EU Ambassadors Reach Compromise on IED Livestock Farming

Further restrictions on air pollution are on this week’s agenda for the EU Environment Ministers. Their AGRI-Agriculture counterparts are pushing for a relaxation and have not yet agreed.

The European Commission wants to apply the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) to large livestock farms as well. Initially, the Commission claimed it only concerned the very large companies in cattle, pig, and poultry farming. Subsequently, it became clear that Brussels relied on outdated figures, which means more farms would be affected than initially thought.

The compromise now prepared by diplomats is twofold: it proposes applying the IED rules only to intensive livestock farming, excluding extensive farms. This aligns with the views of Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski, who believes that primary consideration should be given to how a (small) agricultural business operates. Small livestock farms should not fall under the rules for large ‘industrial’ agricultural enterprises.

Additionally, a much more phased introduction of the minimum number of animals that will apply under the new criteria is proposed. The compromise text suggests rolling out the IED based on the size of the livestock operation.

The directive would only take effect in four years for farms with a capacity of 600 livestock units or more, within five years for farms with 400 animals or more, and within five to six years for those with a capacity from 250 livestock units upwards. This approach would allow most farms to better prepare for the requirement to take measures against air pollution.

The compromise acknowledges that raising pigs, poultry, and cattle causes significant air and soil pollution but proposes excluding extensive farms. According to the drafters, these farms “make a positive contribution to the preservation of landscapes, prevention of forest fires, and protection of biodiversity and habitats.”

Extensive agriculture mainly relies on natural or semi-natural grassland, the text specifies, which was leaked this week by Euractiv.