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8. CONCLUSIONS
Diffuse pollution is notoriously difficult to tackle. Control at the point where pollution becomes apparent is often impracticable, and there is a consensus that a combination of measures works best at a catchment scale. Water quality improvements depend on the good practice of a considerable number of farmers and other land managers. For this reason the emphasis in tackling diffuse pollution has been the promotion of good practice, such as that set out in the PEPFAA Code, agreed by the various interested parties, including representatives of the farming industry.
The Scottish Executive considers that a set of GBRs on the lines set out in Annex A will be an important step towards achieving good quality in Scotland's water environment. The proposed rules are in many cases good practice set out as guidance in the PEPFAA Code. Those land managers who already work to such standards will find the changes, if any, to their existing methods will be minimal.
The General Binding Rules are designed to set reasonable standards which are transparent and fair, applicable to all land managers in Scotland.
We invite comments on the measures in the Table attached and on the other issues discussed in this paper.
Water Division
October 2006
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