News Politics
New European rules threaten livestock farmers
There is a Brussels proposal on the table whereby livestock farms with more than 150 livestock units (LU) will soon be labeled as agro-industry. With this they will fall under the Industrial Emissions Directive, the European directive for the regulation of polluting emissions from industrial installations. This means they have to comply with certain rules for nitrogen emissions, among other things. Member of the European Parliament Bert-Jan Ruissen (SGP) is afraid that the (Dutch) agricultural sector will soon be 'burdened with a lot of extra regulations and rules'.
The tightening must be implemented in 2027. If the proposal is adopted, dairy farming will also be covered for the first time Industrial Emissions Directive which came into effect in 2011. According to figures from Statistics Netherlands, 3.700 Dutch dairy farms fall under the category with more than 150 LUs.
The rules for industrial emissions are being tightened as part of the Zero Pollution Action Plan, part of the European Green Deal. Speaking at a press conference earlier this month, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, said: "We have modernized the Industrial Emissions Directive, which has significantly increased the level of ambition and potential to guide the industry in the green transition. first, large-scale livestock farming is covered by these rules, along with more intensive pig and poultry farming, which means that about three quarters of livestock's methane and ammonia emissions are now included."
Member of the European Parliament Bert-Jan Ruissen of the SGP is concerned about Article 70i in the bill. It states that the Commission adopts operating rules based on best available techniques for, inter alia, emissions, monitoring and land dispersal practices. Boerenbusiness discussed this with the MEP.
We're talking about plans here. What is the probability that the proposal will pass?
"That is difficult to estimate. What I do estimate is that it will not be signed blindly. The entire negotiation process between council and parliament is still involved. This plan can have mega consequences for the agricultural sector."
Which rules will Dutch livestock farmers with more than 150 livestock units have to comply with that they are not yet bound to according to European and national rules?
"That is also the big question. In any case, you start to regard larger companies as industrial companies. Now pig farms and chickens are already included, at least the very large companies. It is completely new that it also applies to dairy farming. That is special, because dairy farming is land-based. That is a completely different sport than industry. You are dealing with livestock, animals that run outside. European Commissioner Frans Timmermans says that there will be a simplified permit procedure for agriculture. He does not say that the Commission will have the power to impose all kinds of new rules. What I fear is that the sector will be charged with a lot of extra regulations and rules. Specific rules can be drawn up via delegated powers: fertilization methods, all kinds of regulations for the most modern techniques. exactly what it will look like, that is not in there. That way we get stuck in all kinds of targeted means regulations, I'm afraid. I believe that we need to move much more towards target regulations. Don't sit in the farmer's chair and don't prescribe which technique should or should not be used."
Frans Timmermans said something that is difficult to translate: This is not a proposal that goes after farmers. The proposal is not intended to affect farmers…
"He can say that, but it will affect farmers, especially in the Netherlands. The LU limits for pig farming and poultry will be lowered. The scope will be much broader. This will affect a lot of agricultural companies."
Isn't it strange that not all livestock farms have to comply with the same rules? Two farms with 100 cows together emit more than one with 150.
"Such a 150 LU threshold is arbitrary. Why make a difference in size? It's a certain approach where you put large companies in the dock, while large companies are often efficient and use emissions wisely. But my most important The objection is that you continue to steer on the basis of means regulations. That always becomes rigid. Give the entrepreneur the freedom to choose the method that suits him best to reduce emissions. It is good to have EU-wide agreements in broad outline, so that you have a level playing field guarantee, but limit yourself as a government in setting a number of target regulations."
In 2021, according to Statistics Netherlands, 3.700 dairy farmers fell under that category, a quarter. What about in other European countries?
"That differs greatly per country. It depends very much on the scale, it mainly concerns companies of a reasonable size. Countries with many small farmers are not so bothered by it. Then the question arises: how fair? is that? That is also not good for the level playing field. The Netherlands is one of the more important countries that is greatly affected by this."
Should farmers come under industry?
"The inherent nature of agriculture is not taken sufficiently into account. Agriculture is not an industry. That is fundamentally the wrong choice. Agricultural companies are the bearers of the countryside, you must cherish them. We are concerned that additional measures and rules will be introduced again existing environmental legislation."
There is already so much uncertainty: PAS reporters waiting for a permit, area processes in which peak loaders are more or less forced to stop. According to the ministers, the farmer will then know where he stands, but additional European measures will be introduced in 2027...
"It definitely creates a lot of uncertainty. And when the directive has been laid down, we will not be there yet. With those powers, we don't know where it will end."
Linda van Eekeres
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