European Parliament: less livestock farming under stricter environmental rules

The European Parliament believes that large parts of livestock farming should not be subject to the EU law against industrial pollution. The Parliament does not want to extend the emission rules to cattle farms.

EP Plenary session – Keep the bills down: social and economic consequences of the war in Ukraine

In doing so, the European Parliament, like the EU countries, departs from the RIE proposal of the European Commission.

The Commissioners wanted all livestock farming to fall under these stricter rules. Now EU countries and the Parliament still need to agree in a trilogue on how much smaller that scope should be.

The European Commission had proposed that the rules for large industries also apply to mining, battery production, and intensive livestock farming. According to recent measurements, all these sectors are major greenhouse gas emitters. They will be required soon to further reduce their air, water, and soil pollution.

The European Parliament does support extra measures for mining and batteries but does not want all livestock farms to be included. On Tuesday in Strasbourg, MEPs voted (367 – 245) to include only large pig farms (+20,000 fattening pigs, 750 sows).

This also applies to large poultry farms (+40,000) and dairy farms with more than 750 livestock units (LSU). The Commission had originally proposed a threshold of 150 LSU.

Furthermore, the European Parliament wants more transparency and citizen participation in the granting of permits for industrial air and water pollution. The same will soon apply to agricultural businesses falling under the new rules. Citizens will then have access to all data about all EU permits and local polluting activities, the MEPs stated.

The EP report drafter, Bulgarian Christian Democrat Radan Kanev, said that better environmental protection does not have to lead to more bureaucracy. Innovation, according to him, is the key to bringing pollution to zero "and for that we need a more competitive European industrial sector."

Dutch MEP Mohammed Chahim (PvdA) pointed out that air pollution in EU countries is harmful to humans, animals, and nature. "Residents near these types of companies often have a higher risk of cancer and other diseases," said the PvdA member.

GreenLeft member Bas Eickhout regretted that parts of the livestock industry remain outside the stricter rules. “The conservatives have managed to exclude emissions from cows and weaken the rules for other animals. Any proposal that somewhat affects greening agriculture is now extremely sensitive; our nature and the health of thousands of people appear to be of secondary importance for a majority of this parliament.”

European Parliament: less livestock farming under stricter environmental rules

EP Plenary session – Keep the bills down: social and economic consequences of the war in Ukraine

In doing so, the European Parliament, like the EU countries, departs from the RIE proposal of the European Commission.

The Commissioners wanted all livestock farming to fall under these stricter rules. Now EU countries and the Parliament still need to agree in a trilogue on how much smaller that scope should be.

This also applies to large poultry farms (+40,000) and dairy farms with more than 750 livestock units (LSU). The Commission had originally proposed a threshold of 150 LSU.