[Regulatory Update] Commission adopts Uniform Conditions for Operating Rules (UCOL) for pig and poultry rearing by implementing decision — application begins 2030–2032 by farm size

On 8 October 2026, the European Commission adopted, by implementing decision under the Industrial and Livestock Rearing Emissions Directive (Directive 2010/75/EU, "IED 2.0"), the Uniform Conditions for Operating Rules (UCOL) for the rearing of pigs and poultry (C(2026) 6899, addressed to the Member States). For pig and poultry installations listed in Annex Ia of the Directive, UCOL sets maximum values for ammonia emissions to air from animal housing and for the total nitrogen and phosphorus excreted by the animals, and lays down measures on nutritional management and feed preparation, housing, manure management (collection, storage, processing and land spreading), storage of dead animals, and monitoring. The rules cover the largest and most polluting intensive pig and poultry farms within the scope of the Directive, which the Commission puts at about 30% of pig and poultry farms in the EU; small and medium-sized farms (about 70%) and organic pig farming are not covered. Provided the required level of protection is met, farmers may choose which techniques to apply, and techniques not listed in UCOL may be used if a Member State validates, on scientific grounds, at least equivalent environmental protection. Article 4 of the decision provides that it applies not later than four years from 8 October 2026 for installations of 600 livestock units (LSU) or more, five years for those of 400 LSU or more, and six years for all other installations covered by Annex Ia; the Commission describes this as application between 2030 and 2032.