Question for written answer E-006001/2020 to the Commission Rule 138 (Verts/ALE), (Verts/ALE), (Verts/ALE), (Verts/ALE), (Verts/ALE), (Verts/ALE), Benoît Biteau (Verts/ALE), (Verts/ALE), Damien Carême (Verts/ALE), (Verts/ALE), (Verts/ALE), Michèle Rivasi (Verts/ALE), Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield (Verts/ALE), (Verts/ALE), (Verts/ALE), (Verts/ALE)

Subject: Health issues of people living next to large-scale animal farms

Ammonia, a pungent-smelling gas when released into the air, and nitrogen released into the soil, constitute two of the most worrying impacts of animal farming, particularly of factory farms. Ammonia is a precursor of particulate matter (PM 2.5) and therefore has an important impact on air pollution and human health, while nitrogen run-off in water and soils leads to acidification and eutrophication.

But such pollution also makes living in the vicinity of animal farms close to impossible. Headaches, stomach aches, diarrhoea and breathing difficulties are among the health issues reported by the neighbours of large-scale animal farms.

1. What policy tool(s) is the Commission using to ensure that this issue is being addressed? Please could the Commission provide information on how past or existing policies have influenced the level of ammonia emissions in the last ten years and on the reduction targets it intends to set for the future.

2. Has the Commission already reviewed the national air pollution control programmes submitted in 2019 by the Member States in the context of the emissions reduction commitments as set out in the Directive (EU) 2016/2284? If so, what were the conclusions of the assessment?

3. What steps is the Commission planning to take to make sure that the above-mentioned targets are met by the Member States?

PE661.124v01-00