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This Decree aims at encouraging and at the same time regulating the use of sewage sludge in agriculture, in order to prevent harmful effects on soil, vegetation, animals and human beings. The sewage sludge shall be used as fertilizer and soil improver only after proper treatment and under the conditions established by article 3, regarding the composition, the concentration of heavy metals and other standards. Article 4 establishes the cases in which the use of sludge in agriculture is prohibited. For example, (a) the use on grassland of forage crops in the five weeks preceding the grazing of grassland or the harvest of forage; (b) the use on soil in which fruit and vegetable crops are growing, with the exception of fruit-trees; (c) the use on ground intended for cultivation of fruit and vegetable crops which are in direct contact with the soil and normally eaten raw, for a period of 10 months preceding the harvest of the crops and during the harvest itself. The Government shall exercise powers relevant (a) to the coordination and promotion of the activities connected to the implementation of the present Decree, (b) to the collection of data and (c) to the definition of the sampling and analysis methods. Powers and duties connected to the enforcement of the principles established at the national level are entrusted to the Regions and to the Provinces. The collection, transport, and storage of sludge is subject to the issuance of an authorization by the regional authoriiy, according to the procedure set out in article 9. Further provisions concern the obligations of the applicant, technical rules on the analysis, transport and storage of the sludge, the accompanying documents to be issued by the producer and the penalties to be applied in case of contravention.
Implements: Council Directive 86/278/EEC on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture. (1986-07-04)
