THE Farmers' Union of Wales has welcomed the Welsh Government's "sensible" approach to the planned introduction of buffer zones alongside watercourses to tackle water pollution from agriculture.
"We were concerned that the Welsh Government would 'gold plate' a new Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) and adopt higher standards than the European minimum," said FUW deputy director of agricultural policy Rhian Nowell-Phillips.
"So we are pleased that the deputy agriculture minister has taken heed of the FUW's lobbying and decided to implement only the minimum requirement for farmers in Wales."
It will mean that, from January 1 2012, all farmers who claim payments under the Single Payment Scheme will be prohibited from spreading inorganic fertilisers within two metres of the surface of a watercourse and manures within 10 metres. Application of manures will also be prohibited within 50 metres of boreholes, springs and wells.
"We felt strongly that the original proposals to increase the minimum standard imposed by Europe were not backed up by scientific evidence and we urged the Welsh Government not to gold plate cross-compliance regulations and adopt a higher standard than the minimum required," Ms Nowell-Phillips added.