CoAP Regulations
Introduced in Wales in April 2021, the following transition periods & rules apply:
The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 came into effect in April 2021, introducing an all-Wales ‘regulatory baseline’ to control agricultural pollution. The Regulations also set standards for silage making, storage of silage effluent and for slurry storage systems.
Do the Regulations apply to my farm business?
The Regulations apply to all farm businesses in Wales. Any person or persons who are the owners or occupiers (e.g., tenants, graziers) of an agricultural land holding (regardless of its size) are responsible for complying with these rules.
Requirements from 1st January 2023
Phase 2 of the regulations came into force on 1st January 2023, with the exception of the 170kg/ha nitrogen limit. The Welsh Government are providing an extension to the implementation of the annual 170kg/ha limit for nitrogen, which is averaged over the holding, and is for nitrogen from livestock manure either directly deposited by the animal or by spreading. This requirement will now apply from 1st January 2024. All other 1st January 2023 measures are not affected:
- Risk maps
- Storage of organic manure
- Temporary field heap sites
- The individual hectare limit for the spreading of organic manure
- Import/export of manure
- Nutrient Management Planning (NMP) and recording; and
- Nutrient applications restricted to crop limits (NMax)
The legality of silage clamp design and construction, collection and disposal of effluent is already in place (since 1st April 2021) and being inspected, as well as closed periods for spreading artificial nitrogen.
Requirements from 1st August 2024
- Closed periods for spreading nitrogen fertiliser (includes slurry and other organic manures)
- Storage capacity for Slurry; and
- The storage period for manure
How we can help
As specialists in agricultural compliance, CXCS are here to help farmers understand their legal obligations and provide the necessary paperwork to comply with these new requirements.
From 2023, Welsh cross compliance inspections will be noticeably different in terms of the paperwork required during an audit. At CXCS we cover both English and Welsh paperwork to inspection standard, so if you have any concerns or simply want a discussion about how we can help, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01981 590514.
Our services include:
- Risk maps
- Nutrient management field records
- Manure import/export records
- NVZ whole farm loading calculations (170kg/ha N limit)
- Slurry storage & production calculations
- Nmax calculations
Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs)
The transition periods do not apply to any agricultural land in an area previously designated as a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ). The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 replace the NVZ regulations. You must be fully compliant with the Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 from 1 April 2021.
Find out more at: The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021: guidance for farmers and land managers | GOV.WALES
