Several regulatory measures have been introduced to reduce and prevent water pollution by nitrates. They have focused on: periods in which land application of nitrogen is prohibited, rules for fertiliser application on steeply sloping ground and on water-saturated, flooded, frozen or snow-covered ground, and rules for fertiliser application in the vicinity of watercourses. However, implementation of the requirements is still inadequate and further efforts are needed, especially to better manage the application of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilisers and reduce uncontrolled applications of livestock manure on soil.