The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee is holding its first evidence session in its nitrates inquiry tomorrow when the Committee will hear from academics and Environment groups.

The EAC launched its inquiry into nitrates pollution in December to consider the nature, scale and impacts of nitrate pollution in the UK on the environment and human life. It will also review the Government’s approach to the regulation of the chemicals concerned and its approach to reducing them.

Concerns have been growing on nitrate usage and pollution: in 2014, 78% of surface and groundwater bodies in the UK failed to meet the ‘good’ ecological status prescribed by the EU Water Frameworks Directive. In 2008, the EU gave the UK a final warning over its poor performance on nitrates and in 2015, the EU referred the UK to the European Court of Justice for its poor waste water collection and treatment.

Nitrate pollution is currently regulated by the European Union. Experts have said this regulation will be at risk when European laws are rolled over into domestic legislation in 2019.

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