Action plan of 13 October 2000 for the protection of waters against pollution by nitrates from agricultural sources.

This publication contains the consolidated text of the Romanian Action Plan for the protection of waters against nitrate pollution from agricultural sources.
Objectives of the Action Plan for the Protection of Waters against Nitrogen Pollution from Agricultural Source are as follows: a) reduction of water pollution, caused by nitrates from agricultural sources; b) prevention of nitrate pollution; c) rationalization and optimization of the use of chemical and organic fertilizers containing nitrogen compounds. In order to achieve the objectives here listed, within maximum 2 years from the designation of vulnerable areas according to article 3 of this text, the commission will establish action programmes regarding vulnerable areas. The Commission shall elaborate a project containing sets of measures for the implementation of the action plan, which shall also include the procedures and instructions for the supervisory and control system. Action programmes are drawn up for all vulnerable areas on the territory of the country, as well as different programmes for certain vulnerable areas or for portions of vulnerable areas. These action programmes shall take into account: a) all available scientific and technical data, mainly those relating to the intake of nitrates from agricultural and other sources; b) different environmental conditions in the targeted regions. These action programmes shall be established for a period of up to 4 years and will include measures provided in the Code of good agricultural practices, as well as those provided in Annex 4 of this Plan.
In order to establish and or revise and complete the list of vulnerable zones, the Ministry of Waters, Forests and Environmental Protection shall collaborated with indicted institutions.
The Annex is also part of this publication (Annexes 1-5, containing in Annex 1: Criteria list for identification of waters affected by nitrate pollution and of waters which are likely to be exposed to such pollution; Annex 2: Measures, reference methods/standards for the determination of nitrogen compounds in fertilzers; Annex 3: Code of Good Agricultural Practice; Annex 4: List of measures which must be included in the action programmes according to article 6; and report contents in Annex 6).