The NFU met with MEPs and European farming unions in Brussels yesterday to discuss proposals to extend the remit of the Integrated Pollution Prevention Control Directive, ahead of its second reading in the EU Parliament.
We lobbied hard and won amendments to proposed changes to the IPPC Directive in 2009. These would have seen reduced thresholds for laying hens, ducks and turkeys, impacting on smaller family farms, as well as extended the control of off-site manure spreading and included glasshouses with boiler units. However, further lobbying is needed to stave off a number of other proposals which could have a detrimental impact on UK farmers and growers.
NFU chief environmental adviser Dr Diane Mitchell joined COPA for the meeting. “We are pleased to see a more risk-based approach being advocated in relation to whether a baseline site condition report is needed and on inspection frequency”, she said.
“However, one of our main areas of concern is the addition of a review clause. This would mean that the Commission could revise the poultry thresholds, extend the controls for off-site manure spreading and could extend controls to include cattle farming. We have long argued that the costs of this would far outweigh any benefits across all three proposals. We will also continue to argue for greater flexibility on proposals to set emissions limits.
“We have continually questioned the appropriateness of the Directive, which was intended to govern emissions from power stations and industrial plants rather than farming, and the effective environmental benefits its provides. We will be lobbying MEPs on this issue and calling for their support on behalf of our farmer members who could see adverse impacts on their business if this Directive becomes law without these key changes being implemented.”
More IPPC news from the NFU here.
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