Ordinance on requirements for storage facilities for fertilizers containing nitrates.

The present Ordinance implements the Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources. In particular, it implements article 5 according to which member states have to 1) establish a code of good agricultural practice, to be implemented by farmers on a voluntary basis; b) set up where necessary a programme, including the provision of training and information for farmers, promoting the application of the code of good agricultural practice. The present Ordinance applies to plants storing fertilizers containing nitrates. Article 2 establishes that the said plants have to be built in such a way that substances dangerous for water cannot flow out; article 3 contains a code of good agricultural practice; article 4 lays down provisions relating to requirements for storage facilities in protected areas and flooded areas; article 5 establishes that the manager of a facility plant is under an obligation to control constantly the orderly working of the plant; and article 6 concerns already existing facilities but in need of modernizaton. The text consists of 8 articles.