The Environment Agency (EA), has updated information on permit surrender, which allows operators to cancel their permit, as well as the option of temporary cessation.
The Environmental Permitting Regulations, formerly known as the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive (IPPC), aim to reduce pollution caused by industrial activity through controlling emissions. The EA requires indoor pig keepers who have more than 2,000 finishing places (above 30kg) or 750 sow spots at a site to apply for a permit.
Sites that are permitted must adhere to minimum standards of management and best available techniques (BAT). This includes housing systems and management practices that reduce emissions and impact on the environment.
The agency has provided information on how operators can apply to the EA to cancel their permit. This can be a complicated process. The application form has many parts and can be downloaded from the Governments website. Click HERE
The section titled Cancel installations, waste, and mining waste operations permits links to the appropriate forms.
The Operator will also need to complete a surrender section of their site conditions report. This was submitted with the original permit application. This is so that the Agency can verify that the operator has protected groundwater and land while the farm was operating and that the land is in a satisfactory condition when they surrender their permit.
Charges
To surrender a permit, there is a fee. A surrender application for intensive farming would normally be considered a low-risk surrender. This means that the application fee is lower and there is no sampling.
The full surrender cost for an intensive farm permit is 4,812.
The low-risk surrender cost is 20% of permit application charges of 8,020. That amounts to 1,604.
Operators will need to obtain the approval of their local Environment Officer before they can apply for a low risk surrender. To declare that the farm is a low risk surrender, you will need to tick part E2 of this form.
Additional information about the charges is availableHERE.
Empty farms
The environmental permitting charging scheme allows an operator to request temporary cessation if a farm is unable to rear livestock for between one and two years.
The agency will then reduce their annual subsidy charge by 50%. This applies to both farms that are members and non-members of the Pig and Poultry Assurance Scheme. However, there are other charges.
Subsistence charges for farms that are part of the scheme will be reduced from 1,444 to 722. Subsistence charges for farms that are not part of the scheme will be reduced from 2,386 up to 1,193.
Contact your local Environment Officer to request temporary cessation. After two years, the fee will increase to the full amount. More information is available Click Here
Lizzie Wilson, NPA policy service officer, stated that she hoped there were not many who had to surrender their permits.
Producers should seriously consider not surrendering their permit. It is far more difficult and costly to get it back. This is why some may find temporary cessation more appealing.
AHDB hans has updated itsInformation about surrendering permits on the permitting page.
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