At the initiative of the Ministry of Environment and Water, a meeting was held today to discuss upcoming amendments to the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) in connection with the need to transpose the requirements of Directive (EU) 2024/1785 amending Directive 2010/75/EU on industrial emissions, which affect the poultry and swine farming sectors with regard to the environmental performance of poultry and swine farming facilities.

The discussion was attended by representatives of industry organizations, namely the Union of Poultry Farmers in Bulgaria, the Association of Industrial Pig Farmers in Bulgaria, and the Association of Pig Farmers in Bulgaria, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food (MAF) and the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA).

The main focus was on the approach to incorporating into the Environmental Protection Act the requirements of the amended Industrial Emissions Directive regarding poultry and swine farming activities, provided that these activities must comply with the rules on equal operating conditions, which are to be adopted by the European Commission by September 1, 2026.

The participants agreed that cooperation between industry organizations in the agro-industrial sector, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA), and the Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW) is aimed at achieving a balanced approach to implementing the requirements of European legislation while preserving the competitiveness of the livestock sector.

During the discussion, representatives of the industry associations raised questions regarding the ability of economic operators to use data already provided to meet the requirements of veterinary legislation for the purposes of the procedure to implement the provisions of the directive, which will be introduced through an upcoming amendment to the Environmental Protection Act.

They received assurances from the Ministry of Environment and Water that the dialogue that has begun will continue with the aim of ensuring a balanced approach and protecting the national interest when incorporating the requirements of the directive into the upcoming amendment to the Environmental Protection Act. Deputy Minister Reneta Koleva stated that it is important for the Ministry of Environment and Water that the transposition of the directive be predictable and that businesses know what is expected of them, within what timeframes, and under what rules. She added that Bulgaria must fulfill its obligations as an EU member state, assuring that the Ministry of Environment and Water will do so in a way that both protects the environment and preserves the competitiveness of Bulgarian producers without imposing additional administrative burdens.