As reported by an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent, during the session on Monday, 248 people's deputies supported the decision, with no votes against.

The purpose of the draft law is to define the legal and organizational principles for the protection of underground and surface waters from pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources, as well as the implementation of the Council of the European Union Directive of December 12, 1991 (91/676/EEC).

As noted by the head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management, Oleh Bondarenko, the annual "blooming" of Ukrainian water bodies and excessive pollution of water in sources is a direct consequence of nitrate pollution from the activities of agricultural producers.

"This is a complex cross-sectoral law. It is needed both for farmers so that agricultural market products are capable of entering the European Union. This draft law is, of course, also needed for the citizens of Ukraine, so that such pollution... causes as little harm as possible to the environment and to citizens," he said.

The head of the parliamentary Committee on Agrarian and Land Policy, Oleksandr Haidu, emphasized that this document is mandatory for access of Ukrainian agricultural products to the EU market and for fulfilling the conditions under Chapter 27 "Environment."

"If we postpone this draft law now in its current version, the European Union will demand the adoption of a stricter variant. In the worst case, we will have to declare this territory of Ukraine a nitrate-vulnerable zone, and this will become a serious obstacle for the agricultural sector," he said, noting that the Committee on Agrarian and Land Policy recommended adopting the document as a basis with possible further revision.

The draft law provides for the procedure for identifying waters affected by pollution, establishing nitrate-vulnerable zones, defining rules of good agricultural practice, developing action programs, and carrying out regular monitoring. The document also defines the powers of state bodies, the rights and obligations of business entities, and the principles of state control, as well as its implementation.