The Designation of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Scotland) Regulations 2000

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

The Protection of Water Against Agricultural Nitrate Pollution (Scotland) Regulations 1996 (“the 1996 Regulations”) transpose for Scotland the requirements of Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources. The objective of the Directive is to ensure that measures are taken to reduce and prevent nitrate pollution from agricultural sources. It provides a framework for action to reduce nitrate levels in the catchments of rivers and groundwater sources affected by such pollution, and to reduce eutrophication of freshwater bodies, estuaries, and coastal waters.

In terms of the 1996 Regulations, there was only one nitrate vulnerable zone in Scotland. These Regulations designate the catchment and estuary of the River Ythan in Aberdeenshire as a nitrate vulnerable zone (regulation 3).

The Regulations amend the 1996 Regulations in consequence of that designation and make other minor amendments, including the re-instatement of the reference to the Code of Good Practice (now defined in regulation 2 of the 1996 Regulations) which is necessary for the purposes of regulation 7.

Copies of the Code of Good Practice may be obtained free of charge from the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department, Pentland House, 47 Robb’s Loan, Edinburgh EH14 1TY.