In doing so, the ENVI committee follows the compromise previously worked out by EU diplomats to include fewer livestock farms under the emission regulation, and to reduce the easing of criteria for poultry and pig farming.
The environment committee also wants to make it possible for EU countries to replace the permit requirement for 'small' companies with a registration requirement involving less administrative hassle.
Moreover, the now accepted compromise includes an exemption for all extensive livestock farming; the IED regulation will apply only to intensive livestock operations. Additionally, the implementation period will be spread out over a longer timeframe, and thresholds will be introduced to prevent āmore imports and leakage abroadā by applying the reciprocity principle.
Initially, Environment Commissioner Virginijus SinkeviÄius and Climate Commissioner Frans Timmermans wanted to bring virtually all livestock farms under the pollution rules that have existed since 2010 for tens of thousands of industrial activities. The European Commission initially said this would only apply to very large farms, but that estimate turned out to be based on outdated data.
Not only the agriculture committee of the European Parliament but also Agriculture Ministers from several EU countries had reservations about āthe administrative hassle for all kinds of new permitsā. Several EU parliamentary groups and Agriculture Ministers want to exclude livestock farming entirely, but that plea met resistance.
It is argued that not only other sectors such as transport, construction, or shipping but also intensive animal and livestock farming must soon use the best available techniques against air and soil pollution.
The expectation now is that the full European Parliament will adopt a final position in June or July. It will then become clear whether there is a majority to fully exclude dairy cows. After that, trilogue negotiations with the European Commission and the EU Environment Ministers can still be concluded this year.