June 29, 2009
Ireland's farming union gains pollution victory campaign for pig farmers
The National Farming Union (NFU) in Scotland has won a significant victory for pig farmers regarding plans to review the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive after more than 18 months of lobbying.
Environment ministers have reached "political agreement" in a meeting in Luxembourg, marking the end of the first stage of EU negotiations, by agreeing not to extend the scope of the IPPC controls.
A significant number of small family farm businesses will be affected including an estimated 230 additional poultry units; 600 pig units; and affect at least half of the UK's protected edibles sector.
Throughout the negotiations, the NFU has questioned the appropriateness of the controls for agriculture and horticulture, which were originally intended for larger power stations and industrial plants, and the actual environmental benefits they would have provided.
The changes had the potential to bring in a significant number of additional smaller farms as well as small combustion plant on horticultural units.
NFU Deputy President Meurig Raymond expressed delight to the EU Environment Ministers to halt the expansion of the IPPC Directive. He said the ministers have recognised that agriculture and horticulture are totally different to other businesses within IPPC.
The businesses that will be affected are mostly small, family-run businesses with limited capacity to manage the very broad nature of IPPC and what's needed to fulfil implementation and compliance.
Meurig said the NFU has worked with the European colleagues in COPA-COGECA and its government representatives in Brussels to raise concerns across Europe. IPPC is by far the most comprehensive environmental regime we have seen and the effects of these changes could be very serious, adding significant costs and burdens, especially to smaller pig and poultry units, he said.
The second stage of IPPC negotiations begins again later this year with a reading in Parliament to consider the EU Environment Ministers' position. A final agreement is expected in 2010.
