The year 2001 saw the lowest annual number of agricultural pollution incidents recorded in Scotland, reports the 15th Pollution Review published today by the Scottish Agricultural Pollution Group (SAPG)1. The Review emphasises, however, that last year’s foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak had a marked effect on the level of farm inspection work and environmental monitoring undertaken in rural areas by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). As a result, it is highly likely that a significant number of farm-related pollution events went unrecorded.

“The FMD outbreak was devastating for the Scottish agricultural industry, but we must try and focus on where we go from here”, said Allan Virtue, SAPG Chairman. “A blueprint for a sustainable farming industry in Scotland is set down in the report of the Agriculture and the Environment Working Group, “Custodians of Change”. This report recognises the extent that the agriculture industry can play in delivering widespread environmental impacts and benefits. The Group looks forward to the Minister’s response and the role that SAPG might play.”

The Review reports that its membership was revised in 2001 to include for the first time a full-time representative from the National Farmers Union of Scotland (NFU Scotland). “This will ensure that Group outputs are endorsed by the industry and are as practically focused as possible”, said Mr Virtue. “The input of NFU Scotland was crucial during the revision of the Code of Good Practice for the Prevention of Environmental Pollution From Agricultural Activity (the PEPFAA Code)2, in which the Group has been heavily involved over the last few months.”

The Review contains a personal perspective on the link between farming and the environment from the Group’s NFU Scotland representative, Henry Murdoch OBE. Other featured articles include:

• The Voluntary Initiative – Minimising the Environmental Impacts of Pesticides;
  
  
• Farming and Bathing Water Quality; and
  
  
• SEPA’s Diffuse Pollution Initiative.
  
  

Copies of the Group's 15th Pollution Review can be obtained free of charge from SEPA, the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC), the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD) and NFU Scotland.




ENDS

Notes:

1. ERRATUM. There is a minor error on page 2 of the Review: the total number of successful legal actions should read “2” instead of “52”.


2. The Scottish Agricultural Pollution Group (SAPG) comprises representatives from SEPA, SAC, SEERAD and NFU Scotland. The Group’s remit is to:



• encourage sustainable farming practices consistent with conserving soil and minimising nutrient and pesticide loss;
  
  
• promote an improved understanding of diffuse agricultural pollution;
  
  
• promote awareness of conservation of soil, minimisation of nutrient and agrochemical loss, reduced waste production and emissions to atmosphere;
  
  
• exchange information and develop guidance for the agricultural industry;
  
  
• compile records of pollution events and conduct surveys when appropriate;
  
  
• provide recommendations to the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD) and other relevant bodies on research needs for agricultural pollution and draft legislation; and
  
  
• publish an Annual Pollution Review highlighting topical items on agriculture related pollution and to participate in preparing the Scottish Executive Code of Good Practice for the Prevention of Environmental Pollution From Agricultural Activity (the PEPFAA Code) and other relevant publications.
  
  

3. The shortened version of the PEPFAA Code, the “Dos and Don’ts Guide”, was published earlier this summer and was produced by the SAPG. The “Dos and Don’ts Guide” has now been sent to every registered farm holding in Scotland (some 50,000 units). The revision of the full version of the PEPFAA Code is also currently being taken forward by SAPG, with a view to publication early next year. SEERAD is conducting a public consultation on this document, concluding on 6 December 2002.


4. The Custodians of Change report produced by the Agriculture and Environment Working Group was launched at the 2002 Highland Show. A Task Group has been set up to consider the response to the Report. The agreed remit of the Task Group is “To consider the desirability and feasibility of implementing the recommendations, the means by which they might be implemented and to provide advice which will contribute to a full Ministerial response by mid December.”