Text · Opinion parliamentary committee
On the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directives 2008/98/EC, 2010/75/EU, (EU) 2015/2193 and (EU) 2024/1785 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards simplification of some requirements and reduction of administrative burden
Full title
On the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directives 2008/98/EC, 2010/75/EU, (EU) 2015/2193 and (EU) 2024/1785 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards simplification of some requirements and reduction of administrative burden
Document AGRI-AD-787938 · COM(2025)0986 – C100336/2025 – 2025/0394(COD)
- Kind
- Opinion parliamentary committee AGRI-AD-787938
- Date
- 2 September 2026
- Committee
- Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
- Rapporteur
- Christine Singer
- Dossier
- 2025-0394
More facts (3)
- Formats
- Official page PDF Word
- Subject matter
- DECH, POLL, ENV
- Reference
- COM(2025)0986 – C100336/2025 – 2025/0394(COD)
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The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development submits the following to the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, as the committee responsible:
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (2) In response to the 2024 Draghi report5 which points to regulatory obstacles and the regulatory administrative burden as one of the key challenges, notably for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), the Competitiveness Compass6 identifies a set of horizontal enablers to underpin competitiveness including simplifying regulatory environment, reducing burden and favouring speed and flexibility. | In response to the 2024 Draghi report5 which points to regulatory obstacles and the regulatory administrative burden as one of the key challenges, notably for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), the Competitiveness Compass6 identifies a set of horizontal enablers to underpin competitiveness including simplifying regulatory environment, reducing burden and favouring speed and flexibility. Regulatory stability is also a key enabler of competitiveness, as it reduces investment uncertainty, unlocks long-term capital, and lowers compliance costs. |
| 5 Draghi, M. (2024) The future of European competitiveness. Available at: The Draghi report on EU competitiveness. | 5 Draghi, M. (2024) The future of European competitiveness. Available at: The Draghi report on EU competitiveness. |
| 6 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions of 29 January 2025, A competitiveness Compass for the EU, COM(2025) final. | 6 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions of 29 January 2025, A competitiveness Compass for the EU, COM(2025) final. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (4a) In the case of livestock-rearing activities, simplifying the legislation should translate into a real reduction in the administrative burden for livestock farms, taking into account their production-related nature, their family aspect in many Member States, the contribution they make to maintaining the fabric of rural areas, and the structural difference that they have in relation to major industrial installations. The environmental standards that apply to farming must be proportionate, clear, verifiable, and compatible with the economic viability of livestock farms. |
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| ‘(4b) The introduction of new environmental and health standards for rearing activities covered by this Directive should go hand in hand with the effective enforcement of strict reciprocity clauses in free trade agreements with third countries. In order to prevent any distortion of competition that may be detrimental to the economic viability of European farms and in order to ensure total transparency for consumers, the EU should ensure that imported products comply with strictly equivalent requirements.’ |
The introduction of additional standards without genuine reciprocity in international trade agreements places a heavy burden on European farmers who have to contend with unfair competition. This situation poses a threat to the EU’s food sovereignty and is confusing for consumers, who find themselves confronted with products available on the market which are not subject to the same quality and sustainability requirements.
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (7a) The possibility for several installations to be covered by a single environmental management system should not be interpreted as permission to regard several livestock farms that are close to each other as a single installation automatically. In the case of livestock farms, it should only be possible to consider them jointly in this way where there is a genuine operational connection, such as common manure management, common feed systems, ventilation, operations management or integrated technical management. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (10a) The publication of environmental information should respect the need to protect sensitive data, the security of the farms in question, and the specific circumstances faced by family-owned livestock farms. Transparency should not result in the public disclosure of information that could disproportionately identify the operators, reveal sensitive production-related or financial data, compromise the biosecurity of the installations in question, or give rise to any legal uncertainty and unwarranted pressure on food producers. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (15) Directive 2010/75/EU on industrial and livestock rearing emissions does not currently include organic pig farms in its scope, while it includes organic poultry farms in it. With a view to ensuring a coherent approach for the organic livestock sector, and given that the organic poultry sector is already subject to specific legislation, it is appropriate to remove organic poultry farms from the scope of the directive. | deleted |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (16) Under the current rules, unweaned piglets count in addition to the sows when calculating the capacity of livestock installations. Given that unweaned piglets are only causing low emissions, it is appropriate to adjust the conversion rate used to calculate the LSU level of an installation, so that unweaned piglets are not counted for the calculation of the installation capacity. | deleted |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (16a) In order to ensure that the provisions relating to livestock-rearing activities are applied uniformly, predictably and proportionately, their scope and compliance schedule should be based on criteria that are objective, verifiable and easy for the operators and the competent authorities to apply. Thresholds expressed in terms of places or production capacity provide greater legal certainty than conversion methods that are based on larger livestock-rearing units and which can give rise to administrative complexity and differences in interpretation. |
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| ‘(16b) The setting of thresholds for farms should be subject to careful assessment, and any changes should be based on studies analysing potential impacts. A lowering of these thresholds could bring about unintended and undesirable consequences; this would increase the administrative burden on smaller holdings which would not be able to afford the cost of compliance, thereby promoting farm concentration to the detriment of the smallest holdings.’ |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (16c) The inclusion of new livestock farms within the scope of Directive 2010/75/EU should respect the principle of proportionality and take into account the real impact of such farms on global emissions, as well as the economic and administrative burden imposed on the operators. Union legislation should not hasten the disappearance of viable farms or foster a concentration of production based on disproportionate bureaucratic obligations. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (22b) The application of the rules on aggregation set out in Article 70b(1) requires a case-by-case assessment of the structural, geographical, and production conditions of livestock farms, which vary significantly among Member States due to differing agricultural traditions, land tenure structures, and organizational models in the livestock sector. In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity set forth in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union, Member States are best placed to determine the criteria for applying the aggregation rule in their national context, while respecting the anti-avoidance function of the provision. |
The addition of this recital is intended to emphasize that national specificities can be better understood by Member States in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (-1) The title is replaced by the following: | |
| Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial and livestock rearing emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control) | ‘Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control)’ |
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (-1a) In Article 3, paragraph 1, point (2) is replaced by the following: | |
| (2) ‘pollution’ means the direct or indirect introduction, as a result of human activity, of substances, vibrations, heat, noise or odours into air, water or land, which can be harmful to human health or the quality of the environment, result in damage to material property, or impair or interfere with amenities and other legitimate uses of the environment; | ‘(2) ‘pollution’ means the direct or indirect introduction, as a result of human activity, of substances, vibrations, heat or noise into air, water or land, which can be harmful to human health or the quality of the environment, result in damage to material property, or impair or interfere with amenities and other legitimate uses of the environment;’ |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (-1b) In Article 3, paragraph 1, point (23b) is deleted |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (-1c) In Article 3, paragraph 1, the following points are inserted: | |
| (48a) ‘Existing installation’ means an installation that is not new. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (48b) ‘New installation’ means an installation whose construction has been authorised or registered after the date of application as referred to in the Article 82 of this Directive or a complete replacement of an installation after the date of application as referred to in the Article 82 of this Directive. |
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (-1d) In Article 8, paragraph 3 is replaced by the following: | |
| 3. Where the breach of the permit conditions poses an immediate danger to human health or threatens to cause an immediate significant adverse effect upon the environment, and until compliance is restored in accordance with the second paragraph, points (b) and (c), the operation of the installation, combustion plant, waste incineration plant, waste co-incineration plant or relevant part thereof shall be suspended without any delay. | ‘3. Where the breach of the permit conditions poses an immediate danger to human health or threatens to cause an immediate significant adverse effect upon the environment, and until compliance is restored in accordance with the second paragraph, points (b) and (c), the operation of the installation, combustion plant, waste incineration plant, waste co-incineration plant or relevant part thereof, with the exception of the installations listed in Annex Ia, shall be suspended without any delay. |
| Where such breach threatens human health or the environment in another Member State, the Member State in whose territory the breach of the permit conditions has occurred shall ensure that the other Member State is informed. | Where such breach threatens human health or the environment in another Member State, the Member State in whose territory the breach of the permit conditions has occurred shall ensure that the other Member State is informed.’ |
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (-1e) In Article 8, paragraph 4 is replaced by the following: | |
| 4. In situations not covered by paragraph 3 of this Article, where a persistent breach of the permit conditions poses a danger to human health or causes a significant adverse effect upon the environment, and where the necessary action for restoring compliance identified in the inspection report referred to in Article 23(6) has not been implemented, the operation of the installation, combustion plant, waste incineration plant, waste co-incineration plant or relevant part thereof may be suspended by the competent authority until compliance with the permit conditions is restored. | ‘4. In situations not covered by paragraph 3 of this Article, where a persistent breach of the permit conditions poses a danger to human health or causes a significant adverse effect upon the environment, and where the necessary action for restoring compliance identified in the inspection report referred to in Article 23(6) has not been implemented, the operation of the installation, combustion plant, waste incineration plant, waste co-incineration plant or relevant part thereof, with the exception of the installations listed in Annex Ia, may be suspended by the competent authority until compliance with the permit conditions is restored.’ |
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (-1f) In Article 12, paragraph 1, point (f) is replaced by the following: | |
| (f) the nature and quantities of foreseeable emissions, including odours, from the installation into each medium, as well as an identification of significant effects of the emissions on the environment; | ‘(f) the nature and quantities of foreseeable emissions from the installation into each medium, as well as an identification of significant effects of the emissions on the environment;’ |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Member States shall ensure that the relevant information set out in the EMS and listed in paragraph 2 is made available on the internet, free of charge and without restricting access to registered users. | deleted |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| The operator shall prepare and implement the EMS in accordance with paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this Article by 1 July 2030 except for installations referred to in Article 82. | deleted |
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (1a) In Article 15, paragraph 4 is deleted |
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (1b) In Article 16, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: | |
| 2. The frequency of the periodic monitoring referred to in Article 14(1), point (e), shall be determined by the competent authority in a permit for each individual installation or in general binding rules. | ‘2. The frequency of the periodic monitoring referred to in Article 14(1), point (e), shall be determined by the competent authority in general binding rules. |
| Monitoring requirements may be replaced by equivalent monitoring or technical measures ensuring an equivalent level of environmental protection. | |
| The monitoring frequency may be reduced if the emission levels are proven to be sufficiently stable. | |
| Without prejudice to the first subparagraph, periodic monitoring shall be carried out as set out in the BAT conclusions, where applicable, and at least once every 4 years for groundwater and 9 years for soil, unless such monitoring is based on a systematic appraisal of the risk of contamination. | Without prejudice to the first subparagraph, periodic monitoring shall be carried out as set out in the BAT conclusions, where applicable, and at least once every 4 years for groundwater and 9 years for soil, unless such monitoring is based on a systematic appraisal of the risk of contamination.’ |
Installations experience huge increases in monitoring requirements being introduced in the BAT conclusions, which result in large administrative burdens with no real environmental effect. The environmental authorities do not have possibilities to alter the frequency of the monitoring or approve alternative methods for measurements and monitoring.
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3a) The following Article is inserted: | |
| ‘Article 70aa | |
| Overriding public interest | |
| Member States shall ensure that, in permitting procedures, as well as in the planning, construction and operation of livestock installations pursuant to Chapter VIa, including related infrastructures and installations, these activities are presumed to be in the overriding public interest, in particular serving food production, security of supply and sustainable agricultural management. | |
| Member States shall ensure that permitting procedures for such activities are conducted efficiently and without undue delay. | |
| Member States may, in duly justified individual cases, restrict the application of this paragraph to specific parts of their territory, specific categories of livestock installations or installations with specific technical characteristics. | |
| Member States shall inform the Commission of such restrictions and provide justification therefor.’ |
Livestock farming makes an essential contribution to food production and security of supply in the Union. In a context of growing uncertainty and increasing requirements, maintaining a viable and sustainable production capacity is of particular importance. Classifying such activities as being in the overriding public interest strengthens legal certainty and enables more efficient procedures without undermining the objectives of Directive 2010/75/EU. It ensures an appropriate balance between environmental protection and food security.
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3b) In Article 70b, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: | |
| 1. Member States shall adopt measures to ensure that if two or more installations engaged in livestock rearing activities are located close to each other and if their operator is the same or if the installations are under the control of operators who are engaged in an economic or legal relationship, the competent authority may consider those installations to be a single unit for the purpose of calculating the capacity threshold referred to in Article 70a. Member States shall ensure that the rule referred to in the first subparagraph is not used to circumvent the obligations set out in this Directive. | ‘1.Member States shall adopt measures to ensure that if two or more installations engaged in pig and poultry, rearing activities are located close to each other and if their operator is the same or if the installations are under the control of operators who are engaged in an economic or legal relationship, the competent authority may consider those installations to be a single unit for the purpose of calculating the capacity threshold referred to in Article 70a, only where they form part of the same legal entity, and are located in close proximity to one another. The mere existence of common ownership, geographical proximity or cooperation for the sharing of agricultural infrastructure, equipment or services shall not, in itself, justify aggregation. Member States shall ensure that the rule referred to in the first subparagraph is not used to circumvent the obligations set out in this Directive.’ |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3c) In Article 70b, paragraph 1, the following subparagraph is inserted: | |
| ‘By December 31, 2028, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the application of the aggregation rule provided for in this Article, assessing its impact on family farms, agricultural cooperatives, and producer organizations.’ |
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3d) In Article 70c, paragraph 1, subparagraph 1 is replaced by the following: | |
| 1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that no installation falling within the scope of this Chapter operates without a permit or without being registered and that the operation of all installations within the scope of this Chapter complies with the uniform conditions for operating rules referred to in Article 70i. | ‘1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that no installation falling within the scope of this Chapter operates without a permit or without being registered and that the operation of all installations within the scope of this Chapter complies with the uniform conditions for operating rules referred to in Article 70i. This obligation shall apply only to installations newly constructed after the entry into force of this Chapter.’ |
(Directive 2010/75/EU https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:02010L0075-20240804)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3e) In Article 70c, paragraph 1, the following subparagraphs are inserted after the second subparagraph: | |
| ‘Information already submitted by operators to public authorities under the Common Agricultural Policy, the Nitrates Directive, or other Union legislation may not be requested again, except in duly justified cases.’ |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3f) In Article 70c, paragraph 1, subparagraph 3 is deleted. |
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3g) In Article 70c, paragraph 2, the introductory part of the first subparagraph is replaced by the following | |
| Registrations or applications for permits shall include at least a description of the following elements: | ‘Registrations or applications for permits shall be submitted and processed, where feasible, through digital means and shall include at least a description of the following elements, avoiding duplication with information already provided under other Union or national legislation:’ |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3h) In Article 70c, paragraph 2, point (c) of subparagraph 1 is deleted |
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3i) In Article 70d, paragraph 1, the second subparagraph is replaced by the following: | |
| Monitoring data shall be obtained by means of measurement methods or, where not practicable, by calculation methods such as the use of emission factors. The methods used for obtaining the monitoring data shall be described in the operating rules. | ‘Monitoring data shall be obtained by means of measurement methods or by calculation methods, such as the use of emission factors for animal husbandry installations, recognised models, nutrient balances or official national emission reporting tools. The methods used for obtaining the monitoring data shall be described in the standard operating conditions and must be appropriate to the biological nature of the livestock activity, the size of the holding and the availability of representative data.’ |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3j) In Article 70d, paragraph 1, subparagraph 3 is deleted. |
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3k) In Article 70d, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: | |
| 2. In the event of non-compliance with the emission limit values and environmental performance limit values set out in the uniform conditions for operating rules referred to in Article 70i, Member States shall require the operator to take the measures necessary to ensure that compliance is restored within the shortest possible time. | ‘2. In the event of non-compliance with the emission limit values and environmental performance limit values laid down in the uniform operating rules, Member States shall require the operator to take the necessary measures to restore compliance with those values within timeframes that are compatible with, and take account of, the specific characteristics of the agricultural sector.’ |
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3l) In Article 70e, paragraph 1, is replaced by the following: | |
| 1. Member States shall ensure that suitable monitoring is carried out in accordance with the uniform conditions for operating rules referred to in Article 70i. | ‘1. Member States shall ensure that appropriate monitoring is carried out in accordance with the uniform operating rules referred to in Article 70i.’ |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3m) In Article 70e, paragraph 1, the following subparagraph is inserted: | |
| ‘Monitoring requirements may be replaced by equivalent monitoring or technical measures ensuring an equivalent level of environmental protection.’ |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3n) In Article 70e, paragraph 1, the following subparagraph is inserted: | |
| ‘The monitoring frequency set out in uniform operating rules may be reduced if the emission levels are proven to be sufficiently stable.’ |
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3o) In Article 70e, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: | |
| 2. All monitoring results shall be recorded, processed and presented in such a way as to enable the competent authority to verify compliance with the operating conditions, emission limit values and environmental performance limit values which are included in the general binding rules referred to in Article 6 or in the permit | ‘2. All monitoring results shall be recorded, processed, and presented in such a way as to enable the competent authority to verify compliance with the operating conditions, emission limit ranges of values and environmental performance limit values which are included in the general binding rules referred to in Article 6 or in the permit.’ |
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3p) In Article 70e, paragraph 3 is replaced by the following: | |
| 3. The operator shall, without delay, make available the data and information listed in paragraph 2 to the competent authority upon request. The competent authority may make such a request in order to verify compliance with the uniform conditions for operating rules. The competent authority shall make that request if a member of the public requests access to the data or information listed in paragraph 2. | ‘3. Upon request, the operator shall make available to the competent authority the data and information referred to in paragraph 2.’ |
The competent authority should not be permitted to provide monitoring results to any member of the public without regard to whether that person has a legitimate interest in accessing such information. Indeed, monitoring data may contain farmers’ personal data.
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3q) in Article 70e, paragraph 3, the following subparagraph is added: | |
| ‘The monitoring procedures take into account the size of the facility and are proportionate to the actual environmental impacts of the activity carried out. Member States shall promote risk-based approaches to the planning of inspection activities, taking into account the operator’s compliance history and the results of previous inspections.’ |
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3r) in Article 70f (3), the first subparagraph is replaced by the following: | |
| In the event of non-compliance with the requirements set out in this Chapter, Member States shall ensure that the competent authority requires the operator to take any measures, in addition to the measures taken by the operator under Article 70d, that are necessary to ensure that compliance is restored without delay. | ‘In the event of non-compliance with the requirements set out in this Chapter, Member States shall ensure that the competent authority requires the operator to take any measures, in addition to the measures taken by the operator under Article 70d, that are necessary to ensure that compliance is restored within reasonable deadlines which take into account the specificities of the sector in question. ’ |
In situations where holdings are obliged to readjust in order to achieve regulatory compliance, account shall be taken of the specificities of the livestock sector and work involving living animals.
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3s) in Article 70f, paragraph 3, the following subparagraph is added: | |
| ‘When determining penalties, the competent authorities shall take into account the nature and economic scale of the farm, as well as the investments made to improve the environmental performance of the facility.’ |
The purpose of this amendment is to reward compliant operators who have invested in bringing their operations into compliance with the IED, and to ensure the principle of proportionality
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3t) In Article 70g, the introductory wording of paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: | |
| 1. Member States shall ensure that the public concerned are given early and effective opportunities to participate in the following procedures: | ‘1. Member States shall ensure that any person directly affected are given early and effective opportunities to participate in the following procedures:’ |
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3u) In Article 70g, the introductory wording of paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: | |
| 2. The competent authority shall make available to the public, including systematically via the internet, free of charge and without restricting access to registered users, the following documents and information: | ‘2. The competent authority shall make available to any person directly affected, including via the internet, free of charge and without restricting access to registered users, the following documents and information:’ |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3v) In Article 70g, paragraph 2, point (d) is deleted |
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3w) In Article 70g, paragraph 2, the following subparagraph is added: | |
| ‘Information relating to livestock holdings may be withheld from publication or published in aggregated form where its disclosure could reveal sensitive production, economic or commercial data, compromise the biosecurity of the holding, disproportionately identify owners of family-run holdings, or pose' risks to the security of the premises. Environmental transparency shall be implemented whilst respecting data protection, farm security and the principle of proportionality.’ |
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3x) In Article 70h, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: | |
| 1. Member States shall ensure that, in accordance with the relevant national legal system, members of the public concerned have access to a review procedure before a court of law or another independent and impartial body established by law to challenge the substantive or procedural legality of decisions, acts or omissions subject to this Chapter when one of the following conditions is met: | ‘1. Member States shall ensure that, in accordance with the relevant national legal system, members of the public directly affected have access to a review procedure before a court of law, or another independent and impartial body established by law to challenge the substantive or procedural legality of decisions, acts or omissions subject to this Chapter when one of the following conditions is met: |
| (a) they have a sufficient interest; | (a) they have a direct interest; |
| (b) they maintain the impairment of a right, where administrative procedural law of a Member State requires that as a precondition. | (b) they maintain the impairment of a right, where administrative procedural law of a Member State requires this as a precondition. |
| Standing in the review procedure shall not be conditional on the role that the member of the public concerned played during a participatory phase of the decision-making procedures under this Directive. | Standing in the review procedure may not be conditional on the role that the concerned member of the public played during a participatory phase of the decision-making procedures under this Directive. |
| The review procedure shall be fair, equitable, timely and not prohibitively expensive, and shall provide for adequate and effective remedies, including injunctive relief as appropriate. | The review procedure shall be fair, equitable, timely and not prohibitively expensive, and shall provide for adequate and effective redress mechanisms, including injunctive relief as appropriate.’ |
Only people with a direct interest in the case should have standing to take part in the permitgranting or permitupdating process
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3y) in Article 70h the following paragraph is added: | |
| ‘2a. In the context of judicial proceedings relating to permitting decisions under this Directive, Member States may preclude arguments from being raised before a court of law where they were not raised during the administrative stage, as long as the competent authority made available the necessary information in due time so that those arguments were known or could have been known and reviewed during the administrative stage leading to the authorisation of the project, without prejudice to the right of access to justice.’ |
(Directive 2010/75/EU https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:02010L0075-20240804)
This provision has been incorporated from Article 6 of the proposal on the acceleration of environmental assessments. A preclusion rule is necessary to enhance the efficiency and legal certainty of authorisation procedures under this Directive. Procedures falling within the scope of Directive 2010/75/EU are often complex and technically demanding, and involve extensive public participation requirements. To ensure proper and swift decision-making, it is necessary for all relevant objections and arguments to be raised as early as possible in the administrative procedure
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3z) In Article 70i, paragraph 1, point (b) is replaced by the following: | |
| (b) the techniques used, associated monitoring, cross-media effects, economic and technical viability and developments in that regard; | ‘(b) the techniques used, associated monitoring, cross-media effects, economic and technical viability, the cost-effectiveness and payback period of their use, the climate and regional conditions, and the availability of sufficiently representative and comparable data;’ |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3aa) In Article 70i, paragraph 1, the following subparagraphs are inserted after the first subparagraph: | |
| ‘Member States may supplement or replace the emission and environmental performance levels of installations and techniques referred to in point (a) of paragraph 1 with parameters or technical measures ensuring a high level of environmental protection, while taking into account the structural, climatic and economic specificities of livestock farming systems. | |
| The limit values provided for in the uniform conditions relating to operating rules may be assessed by stage of production or on an overall holding basis.’ |
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3ab) In Article 70i, paragraph 2, subparagraph 1 is replaced by the following: | |
| The Commission shall adopt by 1 September 2026 an implementing act to establish uniform conditions for operating rules for each of the activities referred to in Annex Ia. | ‘The Commission shall adopt by 1 September 2027 an implementing act to establish uniform conditions for operating rules for each of the activities referred to in Annex Ia.’ |
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3ac) In Article 70i, paragraph 2, subparagraph 2 is replaced by the following: | |
| The uniform conditions for operating rules shall be consistent with the use of best available techniques for the activities listed in Annex Ia and shall take into account the nature, type, size and stocking density of those installations, the size of herds of single animal types in mixed farms, and the specificities of pasture-based rearing systems, where animals are only seasonally reared in indoor installations. They shall also include indicative information on emerging techniques, where available. | ‘The uniform conditions for operating rules shall be consistent with the use of best available techniques for the activities listed in Annex Ia and shall take into account the nature, type, size and stocking density of those installations, the size of herds of single animal types in mixed farms, and the specificities of pasture-based rearing systems, where animals are only seasonally reared in indoor installations as well as the availability, technical and financial viability of the techniques required, including taking into account the specific characteristics of agricultural activities, the economic viability of the installations concerned, the climate and regional conditions, environmental benefits, impact on public health and the principle of proportionality as regards the burden on the operators. They shall also include indicative information on emerging techniques, where available. They shall also set out, where relevant, equivalent monitoring or technical measures ensuring an equivalent level of environmental protection and conditions for emission levels to be proven to be sufficiently stable.’ |
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3ad) In Article 70i, paragraph 2, subparagraph 3 is replaced by the following: | |
| That implementing act shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 75(2). | ‘Prior to the adoption of the implementing act, the Commission shall carry out an assessment of the economic, financial, social, health and environmental impacts of the proposed measures. This assessment must in particular evaluate its effects on the viability of livestock farms, production capacity, the competitiveness of the sector, food security, the competent administrative authorities, and small and medium-sized farms. That assessment shall be made public before the draft implementing act is submitted for consultation.’ |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3ae) In Article 70i, the following paragraph is added: | |
| ‘(3a) Member States shall apply the uniform conditions for operating rules adopted pursuant to paragraph 2 of this Article as fully harmonised requirements. They shall not adopt or maintain any additional or more stringent national measures concerning emission reduction, nutrient and manure management, housing systems, environmental performance obligations or other operational environmental requirements for activities falling under Annex Ia, unless stricter measures are explicitly required by binding Union law.’ |
Article 70i sets uniform rules to ensure fully harmonised environmental requirements for livestock installations. Stricter national measures (“gold-plating”) risk fragmentation, competitive distortions and production leakage without added environmental benefit. The sector is particularly sensitive due to high capital intensity and tight margins. Clarifying full harmonisation ensures equal ambition, legal certainty and a level playing field, while allowing stricter rules only where required by binding EU law.
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3af) in Article 70i, the following paragraph 3b is added: | |
| ‘3b Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2 and Article 70c, the competent authority may, in exceptional cases that are properly justified, set less stringent emission or environmental performance levels than those derived from the uniform conditions for farms in respect of a specific installation, where it is proven by means of a documented assessment that achieving those levels would generate costs that are clearly disproportionate to the environmental benefits owing to: | |
| (a) the geographical location of the installation; | |
| (b) the local environmental conditions; | |
| (c) the climate or regional conditions; | |
| (d) the technical, structural or production-related characteristics of the installation in question. | |
| In such cases, the competent authority shall explicitly justify the decision, including the outcome of the assessment carried out and the justification for the conditions imposed. Application of this derogation may not compromise compliance with the relevant environmental quality standards. ’ |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3ag) in Article 70i, the following paragraph is added: | |
| ‘(3c) The uniform rules on operating conditions adopted under this Article shall constitute fully harmonised requirements for the activities covered by Annex Ia, and Member States shall not adopt or maintain additional or more stringent national measures concerning emission reduction, nutrient and manure management, housing systems, environmental performance obligations, or other operational environmental requirements for those activities, unless such a derogation is explicitly provided for under Union law. | |
| By way of derogation from the first sentence and Article 70c, the competent authority may, in duly justified exceptional cases, set less stringent emission limit values or environmental performance standards where a documented assessment demonstrates that achieving the levels resulting from the application of the uniform rules would entail costs that are manifestly disproportionate to the environmental benefits, provided that no significant pollution is caused and that all Union environmental quality standards are respected. The competent authority shall set out, in an annex to the permit conditions, the reasons justifying such a derogation, including the results of the assessment and the justification for the conditions imposed.’ |
The implementing act on UCOL should be adopted no later than 1 September 2027, rather than 1 September 2026, in order to establish operating rules that are technically and economically feasible and to revise the implementing rules currently under development, which risk placing many farms in a situation of non-compliance. In addition, the implementing act on UCOL should be subject to an impact assessment. Furthermore, the new paragraph 4 aims to prohibit gold-plating with regard to operating rules, while allowing Member States, in certain clearly defined cases, to establish less stringent emission limit values or environmental performance standards.
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3ah) In Article 73, the introductory wording of paragraph 3 is replaced by the following: | |
| 3. The Commission shall, using an evidence-based methodology and taking into account the specificities of the sector, assess the need for Union action to: | ‘3. The Commission shall, using a scientific evidence-based methodology and taking into account the specificities of the sector, assess the need for Union action to:’ |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3ai) In Article 73, paragraph 3, point a is deleted. |
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3aj) In Article 73, paragraph 3, point b is replaced by the following: | |
| (b) further achieve the objective of global environmental protection with respect to products placed on the Union market, through the prevention and control of emissions from livestock farming, and in a manner consistent with the Union’s international obligations. | ‘(b) further achieve the objective of global environmental protection with respect to products coming from third countries placed on the Union market, through the prevention and control of emissions from livestock farming, and in a manner consistent with the Union’s international obligations in order to ensure a level playing field;’ |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3ak) In Article 73, paragraph 3, the following point is inserted: | |
| ‘(ba) keep the economic impacts on the holdings concerned as limited as possible.’ |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3al) In Article 73, paragraph 3, the second subparagraph is replaced by the following : | |
| The Commission shall report the results of that assessment by 31 December 2026 to the European Parliament and the Council. The report shall be accompanied by a legislative proposal where appropriate. | ‘The Commission shall report the results of that assessment by 31 December 2026 to the European Parliament and the Council.’ |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (4a) In Article 79, the following paragraph is inserted: | |
| ‘3a. Member States shall ensure, in relation to the activities cited in Annex Ia, that the penalties laid down in this Article take proper account of the following criteria: | |
| (a) the nature of the livestock-rearing activity in question; | |
| (b) the nature of the infringement; | |
| (c) the economic scale of the livestock farm in question; | |
| (d) the degree of negligence or wilfulness; and | |
| (e) the financial capacity of the operator. | |
| The provisions of the second subparagraph of paragraph 2 relating to the maximum levels of penalty linked to the volume of business shall not apply automatically to activities listed in Annex Ia where this could give rise to clearly disproportionate outcomes.’ |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (4b) In Article 79, the following paragraph is added: | |
| ‘4a. Paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article shall not apply to the activities listed in Annex Ia.’; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (4c) In Article 79a, the following paragraph is added: | |
| ‘3a. The provisions of this Article shall not apply to the activities listed in Annex Ia.’; |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (a) 4 years of the entry into force of the implementing act referred to in Article 70i(2), if the installation has a capacity of 600 LSU or more; | deleted |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (b) 5 years of the entry into force of the implementing act referred to in Article 70i(2), if the installation has a capacity of 400 LSU or more; | deleted |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (c) 6 years of the entry into force of the implementing act referred to in Article 70i(2), for all other installations covered by Annex Ia. | (c) 6 years of the entry into force of the implementing act referred to in Article 70i(2), for all installations covered by Annex Ia. |
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Until the relevant date of application, as referred to in the first subparagraph, the installations mentioned in that subparagraph which fall within the scope of this Directive in the version in force on 3 August 2024, shall comply with that version. | deleted |
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (6a) In Annex Ia, point 1 is replaced by the following: | |
| 1. Rearing of pigs representing 350 LSU or more, excluding rearing activities that are carried out under organic production regimes in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/848, or where the stocking density is less than 2 LSU/hectare used only for grazing or growing fodder or forage used for feeding the animals and the animals are reared outside for a significant amount of time in a year or seasonally reared outside. | ‘1. Rearing of pigs with more than 2 000 places for production pigs over 30 kg, or with more than 750 places for sows.’ |
| Present text | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (6b) In Annex Ia, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: | |
| 2. Rearing of only laying hens representing 300 LSU or more, or rearing of only other poultry categories representing 280 LSU or more. In installations rearing a mix of poultry including laying hens, the threshold shall be 280 LSU and the capacity shall be calculated using 0,93 as weighting factor ( 25 ) for laying hens. | ‘2. Rearing of poultry with more than 40 000 places.’ |
Back matter, 1
Parts that accompany the text rather than belong to it: explanatory statement, annexes, opinions appended by other committees. Collapsed.
Annex: declaration of input 4 blocks
Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur for opinion declares that she included in her opinion input on matters pertaining to the subject of the file that she received, in the preparation of the opinion, prior to the adoption thereof in committee, from the following interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register, or from the following representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies:
| 1. Interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register |
| Farm Europe |
| Deutscher Bauernverband |
| Landwirtschaftskammer Österreich |
| 2. Representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies |
| None |
Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur for opinion declares that she has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament's Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.
Procedure pages and committee votes
How the committees handled the text and how their members voted on it. Collapsed.
Procedure – committee asked for opinion 1 block
| Title | Amending Directives 2008/98/EC, 2010/75/EU, (EU) 2015/2193 and (EU) 2024/1785 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards simplification of some requirements and reduction of administrative burden | |
| References | COM(2025)0986 – C10-0336/2025 – 2025/0394(COD) | |
| Committee(s) responsible Date announced in plenary | ENVI 9.2.2026 | |
| Opinion by Date announced in plenary | AGRI 9.2.2026 | |
| Rapporteur for opinion Date appointed | Christine Singer 11.2.2026 | |
| Discussed in committee | 2.6.2026 | |
| Date adopted | 2.9.2026 | |
| Result of final vote | +: –: 0: | 32 9 5 |
Final vote by roll call by the committee asked for opinion 3 blocks
32 · For
- ECR
- Carlo Fidanza, Bert-Jan Ruissen, Claudiu-Richard Târziu, Jessika van Leeuwen, Veronika Vrecionová
- ESN
- Arno Bausemer
- No group
- Katarína Roth Neveďalová
- EPP
- Peter Agius, Alexander Bernhuber, Daniel Buda, Carmen Crespo Díaz, Salvatore De Meo, Herbert Dorfmann, Krzysztof Hetman, Stefan Köhler, Willemien Koning, Ilia Lazarov, Norbert Lins, Pekka Toveri, Marion Walsmann
- Patriots
- Mireia Borrás Pabón, Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain, Csaba Dömötör, Tomáš Kubín, Gilles Pennelle, Raffaele Stancanelli
- Renew
- Benoit Cassart, Asger Christensen, Barry Cowen, Elsi Katainen, Ciaran Mullooly, Christine Singer
9 · Against
- S&D
- Annalisa Corrado, Ana Catarina Mendes, Maria Noichl
- The Left
- Luke Ming Flanagan, Arash Saeidi
- Greens
- Cristina Guarda, Martin Häusling, Nicolae Ștefănuță, Thomas Waitz
Connections
The dossier, the decisions on this text and its other versions.
No connections found for this item.
Sources & citation
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- Data source
- Licensed CC BY 4.0.
- Retrieved
- 25 September 2026
Cite as
European Parliament (2026). “OPINION on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directives 2008/98/EC, 2010/75/EU, (EU) 2015/2193 and (EU) 2024/1785 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards simplification of some requirements and reduction of administrative burden”. Text, 2 September 2026. docId AGRI-AD-787938. EU Parl Watch Research. https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/texts/AGRI-AD-787938 (retrieved 25 September 2026). Data: EP Open Data API: document record, https://data.europarl.europa.eu/api/v2/documents/AGRI-AD-787938 (CC BY 4.0).
BibTeX
@misc{epw-text-agri-ad-787938,
author = {{European Parliament}},
title = {{OPINION on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directives 2008/98/EC, 2010/75/EU, (EU) 2015/2193 and (EU) 2024/1785 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards simplification of some requirements and reduction of administrative burden}},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-09-02},
howpublished = {\url{https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/texts/AGRI-AD-787938}},
url = {https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/texts/AGRI-AD-787938},
urldate = {2026-09-25},
publisher = {EU Parl Watch Research},
note = {Text. docId AGRI-AD-787938. Data: EP Open Data API: document record (CC BY 4.0)}
}