EU adopts common emission rules for poultry, pig farms

The European Commission has adopted uniform operating rules to reduce ammonia, nitrogen and phosphorus emissions from poultry and pig farms. The Commission links the pollutants to respiratory diseases, ecosystem degradation and water contamination.

Known as UCOL, the Uniform Conditions for Operating Rules for the rearing of poultry and pigs sit under the Industrial and Livestock Rearing Emissions Directive. They give farmers a framework that avoids the complexity of full industrial permitting.

Developed with Member States, livestock producers and environmental NGOs, UCOL replaces fragmented national approaches with common minimum standards. The Commission said this cuts red tape while maintaining a high level of environmental protection.

The rules focus on operational measures such as manure handling, nutritional management and animal housing. Farmers can choose which techniques to apply, provided they meet the required standards, and smaller farms will face proportionate techniques and emission limits. The rules prioritise feeding strategies, which the Commission described as economically feasible for smaller and existing farms.

Techniques not listed in UCOL can also be used if Member States validate their equivalent environmental performance on scientific evidence. The Commission said this aims to encourage innovation, and that common standards will support fair competition in the internal market.

UCOL will apply to farms between 2030 and 2032, depending on their size.