Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/77 (W. 20)) (“the 2021 Regulations”).

Regulation 18 of the 2021 Regulations prescribes the closed periods during which the spreading of organic manure with high readily available nitrogen is prohibited.

Regulation 2 of these Regulations inserts new regulation 18A into the 2021 Regulations. New regulation 18A provides a temporary exemption from the prohibition in regulation 18, permitting the spreading of organic manure with high readily available nitrogen during the period beginning with 15 October 2026 and ending with 15 November 2026, subject to restrictions on the amount of slurry that may be spread at any one time and the interval between each spreading. The exemption does not apply to the spreading of poultry manure.

The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result, a regulatory impact assessment has been prepared as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with these Regulations. A copy can be obtained from the Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ and is published on www.gov.wales.