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Sheep Dipping and Cross Compliance

Alex Gordon, Countryside Management Branch, DARD

Since January 2005 all Northern Ireland farmers claiming Single Farm Payment must comply with certain conditions known as Cross-Compliance. One aspect of Cross-Compliance is adherence to Statutory Management Requirements.

Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs)

These are legal requirements covering the environment, food safety, animal and plant health and animal welfare. SMRs are being phased in over three years from 2005-2007.  These requirements apply to all land farmed within an agricultural business, including land which is not used to claim Single Farm Payment.
SMR 3 Protection of Groundwater Against Pollution
Groundwater refers to all water below the water table. It is an important natural resource and provides the base flow for many surface waters such as rivers and lakes. The incorrect use and disposal of certain substances used in agriculture e.g. sheep dip and pesticides could lead to the pollution of groundwater and/or contamination of drinking water supplies.
It is worth considering alternatives to plunge dipping such as injectables and pour-ons that may provide the necessary parasite control whilst reducing the environmental risk. A list of authorised products is available from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate web site: www.vmd.gov.uk/General/Sheepdip/ectoparasiticide.pdfLink to external website

Groundwater Authorisation

SMR 3 “Protection of Groundwater against Pollution” came into effect on the 1 January 2005 and it incorporates the Groundwater Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998 which state that a Groundwater Authorisation from Environment and Heritage Service is required before disposing of certain substances to land.
Typically a Groundwater Authorisation will include the following conditions:
  • Spread on authorised land at least 10 metres from a surface waterway (rivers, streams or open drains) and at least 50 metres from any spring, well or borehole.
  • No spreading on land that is liable to flooding or is frozen hard or snow covered.
  • No spreading on land which is free draining, steeply sloping, water logged or has cracked soil.
  • Written records detailing any disposals must be kept up to date and be available for inspection.
Under this SMR farmers are also required to ensure that the sheep dipper is properly sited, operated and well maintained, that is, impermeable.
Are you complying with these requirements?  Examine your current practices to see if any improvements are needed.

Further Information

Further information on this subject is available in the Cross-Compliance Verifiable Standards 2005-2006 booklet or by contacting your local Countryside Management Branch staff.
To obtain a Groundwater Authorisation or for further information on the Groundwater Regulations, contact the Environment and Heritage Service (EHS), Water Management Unit, tel: (028) 9262 3280.
Cross Compliance information will also be available at the DARD exhibit at the Winter Fair on the 14 December 2006 in the King’s Hall, Belfast. You are welcome to call at the stand and talk to a Countryside Management Adviser or EHS staff.