EU Manure Ruling May Impact Swine Operations

September 20, 2005 — Morgan Morrow
  [ES]

The European Court of Justice has ruled that animal manure cannot be classified as "waste" once it is used as fertilizer. The court held that if manure is not being discarded but rather marketed as fertilizer, then it could not be termed "waste" material and thus could not be regulated under the Waste Directive which required licensure before spreading.

The European EPA indicated that they do not believe the ruling has any relevance related to the Waste Directive. The Agency holds that licensure under this Directive was intended to promote the use of manure as fertilizer by designating "suitable lands" for manure application as an alternative to disposal as a waste material. The ruling could have significant impact on European pig farmers potentially rendering current permiting requirements illegal.

Source:
Irish Farmers Journal
http://www.farmersjournal.ie/2005/0917/news/currentedition/