The EU simplifies emission rules for pig farms

The newly adopted 'Uniform conditions for operating rules for the rearing of poultry and pigs (UCOL)' under the Industrial and Livestock Rearing Emissions Directive gives farmers a clear, proportionate framework to reduce emissions of ammonia, nitrogen and phosphorus — pollutants linked to respiratory diseases, ecosystem degradation and water contamination — without the complexity of full industrial permitting.

The revised Industrial Emissions and Livestock Rearing Directive covers the largest pig and poultry farms in the EU, which amounts to around 30% of such farms.

Developed in close collaboration with Member States, livestock producers, and environmental NGOs, the UCOL replaces fragmented national approaches to poultry and pig farm emissions with common minimum standards, cutting unnecessary red tape while maintaining a high level of environmental protection.

Key benefits

• Less complexity, better results: UCOL focuses on operational measures, such as better manure handling, nutritional management and animal housing. Simpler rules will reduce pollution more effectively.
• Flexibility: Farmers can choose which techniques to apply, provided they meet the required environmental standards.
• Fair rules for farms: Smaller farms will adopt proportionate techniques and emission limits.
• Economic feasibility: UCOL prioritises feeding strategies to reduce emissions, which are proportionate and economically feasible, especially for smaller farms covered and existing farms.
• Room for innovation: Techniques not listed in the UCOL can be used, provided that Member States validate their equivalent environmental performance, based on scientific evidence. This flexibility aims to encourage innovation while maintaining strong environmental standards.
• Fair competition: The UCOL will contribute to fair competition in the internal market by providing common minimum environmental standards for poultry and pig farms across the EU.

The UCOL will begin applying for farms between 2030 and 2032, depending on their size, giving farmers time to adapt.

Background

The revised Industrial and Livestock Rearing Emissions Directive (Directive 2010/75/EU) as amended by Directive 2024/1785, is the main EU instrument to reduce these emissions into air, water and land, and to prevent waste generation from large industrial installations and intensive livestock farms (pig and poultry).

It applies different, simpler provisions to large poultry and pig farms than to industrial plants. Member States are allowed to simply register poultry and pig farms instead of requiring a full permitting regime.

Within this simplified framework, the Commission was required to adopt via an Implementing Decision “uniform conditions for operating rules” for livestock (pigs and poultry) farms (UCOL).

The UCOL reduces emissions by setting requirements for ammonia emissions to air and for nitrogen and phosphorus excretion from animals, to ensure a high level of protection for human health and the environment as a whole.