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Nitrate Vulnerable Zones: Horses

Volume 486: debated on Tuesday 20 January 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what restrictions apply to owners of (a) horses and (b) foals who have land within nitrate vulnerable zones. (248674)

The new rules established by the Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2008 will only be enforced in relation to agricultural holdings, and enterprises claiming subsidy under the single payment scheme, if they are located in a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ). This means that if horses (including foals) are kept on these holdings or enterprises, the manure produced by the animals is subject to the NVZ rules. If, however, the horses are kept on holdings/enterprises which are not agricultural (e.g. livery yards), then the owners do not need to comply with the rules.