Fees for pollution permits criticised

From 1 November, the Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) Regulations will require poultry and egg producing farm businesses in the UK to apply for PPC permits as part of the process of reducing pollution by good management techniques.

In a parliamentary motion, MP David Davies commented on “the fragile economic state of the poultry industry following last spring’s avian influenza incident, which is estimated to have cost the industry some £58 million.”

“[This] was not even partially recovered by the EU special market measures that would have been worth some £8 million, had the Government not declined to apply for them for the UK, whilst supporting such measures for poultry farmers in 14 other member states.”

Davies said the application fee of £3,331, along with ongoing fees of more than £2,000 per year, would divert scarce resources from poultry businesses investing in measures to comply with the requirements of the PPC regulations.

He said these burdens come “at a time when [poultry farmers] are trying to recover sustainable financial and market positions.”

Davies recommended an independent investigation into the basis of the Environment Agency’s charging scheme for implementing the EU’s Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive, and its implications for the future of the poultry industry in the UK.

He called on the Government to waive, in the meantime, the introduction of charges for PPC permits in respect of poultry businesses for a period of three years.

Davies said the poultry industry has accepted the importance of the proposed controls, many of which are already good practice.

Earlier this week, industry bodies called on poultry farmers to lobby their MPs for a waiver of the permit fees.

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