The Nitrates Directive aims to protect water quality across Europe by reducing pollution of surface and groundwaters with nitrates from agricultural sources and by promoting good farming practices. The Directive sets a limit on the amount of nitrogen from livestock manure that can be applied to agricultural land, but Member States can be allowed to derogate from the limit subject to strict conditions. Derogation requests are assessed based on water quality and trends in the Member State concerned and the measures being implemented to address pollution. Derogations must not have significant negative impacts on the status of water bodies or on the conservation of Natura 2000 protected areas.

Ireland has had a derogation under the Nitrates Directive since 2007. The current decision was due to expire at the end of 2025. The Commission has worked closely with the Irish authorities on their plans to improve water quality. It is on this basis that the Commission now agreed to extend the derogation.