Pig and poultry farmers celebrate IPPC victory

At the meeting in Luxembourg, Ministers reached ‘political agreement’ not to burden small scale farmers with its integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) regulation after 18 months heavy lobbying from the NFU.

According to the NFU an estimated 230 additional poultry units; 600 pig units; and at least half of the UK’s protected edibles sector could have been hit by new rules.

NFU deputy president Meurig Raymond said: “I am delighted the EU Environment Ministers have listened to the NFU’s calls to halt the expansion of the IPPC Directive.

“They have recognised that agriculture and horticulture are totally different to other businesses within 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.

“We worked closely with our European colleagues in COPA-COGECA and our Government representatives in Brussels to raise our 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.”

The second stage of IPPC EU 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.