§ Mr. BreedTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with his European counterparts about ensuring(a) uniform implementation of integrated pollution prevention and controls and (b) that disproportionate burdens are not placed on British farmers as a result of these controls; and if he will make a statement. [131899]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 21 July 2000]: Discussions about the Directive on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) have taken place between EU Environment Ministers. Measures to comply with the requirements of the IPPC Directive will be based on Best Available Techniques reference (BREF) documents, which will be agreed at Community level. These documents aim to ensure all member states adopt measures that offer equivalent environmental protection.
Under the Action Plan for Farming, announced by the Prime Minister following the Agriculture Summit on 30 March, the Government are committed to implementing environmental legislation that impacts on the farming industry in the least bureaucratic and burdensome way. Farmers with existing installations in England and Wales will not be required to implement these measures until 2007. Some other member states already apply environmental controls similar to those required to be implemented under IPPC.
§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the changes to be applied to the poultry industry under the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control regulations for(a) England and Wales and (b) each EU country; and if he will make a statement. [131710]
§ Mr. MorleyThe measures that we expect will apply to most of the poultry industry in England under the IPPC Directive will be set out in general binding rules. These are currently under discussion between the Environment Agency, the Government and representatives of the poultry sector and will be put out for public consultation shortly. Poultry farmers with existing installations will not be required to implement these measures until 2007.
Some member states already impose environmental controls similar to those required to be put in place under IPPC. Others plan to implement IPPC for the poultry sector before 2007. The EU-wide Best Available Techniques reference (BREF) document for the intensive livestock sector is expected to be in place in 2001 and will set out measures to control emissions which all EU member states will be expected to apply.