EU reaches preliminary deal on reducing industrial emissions

EU member countries and the European Parliament said Wednesday they had reached a preliminary agreement on curbing industrial emissions, including those from intensive poultry and pig farms and from ore mines. 

This general view taken on October 31, 2018, shows the Emile Huchet power plant, coal plant and combined gas plant, located in Saint-Avold as seen from Longeville-les-Saint-Avold, eastern France. © AFP - JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN

The deal would "reduce harmful emissions from industry and improve public access to information", the European Council, representing member states, said in a statement.

The lead EU lawmaker on the project, Radan Kanev, said it would significantly reduce emissions "without creating further red tape for industries and farmers", while bringing in stiff fines for companies violating it.

The agreement, which still has to be formally adopted, aims to bring down air, soil and water pollution from companies by revising existing rules on emissions and landfill.

After only seven hours (somehow tough) negotiations, we have a provisional agreement on the IED trilogue.
No one of us politicians is really happy - that’s good for environment, good for business, good for farmers. @pcanfin @MChahim @MichalWiezik @JuttaPaulusRLP pic.twitter.com/KV8XIxm7yH

— Radan Kanev (@rmkanev) November 29, 2023

It would also update a European pollutant release and transfer register known as E-PRTR.

The parliament noted in a statement that emissions from big agricultural companies can lead to health problems such as asthma, bronchitis and cancer.

The updated rules will apply from 2030 to intensive pig farms with more than 350 livestock units, a reference unit that corresponds to a total of more than 1,000 pigs, depending on age and size.

Pigs on a farm at Ploneour-Lanvern, western France in 2015. © AFP / FRED TANNEAU

It will also apply to poultry farms with more than 300 livestock units of laying hens – or more than 21,400 chickens.

The revised rules would also apply to the industrial mining of ores such as iron, copper, gold, nickel and platinum, and the European Commission may end up including the mining of industrial minerals at a later stage.

• France seeks deal to salvage New Caledonia's nickel sector

Penalties

Each EU country would be responsible for issuing permits to companies affected by the rules, if they can show they meet relevant standards.

Penalties for violators are designed to reflect the gravity of the infringement, and will include fines ranging to at least 3 percent of a company's annual turnover in the EU.

• Oil, gas giants could pay climate damage and still profit: report

Once the member countries and the European Parliament formally sign off on the agreement, it will come into force three weeks after being published in the EU's official administrative gazette.

It will be subject to commission review every five years, starting from 2028.

(with AFP)