Regulatory Decision 021: Spreading waste milk on land from an animal disease outbreak identified by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)
This Regulatory Decision is valid until 1 December 2024 by which time it will be reviewed. You should check back at that time to ensure the Regulatory Decision is still valid.
NRW can withdraw or amend this regulatory decision before the review date if we consider it necessary. This includes where the activity that this RD relates to has not changed.
Regulatory Decision
The waste must be generated during cleansing and disinfection after an animal disease outbreak has been confirmed by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
The requirements of The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 must be complied with unless otherwise agreed in writing by NRW. This RD may include additional requirements.
Conditions you must comply with
This RD only applies when an animal disease outbreak has been confirmed by the APHA.
You must only spread waste milk:
- that has been identified by APHA for disposal
- that has been disinfected as part of disease control measures required by APHA
- that has not been stored for more than 24 hours
- that has been diluted with at least an equal amount of water or slurry (or both)
- at an application rate of no more than 20 cubic metres per hectare ยท on land where there is a low risk of runoff as defined by The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021
- once in any 4 week period
- with agreement from NRW by email
Land with a low risk of runoff:
- has an average slope of less than 3 degrees
- does not have land drains other than sealed impermeable pipes
- has not been pipe drained, mole drained or sub-soiled in the last 12 months
- does not have a shallow soil less than 30cm above fissured rock
- has soil of a sufficient depth and suitable type above groundwater to prevent pollution
- is not within a designated groundwater source protection zone 1
- is at least 50 metres from surface water or a conduit leading to surface water
- is at least 50 metres from springs, wells and boreholes where groundwater is used for human consumption
- does not have compacted soil or a soil surface which is capped - you can only spread milk where the soil is permeable and has a good structure
- does not have cracked soil above a land drainage system or groundwater
You must not use the land for:
- grazing or feeding crops for pigs for at least 2 months after spreading waste milk
- any animals except pigs for at least 3 weeks after spreading waste milk
You must make sure your activities do not endanger human health or the environment. You must not:
- cause a risk to water, air, soil, plants or animals
- cause a nuisance through noise or odours
- adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest
Enforcement
This RD does not change your legal requirement to have an environmental permit for a waste operation, when you are spreading waste to land.
However, NRW will not normally take enforcement action if you do not comply with the need for an environmental permit if you meet the requirements in this RD.
In addition your activity must not cause (or be likely to cause) pollution of the environment or harm to human health, and must not:
- cause a risk to water, air, soil, plants or animals
- cause a nuisance through noise or odours
- adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest