ENVIRONMENT minister Mark H Durkan has blocked a proposal he said could have "bent the rules" on farm pollution.
The SDLP minister vetoed of a memorandum of understanding between the Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) and NI Environment Agency (NIEA).
The UFU said it is disappointed that Mr Durkan had chosen not to sign off the accord following two years of negotiations, while environmentalists welcomed the decision.
According to the minister, the memorandum (MoU) would have seen NIEA officials adopt a more lenient approach to farm pollution incidents where there was no significant environmental damage.
Rather than face the courts the farmers responsible could be encouraged to put measures in place to ensure the pollution did not reoccur.
Over the past decade falling water quality standards have prompted a crackdown on agricultural pollution, leading to scores of prosecutions.
The UFU believed the agreement would have delivered "better environmental outcomes in ways that reduce conflict and support farm profitability".
But it is understood that when the European Commission was consulted on the proposal it concluded that it would have breached environmental regulations and jeopardise funding from Brussels.
Mr Durkan told The Irish News that despite significant political pressure he was "never entirely comfortable" with the MoU.
"While I recognise the important role farmers play in safeguarding the environment, I had concerns that adopting this agreement may have effectively bent the rules," he said.
"It's very important we have a good relationship with farmers. However, at the end of the day we can't let people off with polluting."
A UFU spokesman voiced its disappointment.
"The UFU believe that the proposals set out in the MoU present a realistic and mutually beneficial way forward for both the NIEA and farmers," the spokesman said.
Green Party MLA Steven Agnew welcomed Mr Durkan's decision.
"Agriculture accounts for a significant proportion of pollution incidents and adequate enforcement of environmental regulations are essential," he said
"The UFU deal would have weakened controls over regulation and further undermined good governance and protection of the environment."
Friends of the Earth regional director James Orr also said the MoU was "not in the interests of the environment".
"If we are to tackle the health of our rivers and lakes we need to enforce the rules not bend them even further," he said.
