{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/nitrate-pollution-prevention-regulations-2015/regulation-16",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/nitrate-pollution-prevention-regulations-2015/regulation-16.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/2015/668",
  "legislation_title": "The Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2015",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/nitrate-pollution-prevention-regulations-2015",
  "path": "regulation/16",
  "kind": "regulation",
  "number": "16",
  "heading": "Restrictions on spreading nitrogen fertiliser",
  "text": "(1) Before spreading nitrogen fertiliser, the occupier of a holding must undertake a field inspection to consider the risk of nitrogen getting into surface water.\n(2) A person must not spread nitrogen fertiliser on that land if there is a significant risk of nitrogen getting into surface water; and in the assessment of that risk, account must be taken of the following in particular—\n(a) the slope of the land (especially if the slope is greater than 12 degrees);\n(b) any ground cover;\n(c) the proximity to surface water;\n(d) the weather conditions;\n(e) the soil type;\n(f) the presence of land drains.\n(3) A person must not spread nitrogen fertiliser if the soil—\n(a) is waterlogged, flooded or snow covered, or\n(b) has been frozen for more than 12 hours in the previous 24 hours.\n(4) A person must not spread manufactured nitrogen fertiliser within 2 metres of surface water.\n(5) A person spreading nitrogen fertiliser must do so in as accurate a manner as possible.\n(6) This regulation does not apply to land which is covered by a greenhouse.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+NI",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/668/regulation/16",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28T23:42:55.288035+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}