Reduction of ammonia emissions : From the Geneva Convention to the Directive on Air

The Directive 96/61 concerns the prevention and reduction of pollution of air, soil and water. It gives emitters until 30 October 2007 to put in place the improved techniques that are currently available to comply with the emission ceilings set for listed installations (which include pig farms with a capacity of more than 2,000 pigs of over 30 kg or 750 sows). The Directive 2001/81 requires that a program for reducing annual emissions for four atmospheric pollutants (sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and ammonia) be submitted by each Member State by 1 October 2002 at the latest.The reduction of ammonia emissions linked to stock farming (the main source in Europe and in France) must be achieved in buildings, storage and spreading of manure. Feeding and housing arrangements offer opportunities to reduce ammonia emissions.