Posted July 14, 2023
MEPs rejected the Brussels Commission’s proposal to widen the scope Implementation of IED targeting on cattle farms as well as lowering of pig thresholds and poultry.
On July 11, the European Parliament adopted by 396 votes in favour, 102 against, and 131 abstentions, its report on the revision of the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED). But MEPs opposed by a large majority (367 in favor – 245 against and 16 abstentions) any expansion of the scope of foreign direct investment for livestock farms and a lowering of the thresholds for pig and poultry farms to which they would have been subject to the provisions. from this directive. Contrary to what was proposed by the Brussels Commission. Thus, the deputies voted for the status quo: keeping the pig and poultry farming business at 2,000 pigs and 40,000 places and refusing to include livestock and mixed farms. Moreover, Parliament has also recognized that FDI is misleading legislation that simply ignores the basic realities of the livestock sector.
FNSEA and FNPL satisfied
FNSEA has rallied in this direction. While the report on IEDs was being examined by Parliament, I was heavily involved in the demonstration organized by Cuba in Strasbourg.
Union pressure paid off. “It is a real message of support sent by MEPs to the agricultural sector in general and the livestock sector in particular where this Directive poses serious threats: unbearable administrative and economic costs, risks of farm closures or excessive concentration, relocation of production in non-EU countries,” FNSEA welcomed the statement after the vote in Parliament.
Reza National Federation of Milk Producers. “Equating livestock breeding with industrial activity is a real analytical error and we applaud the awareness and courage of parliamentarians. Initially, thanks to the impetus given by the Committee on Agriculture of the European Parliament and the constant mobilization of our managers, livestock breeding remains to this day outside the scope of the Directive,” she said in a statement.
The French and European trade unions now expect much from the Brussels Commission and the Council of Ministers to adopt the same wisdom adopted by Parliament during the negotiations in which they will participate in the framework of the tripartite dialogue.
In fact, like the European Commission, the ministers representing the countries are in favor of tightening the directive on animal husbandry.
The first set an entry threshold of 150 LU for all combined farms, and ministers voted on thresholds of 350 LU for pigs and cattle, 280 LU for poultry and 350 LU for mixed farms.
