EU environmental regulations in agriculture
The overall objective of this research project was to produce a report detailing the environmental regulations and regulatory frameworks that apply to agricultural activity in 8 northern EU Member States (MS) with broadly similar climatic conditions - specifically, Belgium (Flanders), Denmark, England, Wales and Scotland, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands and Sweden. The research was organised around the environmental outcomes that these regulations set out to achieve and has briefly evaluated their success in doing so.
Data was collected in each country from relevant documents, websites and contacts within policy and practitioner organisations, on the structure, implementation methods and drivers of environmental regulations affecting agriculture. A standard proforma was designed in order to help assemble the data for each MS in a consistent way. The draft material was then checked by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, or the environmental regulatory body, within each of the 8 MS. Where possible, a brief and qualitative assessment of different elements of the regulations in terms of providing intended environmental outcomes or addressing key pressures from agriculture was also undertaken.
The work was undertaken between February and May 2009. Jane Mills was the project leader for the CCRI, and was assisted by Janet Dwyer, Julie Ingram and Rosie Simpson (CCRI Research Associate). They worked with Henk Oostindie, Wageningen University, The Netherlands, Neil Powell, Swedish University of Agriculture Sciences, Jørgen Primdahl, Danish Centre for Forest, Landscape and Planning University of Copenhagen.
