Regulation 5 Amendment of regulation 14

Regulation 14 (annual farm limit of nitrogen in livestock manure) is amended as follows.

At the beginning of paragraph (1), insert “Subject to paragraph (4),”.

After paragraph (3), insert—

“(4)

The occupier of any grassland farm within a nitrate vulnerable zone may apply to the Scottish Ministers for a derogation from the annual farm limit of nitrogen in livestock manure specified in paragraph (1).

(5)

Any derogation granted shall last until the conclusion of the calendar year to which it relates, and shall be subject to renewal.

(6)

Where the Scottish Ministers grant a derogation, the total annual amount of nitrogen in livestock manure from grazing livestock applied to the derogated farm, whether directly by an animal or by spreading, must not exceed 250kg multiplied by the area of the derogated farm in hectares.

(7)

Any application for a derogation shall be made in accordance with regulation 14A and any grant of a derogation shall be subject to the conditions of regulation 14B.”.