March 29, 2005

North Irish poultry farmers troubled over new EU policies

Northern Ireland's poultry farmers are concerned about certain new EU environmental regulations being introduced.

They want poultry litter to be excluded from the definition of slurry in the Nitrates Directive Action Programme which is being implemented to improve water quality.

Ulster Farmers Union Poultry committee chairman Thomas Douglas commented that more clarity was needed for poultry producers to learn more about the possible restrictions they could face under the proposed DOE and DARD Nitrates Action Programme.

He added that they would face the burden of a closed period and extra storage requirements if the regulation were to be implemented.