POLLUTION RULES INAPPROPRIATE FOR FARMERS, SAYS HALL

12.00.00am GMT Tue 10th Mar 2009

North East Lib Dem MEP Fiona Hall has spoken up in the European Parliament on behalf of farmers.

Fiona has criticised new European measures to control industrial pollution as "inappropriate" because they bring in by the back door bureaucratic rules which will affect even small farmers.

Fiona said:

"These new rules are designed to control pollution from global industrial giants.

"But tucked away in the text are measures which affect manure spreading and poultry raising.

"Integrated pollution prevention and control measures (IPPC) are designed for industrial emissions not small farm waste, which is in any case covered by other regulations such as the Nitrates Directive.

"The Agriculture Committee of the European Parliament was not even asked for its opinion. I believe the Parliament's approach on this piece of legislation has been seriously flawed.

"Fortunately there is still some way to go in the law-making process. I will keep on fighting the elements of IPPC which are inappropriate when applied to farms."

Related Link:

Read Fiona's Speech Here