Consistently reducing nitrogen and phosphate pollution in German waters

Berlin, 17.02.2022: Eleven associations and organizations of the “Nitrate Initiative” call on the new German government to consistently implement the EU Nitrates Directive. The reason for this is the current negotiations between the federal government and federal states and the EU Commission to improve fertilizer legislation in light of the ongoing EU infringement proceedings regarding the EU Nitrates Directive. The signatories include Aktion Agrar, BUND, BDEW, Deutsche Umwelthilfe, Deutscher Naturschutzring, Germanwatch, Greenpeace, Grüne Liga, Global Nature Fund, Verdi and the WWF.

Specifically, the organizations involved are calling for a new designation of nitrate-polluted and eutrophic areas based on concrete measured values, as the previous modeling is not EU-compliant. According to calculations available to the Nitrate Initiative, nitrate- and phosphate-polluted areas in the federal states have so far been artificially reduced by up to 50 percent and necessary protective measures have been suspended. Furthermore, it is not possible to monitor fertilization due to the lack of specifications in the Material Flow Balance Ordinance. As a result, around 24 percent of groundwater bodies still do not meet the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive.

The organizations of the Nitrate Initiative are also campaigning in particular for mandatory material flow balancing for all agricultural businesses as well as for the publication of manure imports and the submission of a national catalog of measures to curb manure tourism. They also expect the measures defined to reduce nitrate and phosphate pollution to be included and published in the third management plans for the implementation of the Water Framework Directive as well as the definition of suitable water and environmentally compatible management measures for nitrate-polluted and eutrophic areas. “The Nitrates Directive must finally be implemented in such a way that the requirements of European law are met and agriculture has planning security. Of course, targeted funding programs and cooperative approaches should continue to play an important role in this,” the organizations continue.

The “Nitrate Initiative” is a coalition of associations and organizations. It has been campaigning for an environmentally friendly and water-friendly agricultural policy for several years. Of particular relevance here is the implementation of the EU Nitrates Directive into national fertilizer law. The nitrate initiative includes: Aktion Agar – Landwende jetzt, BUND, BDEW, Deutsche Umwelthilfe, DNR – Deutscher Naturschutzring, Germanwatch, Greenpeace, Grüne Liga – Netzwerk ökologischer Bewegungen, Global Nature Fund, NABU, Verdi, WWF.