The Commission presents a report on the reviews it has undertaken under Directive 2010/75/EU on industrial emissions (the IED) regarding emissions from intensive livestock rearing and combustion plants. It recalls that during the legislative process a significant amount of time was dedicated to consideration of the scope of the Directive. Whilst the latter remained relatively unchanged, it was concluded that a number of activities warranted further scrutiny with regard to their potential to cause pollution and the possible courses of action to address such pollution. This resulted in review clauses being included, in particular in Article 30(9) and Article 73. The report addresses those reviews.
Intensive livestock rearing: the Commission has noted that cattle rearing, covering all aspects of the raising of cows including feeding and manure management, presently leads to air emissions of about 1 500 kt/year of ammonia (41% of total EU) and 7 000 kt/year methane (2% of total EU). However, it is clear that emissions from the cattle sector should not be considered in isolation from other animal farm types. Consequently, recognising that the largest emission reductions relate to manure management the Commission considers that a further in-depth examination of the possibilities for reducing emissions from the spreading of manure for all farm types should identify those aspects that offer the highest benefit-to-cost ratio in tackling emissions, paying particular attention to potential compliance and administrative burden costs for the farming sector and the need for such costs to be proportionate to the potential benefits. Further studies will be completed with a view to determining if and how ammonia emissions should be controlled at EU level, in particular through revisions to the National Emission Ceilings Directive, a review of which will be completed in 2013 as part of the wider review of the Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution and associated legislation.
Furthermore, the results of the Commission's review finds that whilst varying the capacity thresholds between different poultry species and mixed species farms based on their environmental impact may be beneficial in terms of environmental outcome, the emission potential reduction is very limited. This conclusion supports the Commission's original review undertaken under Directive 2008/1/EC concerning integrated pollution prevention and control. However, given the recent adoption of the IED, a further change to the relevant Annex I activity descriptions would lead to a period of uncertainty for farmers whilst the outcome of the ordinary legislative procedure was being negotiated. Therefore, the Commission considers that the existing thresholds for poultry farms subject to the IED should remain unchanged.
Combustion of fuels in installations with a total rated thermal input below 50 MW: the data showed that many Member States already regulate these plants to some extent, and a consideration of the applicable legislation in Member States has helped to identify where environmental benefits may be highest as a result of implementing EU wide minimum emission limits. A clear potential for cost-effective abatement of air emissions was demonstrated and options for potential regulatory action will be further assessed in an impact assessment that will support the on-going review of the Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution.
Combustion plants of 50 MW and more: the Commission considers that there is no need to amend existing or establish new EU-wide emission limit values at this stage given that: