Brussels, 28 January 2025
The Primary Food Processors (PFP) association welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to explore simplification of reporting obligations arising from EU environmental legislation. At the same time, the organisation believes that recently adopted legislation should be given sufficient time to be implemented before any further revisions are considered.
PFP argues that the revised Industrial Emissions Directive, formally adopted through Directive 2024/1785 and published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 15 July 2024, should now enter a period of implementation and regulatory stability rather than being reopened shortly after adoption.
According to the organisation, frequent legislative revisions create uncertainty for industrial operators and can undermine investment planning at a time when industries are already facing major decarbonisation and competitiveness challenges.
PFP further emphasises that the revised Industrial Emissions Directive continues to play an important role in supporting environmental protection and public health through effective pollution prevention and control measures applied to large agro industrial installations across Europe.
The organisation remains committed to contributing constructively to the implementation of the Directive, including participation in the development of Best Available Techniques (BAT) conclusions and the establishment of realistic and scientifically robust emissions benchmarks.
PFP also highlights the importance of comprehensive data collection and evidence based policymaking to ensure that environmental requirements remain both effective and technically achievable for industrial operators.
While opposing the reopening of the Directive itself, the association supports targeted efforts to simplify reporting obligations where unnecessary administrative burdens can be reduced without weakening environmental objectives.
The organisation believes that future simplification efforts should focus on reducing unnecessary reporting burdens for businesses while preserving the environmental objectives and regulatory certainty established under the recently revised framework.
PFP brings together the European Association of Sugar Manufacturers (CEFS), the European Cocoa Association (ECA), the European Flour Milling Association, the European Starch Industry Association (Starch Europe), the European Vegetable Protein Association (EUVEPRO), and the European Vegetable Oil and Proteinmeal Industry (FEDIOL).
