CBPA Study Group

From the Irrigation Sustainability Observatory (OSR), one of the main priorities to guarantee the sustainability of irrigation is to contribute to the sustainability of water bodies, preventing potentially inappropriate use of inputs and certain agricultural practices from degrading them.

The European Union published Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991, a guide document outlining what a Code of Good Agricultural Practices (CBPA) should contain, and which obliges Member States to develop it in order to prevent diffuse pollution of surface and groundwater, caused mainly by nitrates of agricultural and livestock origin.

It establishes the criteria for the identification of vulnerable areas, the issues that a CBPA must include, both mandatory and complementary, the importance of carrying out, when necessary, a program to promote implementation, with training and information for farmers, maximum limits of inputs that can be applied, preparation of action programs regarding the designated vulnerable areas and reports to be submitted to the European Union Commission.

At the national level, Spain published Royal Decree 261/1996, of February 16, on “protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources”, which is a guide for the competent bodies of the Autonomous Communities to prepare their corresponding CBPA, which is applied voluntarily by farmers.

Based on this requirement, each Autonomous Community has published its own CBPA (Basic Code of Practice for Public Administration) over a long period of years. Following its review by the OSR (Observatory of Road Safety), a heterogeneity is observed in terms of the criteria followed, obligations, and complementary measures, which would allow for the sharing of their contributions.

Despite this regulatory framework, surface and groundwater pollution continues to rise. And recently, Spain published Royal Decree 47/2022, of January 18, which repeals the previous decree and introduces new requirements.

Currently, the Autonomous Communities would develop new CBPA that meet current requirements, constituting, in turn, an opportunity to create a space for joint exchange of knowledge and experience for their development.

In accordance with the above, and complying with the functionalities of the OSR (Royal Decree 854/2022), the Subdirectorate of Irrigation, Natural Paths and Rural Infrastructures proposed to the National Irrigation Board, the creation of a study group for CBPA in force and its effectiveness, chaired by the General Subdirectorate of Agricultural Production Means and Spanish Office of Plant Varieties, and with the technical support of the OSR.