Ministerial Decree No. 85167/820 approving a Code of Good Agricultural Practice.

This Code of Good Agricultural Practice addresses issues related to the protection of waters affected by nitrate pollution deriving from agricultural sources. It is divided into four Parts as follows: the first Part (A) concerns fertilizers and aims at assisting farmers in implementing friendly practices towards the environment in a way that income by their crops may be secured and also that the environment can be protected. In particular it aims at avoiding pollution of underground and surface waters from the accumulation of nitrates through water infiltration or surface runoff. The second Part (B) aims at moderating the continuously increasing water pollution from nitrate ions by the excessive use of animal waste. The correct use of irrigation water by the farmers can considerably contribute in the reduction of nitrates concentration in underground waters. In the third Part (C), practical guidelines on the correct application of various irrigation methods are provided so that the deep infiltration of water can be limited as well as the surface runoff, factors that contribute in nitrate spread. The last Part (D) of this Code provides for an integrated pest management system, the storage, transport and use of plant protection products and the monitoring of plant diseases.