Environment commissioner urged to 'retain' nitrates derogation by Irish orgs
The EU environment commissioner, Jessika Roswall, has been urged to retain Ireland’s nitrates derogation in Brussels today (February 20).
Representatives of the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) and the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) have met Commissioner Jessika Roswall to outline "the necessity and validity of retaining Ireland’s nitrates derogation".
The delegation was led by IFA deputy president, Alice Doyle, and the CEO of ICOS, TJ Flanagan.
According to the IFA, they emphasised the economic and environmental significance of the derogation for Ireland's agricultural sector, in the context of the progress that is being achieved in water quality improvement.
They also highlighted to the commissioner the joint declaration made by Irish farm organisations, co-operatives, and the dairy and meat processors, on what the Irish agriculture sector stands for, and its solid commitment to protecting water quality and reducing emissions.
The joint declaration was made in September 2024 by Dairy Industry Ireland (DII), the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS), the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA), the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), Macra, and Meat Industry Ireland (MII).
According to the IFA's deputy president, Alice Doyle, Irish farmers' ability to be competitive in global markers will be "severely impacted" without the nitrates derogation.
"We are fully committed to working with the government to protect the environment and ensure water quality," she said.
"The message to Commissioner Roswall is that it is absolutely possible to maintain Ireland’s nitrates derogation at its current level, while improving water quality and meeting the requirements of the Nitrates Action Programme.”
The IFA has stressed that the retention of the derogation is vital "to sustaining the €17 billion agricultural sector, which supports 55,000 jobs and 17,500 dairy farms in Ireland".
The organisation believes the removal would not only directly impact the dairy sector, but would also have a significant knock-on impact to other sectors of Irish agriculture.
The joint IFA and ICOS delegation today also highlighted to the commissioner that the dairy sector and Irish agriculture in general is adjusting responsibly and quickly to environmental challenges.
The representatives also took the opportunity to tell the EU Environment Commissioner, Jessika Roswall, that retaining the nitrates derogation aligns with Ireland's ongoing efforts to protect and improve water quality, rather than contradicting them.
CEO of ICOS, TJ Flanagan, said: "The Irish dairy sector is built on the foundation of a sustainable, grass-fed system with 96% of the dairy cow diet coming from grass.
"This system is globally recognised for its low carbon footprint relative to all other food producing countries worldwide."
"Retaining the nitrates derogation is critical in ensuring that Irish farmers can continue producing high-quality dairy and meat products while adhering to best environmental practices,” he added.
