Skip the Northern Ireland Government Bar|
Skip navigation

The Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003

5. The Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003

The Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive (96/61/EC) came into effect in Northern Ireland on 1st April 2003. It requires that different classes of installations obtain a permit to operate and take steps to prevent pollution, or where that is not possible to minimise it using 'Best Available Techniques'. The Directive also requires that energy is used efficiently, that waste is minimised and recovered where possible, that measures are taken to prevent accidents and that sites are restored when operations cease.
Certain farms will be covered by IPPC - these are installations for the intensive rearing of pigs or poultry above the following thresholds:
  • More than 40000 places for poultry or
  • More than 750 sows, or
  • More than 2000 production pigs over 30 kg.
Permit applications
  • If you have started operating a farm above an IPPC threshold, or have exceeded one of the IPPC thresholds since October 1999, you were required to apply for a permit by 1st January 2004.
  • If you have made a substantial change since October 1999 you were required to apply for a permit by 1st January 2004.
If you were operating a farm above an IPPC threshold in October 1999 and have not made a substantial change, you will need to apply in November 2006 - January 2007.
Note: A substantial change is defined as one that could have significant negative consequences for humans or the environment. That will depend on the extent of the change and the location of the installation.
Further details on IPPC are available on the Department of the Environment's Environment and Heritage Service[external site] website.