Planas considers Brussels’ proposal to tighten the rules for macrofarms “inappropriate”.

“Moved in calendar terms.” “It is absolutely unreal.” “Inappropriate.” This is the qualification that Spanish Minister of Agriculture Luis Planas dedicated to the proposal submitted by the European Commission on Tuesday to renew the directive on industrial emissions.

Brussels, on the other hand, argues that his proposal stipulates that “cattle, pig and poultry farms will gradually be included in the new rules. That is, about 13% of European commercial farms are responsible, in total, 60% of ammonia and 43% of methane in the EU from livestock.

According to the European Commission, “the health benefits of this extension of the application are estimated at more than 5,500 million euros per year.”

“This week we had a sample of something that has moved us in terms of the calendar,” Planas said after arriving in Luxembourg to join the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers. “I had a meeting with the president of Copa and the president of Kogeka [del que son miembros Coag, Asaja y UPA] “In light of the change in the Industrial Emissions Directive,” he said, referring to two agricultural industry organizations that the Corporate European Observatory was “basically undermining the farm strategy goals at the table”. And Planas made the verdict: “It seems absolutely unrealistic to us that at this time, given the priority we have for food production, the European Commission publishes this project this week, where it determines that, for example, the farm has 150 cows. An institution industry that is subject to the same standards as the chemical industry. I think this is completely inappropriate. ”

The truth is, however, that the Brussels proposal refers not to 150 cows, but to 150 cattle in total – a livestock unit, a statistical concept (used by statistical authorities) that corresponds to, for example, 180 adult cattle; 500 pigs; 21000 broilers; 10700 ovary hens. Also, 150 dairy cows or 180 cows two years of age or older.

However, the European Commission proposal does not provide the same standards for a farm with 150 head of cattle or more than for the chemical industry. If anything, diplomatic sources related to the case explain, in very broad terms, there is a similar logic in the sense that the farm should seek permission from the local government. Then, according to the industry emissions directive, the government has to issue a permit with reference to the technical conditions, but the requirements are different.

And this applies to only 13% of all the largest farms in Europe, while until now only a very small part of farms was included and now it is proposed to expand the system.

But Minister Planas is not convinced: “We call on the European Commission: be aware of the moment we are experiencing and, moreover, be consistent with your statements and intentions on this issue. This is not the best time. ”

However, sources close to the file explain that the goals of the European Green Pact have a horizon and a path that cannot be left out. And the fact that, in any case, the submission of a proposal this week does not mean that it will take effect in the midst of the Ukraine war. This is a proposal that will start fulfilling the commitments in five years, possibly in six years, in terms of reducing emissions and reducing pollution in accordance with the European Green Agreement.

Brussels is targeting mega farms

Already in January last year, the European Commission said that the priority was to support small and medium-sized farms as opposed to macrofarms, with which there is a “problem”. This was stated by the European Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski from Poland in an interview with Efe. Wojciechowski said: “Of course we have a problem with large-scale agricultural development, especially in some sectors of animal production, such as pork, poultry and laying hens.”

The commissioner has argued a lot about why the community’s executive thinks the extensive model is more convenient than Macrofer: “There will be no food security if we allow small farmers to be eliminated from the agricultural system in the EU. No. “We need to stop this process and allow small farmers to continue sowing and cultivating.” He added that in small farms “it is easier to ensure good standards of animal welfare” and “to achieve production sustainability”.

The words of the European Commissioner came after Spanish Consumer Minister Alberto Garzon made similar arguments in an interview with the British newspaper The Guardian, which was later used in part and out of context by right-wingers, extreme right-wingers and part of the PSOE to attack. United Left Leader. Garzon advocated a wide range of livestock, in contrast to the meat industry, which is based on macro farms, given that the latter pollutes the “soil and water” for “low-quality” meat production and “animal cruelty.”

Then, in January, the United Left handed over a battery of questions about macro-farms to the executive branch of the community through IU’s spokesperson in the European Parliament, Sira Rego: “What is the European Commission’s position on macro-farms? Farms, its environmental impact and which farming models do the Commission consider most appropriate to meet the goals of sustainability, quality and animal welfare? What specific measures does the Commission intend to take to address the adverse effects of these macro-installations and thus to implement the recommendations adopted by the European Parliament? What is the Commission’s lawsuit against Spain for non-compliance with Community regulations on nitrates?

And the European Commissioner for Environment, Virginia Sinkevichius, responded in March: “Intensive farming can have a negative impact on the environment. In its Farm to Fork strategy, the Commission has announced its support for the transition to sustainable farming, with a commitment to reviewing animal welfare legislation by the end of 2023. In addition, the Commission is reviewing legislation on food additives to reduce methane emissions.

The community leader added: “Industrial livestock farms also include a directive on industrial emissions, as well as conclusions on the best available equipment that sets ammonia emission levels. The discussion is scheduled for April 2022, which includes options to reduce pollution, as well as livestock, pork and poultry farming. Intensive livestock projects are covered by the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive, which requires major environmental impact assessment projects.

As for the legal procedure for non-compliance with the Community regulations on nitrates, the European Commission explains that “it sent a letter of invitation and a reasoned opinion highlighting the non-compliance of the Spanish Directive on nitrates. In 2021, the Commission announced a decision that Spain had appealed to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to take sufficient action. The Commission clarified that despite little progress, Spain should take more measures against eutrophication for the whole country, as the measures taken so far were not sufficient to achieve the objectives of the Directive. In addition, it should review and designate nitrate vulnerable zones in seven regions, include all necessary mandatory elements in the action plans for the five regions, and take additional measures for the four regions where the established measures were insufficient to achieve the objectives. Directive. ”