anglesey too.

More than 250 groups and individuals responded to the consultation.

The most recent figures show 679 slurry pollution cases reported in just over seven years in Wales, mostly from dairy farms, and Natural Resources Wales said levels are "unacceptable".