Ireland is the only member state in the European Union with an ongoing derogation until 2028. Farmers there can apply up to 220 to 250 kilos of nitrogen from animal manure per hectare, above the European standard of 170 kilos. Extra requirements are now being linked to this exception, reports the Belgian news site Vilt.be. The Irish government must assess by 2028, per farm, whether the derogation does not harm both the Water Framework Directive and the Habitats Directive. This means in concrete terms that livestock farmers must undergo a 'suitable assessment.' Those who cannot demonstrate that their farm stays within the environmental goals risk losing the derogation and may have to reduce their livestock. Major impact on dairy farming Of the approximately 7,100 Irish farms using derogation, a significant portion is dairy farming. The abolition of the scheme could have major consequences: income declines of up to 39 percent and a decrease in national milk production by an ...