An optional derogation contained in the EC Regulation, which exempts crops intended for the domestic market, will be applied in the UK for a transitional period. However, growers will have to follow codes of Good Agricultural Practice and ensure that levels of nitrate in their produce do not pose a risk to consumers’ health.

The European Commission intends, in the future, to add other foods and contaminants to the scope of these measures [see information on EC pages re mycotoxins, most recent dated 11 July 1997]].