European Climate Commissioner Frans Timmermans says the new emission standards against air pollution will have little impact on most livestock farms.
In five years, the stricter requirements will also apply to large livestock farms with more than 150 animals. They will then be required to use the most advanced technology against air pollution.
Timmermans said last week that the new regulations will only affect the most polluting companies. According to him, these account for 10% of livestock farms, 18% of pig farms, and 15% of poultry farms, responsible for 41%, 80%, and 87% respectively of all polluting emissions in their sectors.
The European agricultural umbrella organization Copa-Cogeca has strongly criticized the plans. The organization considers the proposals not in line with the food independence advocated by EU politicians since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.
According to Timmermans, the stricter requirements are not a proposal "that targets farmers." “On the contrary. Farmers will get a lighter permit procedure than large companies and can also receive financial support from the Common Agricultural Policy,” Timmermans stated.
According to EU politicians, the Netherlands already complies well with the current directive. The Netherlands is said to be a frontrunner within the EU in low-emission stables. The 2,150 pig and poultry farms in the Netherlands that fall under the tightened directive are expected to be little affected by the new directive, it is said.
The new directive sets stricter limits for over 80 polluting substances. The previous directive led to a reduction since 2004 in the EU emissions from large combustion installations of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen, and particulates by 77%, 49%, and 81% respectively.
According to the European Commission, the proposal puts the principle 'the polluter pays' into practice. The total additional costs amount to several hundred million euros, but these costs pale compared to the benefits for human health: 5.5 billion euros per year, the European Commission says.