On 15 July 2026 the Commission published its evaluation of the Nitrates Directive. The evaluation found that the directive is overall effective and relevant, but identifies scope for smarter implementation.
Generally, it emphasises that better use of nutrients can reduce reliance on imported mineral fertilisers, and cutting dependency on synthetic nitrogen can strengthen farm resilience and contribute to Europe's strategic autonomy.
It considers that the manure application limit of 170kg N/ha is effective and appropriate, and does not recommend to amend it. However, as announced in the Fertiliser Action Plan and in the Livestock Strategy, the Commission is preparing the ground to extend the RENURE Act for certain types of liquid digestates based on manure, to enable their use above the manure limit in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones with appropriate environmental safeguards. A first preliminary scientific assessment will be delivered later this year. The Annex XIX of the evaluation (in part 11) analyses the role of biogas production and the use of digestates in agriculture.
Climate change will also significantly impact how the Nitrates Directive will be implemented in the future. The Directive's flexibility allows for innovative and resilient approaches to help farms adapt. In this context, the organic matter provided by compost can play an important role in building the soil's resilience to climate extremes by improving soil structure and increasing water holding capacity, helping farms cope with both drought and heavy rainfall.
The evaluation was published together with the latest country reports for the 2020–2023 period, which include recommendations to support Member States.