However, a last minute deal struck between the European Parliament and the European Council meant that instead of extending the scope of the Directive, the Commission was tasked with undertaking a number of reviews.

Consultants have been tasked by the Commission to look at whether there is a the need to control emissions from:

• The combustion of fuels in installations with a total rated thermal input below 50 MW; and
• The intensive rearing of cattle.

They are also looking at:

• Differentiated capacity thresholds for the rearing of different poultry species, including the specific case of quail; and
• Capacity thresholds for the simultaneous rearing of different type of animals within the same installation.

The NFU response outlined current trends in practices such as animal feeding, housing and storage of manures; the impact of farmer participation in voluntary activity such as Tried & Tested; commitments already being undertaken by agriculture via the Greenhouse Gas Action Plan to tackle climate change and the positive impact expected on production efficiencies; and the impact of other current drivers such as rising input and energy costs on production efficiencies and environmental performance.

The NFU's view remains that this regime is ill-suited to agriculture and remains committed to ensuring that the impact of any proposed changes have minimal impact on our sector.

The consultants are expected to report back to the European Commission during 2012. The NFU will be following the progress of the Commission's reviews very closely with the help of the NFU's office in Brussels.