In Germany, buffer zone requests are stated on the product label. Depending on the state and its state- specific laws (e.g. water law) these buffer zones width can be modified. The list of drift reducing equipment that states refer to to modify certain buffer zones can be found here.
According to the German water management law (Wasserhaushaltsgesetz, Kapitel 2, Abschnitt 2 - Bewirtschaftung oberirdischer Gewässer) buffer zones play a role in (…) protecting surface water from diffuse contamination, it is measured (….) either from the mean water level or from the bank's upper edge. This buffer zone is 5 m wide. Competent authorities can remove this buffer zone, modify the width of this buffer zone and determine (…) buffer zones.
(…) On buffer zones it is prohibted to convert green land to crop land, certain trees and shrubs, the use of (…) substances that are dangerous to the aquatic environment, with the exception of plant protection products, unless specified differently in the respective state legislation. (…) |
Buffer zone legislation per Land:
Hessen
Hessen, through a change of its state water law (Wassergesetz) has dropped the 10 m buffer zones with regard to surface water since 26 June 2002. Instead, the buffer zone indication on product labels apply.
There also seems to be a differenciation between fixed and flexible buffer zones. The width of flexibile buffer zones can be reduced by the use of appropriate drift reduction equipment.
Nordrheinwestfalen
The water law of the state Nordrheinwestfalen (LWG of 03 Mai 2005), for instance, it is mandatory to have buffer zones to protect surface water from diffuse PPP pollution. The requested buffer zone is 10 m (from bank) with regard to 1st order rivers, 5 m with regard to all other surface water bodies, on which no PPPs must be used. This rule however does not apply if the concerned products allow for a buffer zone smaller than the 10 m or 5 m buffer zone (§90a LWG NRW). In this case, the buffer zones in the use instruction (with or without drift reducing equipment) prevail. However, a minimum, state-specific buffer zone of 1 meter (from bank) is to be observed (§6 para 2 PflSchG, interpreted for NRW). On this 1 m buffer zone no PPPs must be used.
Rheinlandpfalz
The minister council has adopted on 3 Feb 2015 a new version of the water law. Priority n°1 is to protect water and water bodies as priority food item and habitat for plants and animals. The new version contains some focus points, of which buffer zones are part ("Gewässerrandstreifen"). Actions could include the establishment of buffer zones on which actions harmful to water (e.g. use of pesticides or fertilisers) will be forbidden.
In more detail, the draft contains the following wording: (...) "the establishment of mandatory buffer zones in the case where diffuse sources are at the source of a bad water status."
§33 on buffer zones contains i.a.:
- (...) "beyond the provisions of §38 in the WHG (1) the use of plant protection products and fertilisers on buffer zones may be prohibited and (...) that the implementation of Directive 2000/60/EG has revealed that e.g. pesticide entries into water mostly happens over sewage plants and not over surfaces through runoff. Erosion processes and nutrients transfer are only significant for surfaces with a slope."
Saarland
Hessen
Hessen, through a change of its state water law (Wassergesetz) has dropped the 10 m buffer zones with regard to surface water since 26 June 2002. Instead, the buffer zone indication on product labels apply.
There also seems to be a differenciation between fixed and flexible buffer zones. The width of flexibile buffer zones can be reduced by the use of appropriate drift reduction equipment.
Nordrheinwestfalen
The water law of the state Nordrheinwestfalen (LWG of 03 Mai 2005), for instance, it is mandatory to have buffer zones to protect surface water from diffuse PPP pollution. The requested buffer zone is 10 m (from bank) with regard to 1st order rivers, 5 m with regard to all other surface water bodies, on which no PPPs must be used. This rule however does not apply if the concerned products allow for a buffer zone smaller than the 10 m or 5 m buffer zone (§90a LWG NRW). In this case, the buffer zones in the use instruction (with or without drift reducing equipment) prevail. However, a minimum, state-specific buffer zone of 1 meter (from bank) is to be observed (§6 para 2 PflSchG, interpreted for NRW). On this 1 m buffer zone no PPPs must be used.
Rheinlandpfalz
The minister council has adopted on 3 Feb 2015 a new version of the water law. Priority n°1 is to protect water and water bodies as priority food item and habitat for plants and animals. The new version contains some focus points, of which buffer zones are part ("Gewässerrandstreifen"). Actions could include the establishment of buffer zones on which actions harmful to water (e.g. use of pesticides or fertilisers) will be forbidden.
In more detail, the draft contains the following wording: (...) "the establishment of mandatory buffer zones in the case where diffuse sources are at the source of a bad water status."
§33 on buffer zones contains i.a.:
- (...) "beyond the provisions of §38 in the WHG (1) the use of plant protection products and fertilisers on buffer zones may be prohibited and (...) that the implementation of Directive 2000/60/EG has revealed that e.g. pesticide entries into water mostly happens over sewage plants and not over surfaces through runoff. Erosion processes and nutrients transfer are only significant for surfaces with a slope."
Saarland