The fight on IPPC continues
The NFU and NPA remain confident they can build on support received from MEPs to continue the battle against proposed changes to the Integrated Pollution Prevention Controls Directive voted on at the EU Parliament today.
Intense lobbying by the NFU resulted in MEPs backing an amendment that would otherwise have seen lower thresholds introduced on poultry units, impacting on smaller family-run farms such as seasonal turkey and free range egg producers.
But a key amendment to delete nitrogen equivalency factors, which will affect more than 300 pig farmers, was rejected. Proposals that would adversely affect the horticulture sector were unfortunately voted in. Meanwhile, a proposal on manure spreading was a partial success in that farms that are already covered by NVZs will not have to undertake additional IPPC requirements when spreading off-site.
The NFU and NPA are determined to see changes made to the proposed amendments of the Directive to protect agriculture and horticulture from unnecessary costs and red tape.
NFU Deputy President Meurig Raymond said: "I would like to thank MEPs and ministers, particularly Jane Kennedy, for their support which added significant weight to today’s vote. This has given us clear priorities for the next stage when the directive goes to Council.
"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.
"This legislation was originally meant for larger, heavy industry such as power stations and we want MEPs to recognize that agriculture and horticulture are different to other businesses within the IPPC. Most are small family-run businesses with limited capacity to manage the very broad nature of IPPC and what’s needed to fulfil implementation and compliance.
"There is still plenty of time to defeat these rules before they are rubber-stamped by EU ministers and I remain committed to lobbying for the amendments to be rejected."
Charles Bourns, NFU poultry board chairman, added: "Many of these poultry businesses will have restructured specifically to remain outside the IPPC. To move the goal posts at this stage is simply unfair. The environmental benefits of regulating free range and small family farms in this way simply would not justify the massive cost. The MEPs vote on poultry thresholds is a victory for common sense, and we thank the minister Jane Kennedy for helping us lobby these points in Brussels."
