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Friday, March 19, 2010
MOVES are being made at European Union level to bring intensive cattle rearing and the spreading of manure under the scope of the Industrial Emissions (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control) Directive.
Ireland East MEP Mairead McGuinness said the proposal would see the Commission reviewing the need to control emissions from intensive cattle rearing and the spreading of manure by December, 2012. It would also review the thresholds at which pig and poultry farms would come within the scope of the directive.
"These are very significant proposals from a farming perspective and could see larger dairy farms requiring an IPPC licence, with manure spreading also requiring such a licence."
Ms McGuinness said the Nitrates Directive already provides for the regulation of manure spreading and no further restrictions should apply.
A licensing system would add further cost and bureaucracy in farming, without necessarily leading to environmental improvements.
"The recast of the IPPC Directive is in process and it is vital that there is some unity of purpose between the Departments of Agriculture and Environment on these sensitive issues," she said.
Calling on Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith to state his view of the proposal, she said, with milk quotas going shortly, there will be developments in dairy farming against which the imposition of additional environmental requirements may mitigate. There is a danger the debate will focus on the industrial and energy sectors with too little attention paid to the impact on Irish farming.
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