The Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989

Prohibition on use or supply of sludge

3.—(1) No person shall cause or knowingly permit sludge to be used on agricultural land unless the following requirements are fulfilled; and no person shall supply sludge for use on agricultural land if he knows or has reason to believe that the requirements of paragraph (6) below will not be fulfilled when the sludge is so used, or that the precautions set out in regulation 4 will not be observed after such use.

(2) The sludge shall be tested in accordance with Schedule 1.

(3) The soil on the land shall be tested or assessed in accordance with Schedule 2.

(4) Unless the land is a dedicated site:–

(a) the average annual rate of addition to the land by means of the sludge of any of the elements listed in column (1) of the sludge table shall not exceed the limit (in kilograms per hectare per year) specified in column (2) thereof; and

(b) the concentration in the soil of any of the elements listed in column (1) of the soil table shall not exceed the limit specified in column (2) thereof; and where that limit is not exceeded at the time of the use, it shall not be exceeded by reason of the use.

(5) The pH value of the soil shall not be less than 5.

(6) No fruit or vegetable crops, other than fruit trees, shall be growing or being harvested in the soil at the time of the use.

(7) The sludge shall be used in such a way that account is taken of the nutrient needs of the plants and that the quality of the soil and of the surface and ground water is not impaired.