0
The Council of Ministers has approved, at the proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, a Royal Decree-Law establishing the basic regulations for pig farm management.
It entails a thorough revision of the existing regulations, issued in 2000, and aims to adapt them to the new challenges that pig production faces in terms of health, the environment, and animal welfare.
The most significant changes are in two main areas: strengthening requirements for animal health and farm biosecurity in order to maintain an adequate health status on the farm; and making environmental commitments related to the protection of water, air, soil, and the fight against climate change.
Environmental benefits
The regulations from 2000 for manure management on farms have been improved and new requirements have been added. The Manure Production and Management Plan has been extended to all facilities and will be part of the Individualized Environmental Management Plan for each farm.
Furthermore, the new standard introduces measures for reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from pig farms, specifically by recording the emissions of each individual farm and the techniques it uses to reduce them ("Best Available Techniques"). The new environmental impact requirements will make it possible to reduce emissions of pollutant gases (particularly ammonia) and greenhouse gases by around 21% by 2023, compared to the baseline scenario without these regulations.
Important developments in animal welfare are also highlighted, in particular the requirement for an individual plan for each farm, assessing potential risks and measures to be taken for the welfare of the animals.
Animal health
The standard also introduces improvements to biosecurity conditions on farms to limit the entry and spread of animal diseases.
This will be made possible by the mandatory involvement of an on-farm veterinarian, who will be responsible for advising on animal health and welfare issues.
To ensure compliance and uniform enforcement of all provisions developed by the rule, a Livestock Management Board was created which will ensure compliance with the objectives set. Representatives from the Autonomous Communities responsible for the execution and development of this regulation, as well as the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge and the Ministry for Social Rights and Agenda 2030, will participate on the board.
February 11, 2020/ MAPA/ Spain.
https://www.mapa.gob.es
