Part of 1. 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 1:40 pm on 14 December 2016.
I go back to your first question: implementation of the nitrates directive is a European obligation, and whilst we still are part of the EEC, and we’re going to be still part of the EEC for at least the next two and a half years, we are committed to comply with these obligations. I have to say that minimum standards were introduced for the storage of slurry over 25 years ago—25 years ago—and the assessments we’ve done show that around 65 per cent of farms do not meet these standards. My message has been to farmers, when they’ve raised this with me, is that for those already meeting existing storage standards, the cost of compliance with NVZ requirements would be minimal. To me, that’s rewarding good practice, and I think that’s really important. As I say, we’re out to consultation and there will be an RIA published in due course.