Intensive Livestock Installations
Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) is a regulatory system that employs an integrated approach to control the environmental impacts of certain industrial activities. It applies to many industrial sectors, including the intensive farming of pigs and poultry.
Thresholds
Under the IPPC Directive, intensive pig and poultry units over specified thresholds must obtain a permit to operate. The thresholds are as follows:
- poultry: 40,000 bird places
- pigs: 750 sows or 2000 production pigs over 30 kg
Best Available Techniques
The new Best Available Techniques (BAT) Conclusions document for the Intensive Rearing of poultry or pigs (IRPP) was published on the 21st February 2017.
The conclusions set out the standards that permitted farms will have to meet.
The BAT Conclusions document can be downloaded from the European IPPC Bureau website.
The full BREF document is available to download from the European IPPC Bureau website (please note that this document is 18MB).
Fees and Charges for Farming Activities
The following charges shall apply to a farming activity which falls into these three bands for the year ending 31st March 2026:
| Band | Poultry | Pig* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 40,000 - 80,000 | 2000 - 4500 production pigs |
| 2 | 80,000 - 150,000 | 750 - 1000 sows or 4500 - 6500 production pigs |
| 3 | More than 150,000 | More than 1000 sows or 6500 production pigs |
Where an installation has sows and production pigs greater than 30kg present and either the number of sows or production pigs, or both, exceeds the threshold, the charge shall be calculated based on the number of 'production pig places'. A sow is equal to five places and a production pig equal to one place, therefore, a farm with 800 sows and 3000 finishers over 30kg would have the equivalent of 7000 production pig places and would fall into charging band 3.
Non-Recurring Costs 2025-26
Permit Application Charge
The permit application charge for a farming activity is:
| Band | Standard | Standard & land spreading | Non standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | £2,957 | £512 | £6,919 |
| 2 | £3,538 | £682 | £8,475 |
| 3 | £4,216 | £861 | £10,204 |
Recurring Costs
Subsistence Charge
Subject to the provisions of article 9 of the charging scheme, the annual subsistence charge for a farming activity is:
| Band | Standard | Standard & land spreading | Non standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | £1,530 | £320 | £3,239 |
| 2 | £2,107 | £477 | £4,053 |
| 3 | £2,539 | £644 | £4,824 |
Variation Application Charge
Initial Variation Applications (plus fee) must be made as a standard variation.
If the application is deemed as a substantial variation (as defined in article 24(3) of the scheme) the additional substantial variation fee must be paid:
| Permit | Standard version | Substantial variation |
|---|---|---|
| Standard farm permit | £422 | £1,986 |
| Non standard farm permit | £1,770 | £3,740 |
Application forms and guidance
Farms which adhere to 'Standard Farming Installation Rules' (SFIRs) can follow a simplified application procedure with lower costs.
- Standard Farming Installation Rules for Poultry Production
- Standard Farming Installation Rules for Pig Rearing
Application forms and guidance for intensive livestock units. (Where farms are within 400m of dwellings or other receptors, or if there is a complaint history, applications must be accompanied by noise and odour management plans).
Applying for a PPC(IE) Permit or Permit Variation.
Guidance Documents
- Notes of guidance for applicants
- Examples of supporting documentation for an application for a broiler unit
- Examples of supporting documentation for an application for an egg laying unit
- Examples of supporting documentation for an application for a pig unit
- Applying for variation to an existing PPC permit.
- Guidance for preparing site reports for pig and poultry farms
- Guidance for assessing environmental impacts from pig and poultry farms
- Guidance on the treatment of lightly contaminated site run-off
- Guidance for operators on dietary management at IPPC pig installations
- Guidance for operators undertaking a housing design and management review at intensive livestock installations (BAT Review)
- Example of supporting documentation for a permit variation for intensive livestock installations
- NIEA Example Dust Management Plan Template Poultry
- NIEA Guidance on producing an Air Dispersion Modelling Report for PPC Farms
Farm Management Plans:
- Guidance for operators on odour management at intensive livestock IPPC installations
- Example of a template for odour management plan for broilers
- Example of a template for odour management plan for layers
- Example of a template for odour management plan for pigs
- Guidance for operators on noise management at intensive livestock IPPC installations
- Guidance for operators on slurry and manure management at intensive livestock IPPC installations
- Guidance for operators on undertaking a site drainage review for IPPC Farming installations
- Guidance for operators on carrying out a review of raw materials
Farm Audits:
- Guidance for operators on preparing a water audit at intensive livestock installations
- Guidance for operators on carrying out a waste minimisation audit at intensive livestock installations
- Guidance for operators on carrying out an energy audit at IPPC farming Installations
Disposal of Fallen Stock
Farmers are responsible for the disposal of their fallen stock. The livestock industry has a great deal to gain from maintaining public confidence in its ability to dispose of its waste in a safe and sustainable manner. Article 21 of the EU Control Regulation requires fallen stock to be collected, identified and transported without ‘undue delay’. Undue delay is not defined in the EU Control Regulation but is taken to mean as soon as reasonably practicable taking account of individual circumstances for example the availability of a collection service, the storage temperature of the fallen stock (for example carcasses stored at ambient temperatures should be disposed of more quickly that those kept chilled or frozen) and any extenuating circumstances such as poor weather or ill-health. However, in relation to bovine carcasses over 48 months of age, you need to contact the operator of an approved TSE Sampling Site within 24 hours of the animal’s death to make arrangements to have the animal collected and disposed of for the purpose of TSE testing. It is important that fallen stock is disposed off without undue delay as it reduces odour during transport and rendering with the added benefit of extracting the maximum amount of tallow, which is a valuable renewable source of energy that can the replace fossil fuels.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions can be found on the DAERA and EU regulations can be found on the links below: