Views sought on new actions to meet the objective of reducing water pollution from agricultural sources in Northern Ireland.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has launched a public consultation on the Nutrients Action Programme (NAP) for 2026 to 2029.

The NAP, first introduced in 2007, aims to improve water quality by reducing and preventing pollution caused by nutrients from agricultural sources. The NAP has previously been reviewed and revised on three occasions.

In this fourth review, DAERA is proposing to carry forward all the measures in the 2019 NAP Regulations and to add in some new additional measures which have been developed based on scientific research. These new proposals, which include some actions included within the Lough Neagh Action Plan, will help to meet the objective of reducing water pollution from agricultural sources and, subject to consultation and Executive approval, would start to take effect from 1 January 2026.