DEFRA minister lobbys MEPs ahead of IPPC vote

DEFRA farming and environment minster Jane Kennedy has travelled to Brussels to lobby MEPs, ahead of a critical vote in the european parliament, on the Integrated Pollution Prevention Controls Directive (IPPC).

The minister – along with NFU deputy president Meurig Raymond and NPA chairman Stewart Houston – will try to persuade key MEPs against changes to the directive.

It is feared the changes will affect more poultry units, and existing IPPC poultry producers will also be burdened with further controls and administrative red tape.

Ms Kennedy said: “The EU’s proposals to extend the remit of the IPPC will, unfortunately, do more harm than good. I am pleased that industry leaders have joined me in coming to Brussels to lobby MEPs on the UK position. It will help them understand why we oppose aspects of the extension of the IPPC directive.

“Poultry producers in the UK are already adhering to tough environmental standards and are an example to the rest of Europe of how the industry can minimise its environmental impact.”

Mr Raymond added: “The support of the minister in our joint lobby is extremely welcome and adds significant weight to our calls to MEPs to vote against extension in scope of the IPPC Directive.

“IPPC is by far the most comprehensive environmental regime and the NFU has long questioned its appropriateness to control emissions from poultry units. Borne out of a regulation that was initially designed to apply to large industrial processing sectors, such as power stations, it does not lend itself well to use in agriculture.

“The vote in plenary on Thursday 12 March is a key milestone in the shape of the final directive.”