150-cow farms to be included in proposed EU Emissions Directive

The 13% of Europe's commercial farms to be covered by the directive are estimated to be responsible for 60% of the EU's livestock emissions of ammonia and 43% of methane.

IFA President Tim Cullinan said: “It’s outrageous to be including livestock grazing in fields within the scope of this directive." File photo: Denis Minihane

It will be 2027 at the earliest before 165,000 additional EU farms (out of a 10.5 million total) must operate under industrial emissions permits, if this European Commission proposal is approved by the European Parliament and by the EU Council.

The proposal includes the largest 13% of Europe's livestock commercial farms in the Industrial Emissions Directive, which currently covers 30,000 large industrial plants and around 20,000 large poultry and pig farms.