Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps are being taken to develop a systemic approach to safe management of agricultural animal waste.

This is a devolved matter and the below information relates to England only.

There is already in place a systematic approach for the safe management of agricultural animal waste. Slurry and manure produced by farm animals and the associated controls are managed through zone designations and compliance regulations. The specific approach depends upon whether a farm falls within a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ), which cover 55% of England, or outside an NVZ, in which case pollution control regulation applies.

Under NVZ rules operators are required to store their manures and slurries for up to 5 or 6 months depending on farm type, keep records and only spread manures and slurries at certain times of the year, whilst keeping the application rates within nutrient limits. Under current pollution control regulation, stores must be constructed to a required standard, meet necessary construction requirements and have a minimum capacity of 4 months’ storage. Spreading is regulated under the farming rules for water (FrFW) which set out how best to use manure and slurry to avoid pollution.