The EU agriculture ministers once again criticised, on Monday 30 January in Brussels, the negative impact of the proposed directive on industrial emissions on the livestock sector.
They rejected the threshold proposed by the European Commission for pig, poultry and cattle farms, namely a limit of 150 livestock units (LSUs).
Germany suggested a limit of 300 LSUs for cattle, while calling for not lowering the ambition of the current text for other livestock types.
Italy considered it “unacceptable” to equate the livestock sector with other highly polluting industrial sectors.
Austria considered that the 150 LSU threshold was too low, which would be detrimental to small farms. The threshold needs to be raised, according to this country and many others.
Belgium denounced additional constraints on the agricultural sector and, together with Portugal and Greece, requested exemptions for organic or extensive farming.
Hungary defended a threshold of 500 LSUs. Poland and Romania opposed the extension of the scope of the text to cattle.
France did not present a quantified proposal, but Minister Marc Fesneau asked for “guarantees that the specificities of certain livestock farms and sustainable production processes will be taken into account”.
The Romanian Minister of Agriculture expressed doubts that the Swedish Presidency of the EU Council could get the EU ‘Environment’ Council to reach a ‘common position’ on 16 March.
Commissioner for Environment Virginijus Sinkevičius defended the 150 LSU threshold. Speaking to the press, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, said that the size of farms should be taken into account and to “distinguish between sustainable agriculture and agriculture that is closer to industrial production. The method of breeding must be taken into account, beyond the size” (see EUROPE 13101/11). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)