EU Nitrate Directive and CAP Reform. Effects on Agricultural Production, Trade,and Residual Soil Nitrogen

摘要

When fully implemented, the European Union's (EU) Nitrate Directive could be moreeffective than other policies in reducing nitrate pollution and targeting reduction to areas where most needed, usually areas of intensive livestock production. The European Union Nitrate Directive, passed into legislation in 1991, limits the net delivery of nitrogen to the soil beginning in 1999. The Directive may reduce production 8 percent for dairy, 5 percent for beef, 10 percent for poultry and eggs, and 12 percent for pork. The MacSharry Plan for Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform could more significantly reduce EU crop production than either the Nitrate Directive or a hypothetical 50-percent fertilizer tax. In general, input usage could increase under the Nitrate Directive and decrease under CAP reform and the fertilizer tax.