The European Commission today (27 February) referred France to the European Court of Justice for failing to properly implement a directive on water pollution.

The 1991 nitrates directive

requires member states to designate areas that are vulnerable to pollution from nitrates, most commonly found in fertilisers. Member states must also adopt measures to reduce nitrate pollution such as enforcing limits on fertiliser application, designating periods when manure and chemical fertilisers cannot be spread, and putting in place manure storage capacity.

The Commission says France has still not designated which zones are vulnerable to nitrate pollution and has yet to adopt the required measures to reduce pollution. It says the legislation and action plans that have been adopted lack precision and are insufficient.

France agreed to amend the legislation in October, but the Commission says that not enough progress has been made.

The decision was part of a package of 186 decisions to take action against member states for failing to comply with EU legislation.