Adema is currently having research conducted into the possible consequences of the new European Industrial Emissions Directive (RIE) environmental standards for Dutch livestock farms and dairy farming. Therefore, on Monday in Brussels, he abstained from either approving or rejecting the proposal, leaving Environment Commissioner Vinkevicius uncertain about the next steps.
Due to the expansion of European environmental laws, more pig and poultry farms will soon fall under the so-called Industrial Emissions Directive (RIE). The European Commission emphasized that the damage is relatively limited. Moreover, the new regulation only needs to be implemented by 2029. National subsidies can also be allocated under the new agricultural policy.
The current directive concerns about 4% of pig and poultry farms in the EU. Going forward, 13% of the largest cattle, pig, and poultry farms will fall under it, collectively responsible for 60% of ammonia and 43% of methane emissions.
EU countries reiterated that administrative and accounting burdens should be kept as minimal as possible for the agricultural enterprises involved. In the agriculture committee of the European Parliament, there is strong opposition to the name of the new RIE regulation. They argue that the term ‘industrial’ does not apply to animal and livestock farming.