Parliament approves measures to reduce industrial and farm pollution

Parliament adopted the deal with member states on the revision of the industrial emission directive (IED) with 393 votes in favour, 173 against and 49 abstentions, and the new regulation on the Industrial Emissions Portal with 506 votes in favour, 82 against and 25 abstentions.

Industrial installations

The new rules will make it mandatory to set the strictest achievable emissions levels for the sectors covered. To combat water scarcity, environmental performance targets will become obligatory for water consumption. For waste, resource efficiency, energy efficiency and raw material use, targets will be within a range and for new techniques, they will be indicative.

The revised IED will now also cover extractive industry installations (mines) and large installations manufacturing batteries.

Livestock farms

Co-legislators agreed to extend IED measures to pig farms with more than 350 livestock units (LSU). Farms raising pigs in an extensive or organic manner, and outside for a significant amount of time in a year, are excluded. For poultry, the directive applies to farms with laying hens with more than 300 LSU and for farms with broilers with more than 280 LSU. For farms rearing both pigs and poultry, the limit will be 380 LSU.

The Commission will assess, by 31 December 2026, whether there is a need to further address the emissions from rearing livestock, including from cattle, and a reciprocity clause to ensure producers outside the EU meet requirements similar to EU rules when exporting to the EU.

Public participation, penalties and compensation

Transparency and public participation in relation to the licensing, operation and control of regulated installations will be improved as the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register will be transformed into an EU Industrial Emissions Portal where citizens can access data on all EU permits and local polluting activities.

Companies that do not comply can face penalties of at least 3% of the operator’s annual EU turnover for the most serious infringements. EU countries shall give citizens affected by non-compliance the right to claim compensation for damages to their health.

Quote

After the vote, rapporteur Radan Kanev (EPP, Bulgaria), said: “Today’s vote shows Parliament’s commitment to the zero pollution goals of the Green deal and the health of Europeans. It also demonstrates that those goals can be achieved without placing an additional administrative burden on businesses and especially on European farmers. The vote emphasises that MEPs understand the reasons behind the farmers’ protests.”

EU ministers agree position on revised industrial emissions standards

Next steps

The law now also has to be adopted by Council, before being published in the EU Official Journal and entering into force 20 days later. Member states will then have 22 months to comply with this directive.

Background

The industrial emission directive is the main EU instrument regulating air, water and soil pollution from industrial installations including intensive livestock farms, which can lead to health problems such as asthma, bronchitis and cancer. It also regulates generation of waste, use of raw materials, energy efficiency, noise and prevention of accidents.

This legislation is responding to citizens’ expectations concerning the polluter pays principle, speeding up the green transition and fostering greener production processes as expressed in proposals 2(2), 3(1), 11(1) and 12(5) of the conclusions of the Conference on the Future of Europe.

More information: European Parliament