In addition, the directive obliges member countries to prepare action programmes for the designated nitrate vulnerable zones so that the objective of the directive can be realised, as well as to conduct suitable monitoring programmes to determine the extent of nitrate pollution in waters from agricultural sources and to assess the effectiveness of the action programmes. Instead, in conformity with the Nitrates Directive, it informed the European Commission in 1994 that it would prepare an action programme for its entire territory . Accordingly, in the Netherlands, the Nitrates Directive action programme is applied throughout the country. Even so, legislation distinguishes between soil fertility and types (in the Netherlands, the most important main soil-type regions are sandy, loess, clay and peat).