Factsheet: Manure decree

The Flemish Manure Decree is the transposition of the European Nitrates Directive in Flemish legislation. The Directive fixes a basic norm for ground and surface water of maximum 50 mg nitrate per litre. As in other MS, this norm was not reached everywhere and measures needed to be taken. One of the causes of too high nitrate concentrations in the water is the way animal manure was applied to agricultural lands. The first Manure Decree was approved in 1991, and has been modified several times. The decree poses limits for nitrogen & phosphor spreading on agricultural land and obligations for manure treatment.