WattAgNet: Environmental costs increase for UK poultry, pig farmers

Above-inflation fees rise despite objections from industry organizations

Release Date: 2014-05-07

The U.K.’s Environment Agency has increased the cost of a pig and poultry environmental permit by 2.7 percent. As of April 1, 2014, the cost of an application has risen to GBP3,750 (US$6,361). U.K. businesses need an environmental permit if they manage or produce waste or emissions that pollute the air, water or land.

Annual subsistence charges have increased to GBP2,490 for non-accredited installations and GBP1,580 for accredited farming installations.

The country’s National Farmers Union objected to the agency’s proposals to increase baseline charges for environmental permitting facilities and installations without further information to support the charges, and rejected proposals to introduce either a new application or a new subsistence charge in its abstraction charging for internal drainage board transfers.