MEPs adopt stricter rules to reduce industrial emissions

The Environment Committee adopted its position on EU rules to further reduce pollution and steer large agro-industrial installations in the green transition.
The industrial emission directive (IED) lays down rules on the prevention and control of pollution from large agro-industrial installations emissions into air, water and soil.
It forms part of the EU’s green and circular transformation of industry, bringing significant health and environmental benefits for citizens.
The installations covered by the rules can only operate if they successfully obtain a permit, granted by national authorities, except for some farms that are only obliged to register. To better prevent and control pollution, the revised IED requires national authorities to further reduce pollutant emission limit values, based on so-called ‘Best Available Techniques' (BAT), when revising permits or setting new permit conditions.
MEPs also voted to increase transparency, public participation and access to justice in relation to the permitting, operation and control of regulated installations. The European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register would be transformed into an EU Industrial Emissions Portal where citizens can access data on all EU permits and local polluting activities.
The report on the industrial emission directive and the directive on the landfill of waste was adopted by MEPs with 55 votes in favour, 26 against and six abstentions, whereas the regulation on the Industrial Emissions Portal was adopted with 78 votes in favour, three against and five abstentions.
Rapporteur Radan Kanev (EPP, Bulgaria), said: “Better environmental protection does not need to lead to more bureaucracy. Innovation is key to achieving zero pollution and for this, we need a more competitive European industrial sector. EU policy must be realistic, economically feasible, and not threaten competitiveness. Our position provides breathing space for businesses through reasonable transition periods to prepare for the new requirements as well as fast-track procedures for permits and flexibilities for emerging techniques.”