New reporting requirements for permitted producers to come into force in the spring

New environmental reporting requirements for permitted pig producers will come into force in the spring, according to AHDB. 

An update a year ago to Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR) requirements, which covered emissions reporting, environmental policy statements and slurry store coverage, included a requirement for permitted pig producers to report emissions of dust, ammonia, nitrogen and phosphorus annually, starting from spring 2022.

"The Environment Agency (EA) is finalising a straightforward reporting mechanism for producers to submit this data, and will confirm details soon," AHDB said.

"It is likely that retrospective reporting of 2021 data will be required in spring 2022, rather than as part of the January Pollution Inventory (PI) return."

Dust emission data will be gathered via the same mechanism as for nitrogen and phosphorus reporting. The EA has finalised the emission factors for dust, and these will be shared along with the reporting guidance shortly, AHDB added. 

The 2021 PI reporting window is now open, and all permit holders need to report livestock ammonia emissions via their annual PI returns by 28 February 2022.

The EA is working to publish an updated set of emission factors, which take into account the latest ammonia trial data from AHDB, along with the best available evidence to date. Until these new emission factors are published, producers should continue to use the current data published in the PI guidance, the levy body advised. 

AHDB has made example documents, templates and guidance available to help producers through the permitting and reporting process.