Ministerial Decree approving the code of good agricultural practice

Article 4 of Directive 91/676/EEC requires Member States to establish a code or codes of good agricultural practice with the aim of providing for all waters a general level of protection against pollution. The present Decree, in implementation of such provision, lays down the code of good agricultural practice. This code takes into account solely the matters connected with the use of nitrogen in agriculture. The Regions shall elaborate special programmes on farmers’ training and education with a view to promoting the effective implementation of the code. The latter does not have binding effects, but may be implemented by farmers on a voluntary basis (art. 4 of Directive 91/676/EEC). The following items are hereby dealt with: periods when the land application of fertilizers is inappropriate; land application of fertilizers to steeply sloping ground; land application of fertilizers to water satured, flooded, frozen or snow-covered ground; land application of fertilizers to grounds adjacent to water courses. The table attached to the code determines the quantity of nitrogen which is required to reach a high production level in the different plant species referred therein.