Politicians from across the party divides have welcomed the Senedd decision to review the Welsh Government's controversial NVZ regulations.

Preseli Pembrokeshire Conservative MS Paul Davies was among those voting for an urgent committee review of the The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021.

Meanwhile Plaid Cymru described it as a vote for common sense.

Mr Davies said: “This is the first step in getting these disproportionate regulations scrapped and I’m pleased that a Senedd committee will urgently review these regulations.

"The regulations introduced in April will have a devastating impact on farms and livelihoods across Pembrokeshire and I’ve been clear that we need a much more targeted approach to water pollution. Therefore, it’s vital that a review takes place quickly and these regulations are dropped before valued jobs and businesses are lost.”

After the Senedd vote on the matter, Plaid spokesperson for agriculture and rural affairs, Cefin Campbell MS said: “Today’s vote is a victory for common sense. It is a victory for our farmers and unions and it is a victory for our rural communities.

“We have heard time and again why the regulations as they stand are not acceptable. Not only were they rushed through recklessly by a minister who promised, ten times no less, that they would not be introduced while Wales was still in a pandemic, they were introduced against the expert recommendation of Natural Resources Wales who said regulations should be introduced in the 8 per cent most at-risk areas rather than on an all-Wales basis.

“Furthermore, the lack of financial support available to help farm businesses cope with the regulations would leave family farms severely affected. How on earth can the minister justify offering £11million in financial support, when the government's own assessments suggest that the cost to farmers could be between £109million, and £360million?

“Welsh farmers are part of the solution, not part of the problem. Plaid Cymru believe it’s time for the Government to listen to them – and to the experts.

“It is time to look to the future by embracing technology to make far more accurate choices around land management – such as using weather stations on farms to measure soil temperature, leaf moisture, wind direction and rainfall – enabling farmers to make on-field decisions around slurry spreading, pesticide spraying or harvesting.

"This is far more scientific than farming by calendar, which is both impractical and outdated."

The Farmers’ Union of Wales also welcomed the review.

FUW vice-president Dai Miles said: “The FUW and other industry bodies have repeatedly expressed our frustration and anger at the way these rules have been pushed through and warned of the dangers that come with what is currently being asked of the industry.

“Now that a review has been agreed it is imperative that an impact assessment is conducted into the loss of biodiversity if these costly proposals were to lead to a decline in upland cattle grazing, a concern that a previous report submitted by the industry working group highlighted."