Trade body the National Pig Association (NPA) has complained that pig farmers are finding it increasingly difficult to get planning permission to replace worn-out buildings, which is leading to overuse of antibiotics.
The NPA writes:
‘If government and its regulatory agencies are serious about reducing antibiotics on farms, they should take early action to repair local authority planning processes, which have become progressively more clunky in recent years…’
Keeping livestock in new buildings dramatically reduces the need for veterinary interventions, yet pig farmers in particular are finding it increasingly difficult to get planning permission to replace worn-out buildings.
Therefore, as part of its recently introduced Pig Industry Antibiotic Stewardship Programme, NPA is urging Government to issue binding guidance on four fronts:
- That the level of detail demanded by planners should be proportionate to the scale of the application.?
- That planners should reject all attempts at interference by animal rights and vegan organisations, as such organisations are opposed to all livestock farming on principle, and their arguments are irrelevant to the planning process.?
- That planners should not accept representations from third parties after a consultation period has ended, as it adds cost and uncertainty for the planning applicant.?
- That strict timelines should be observed by statutory consultees such as the Environment Agency, to prevent unfeasible delays in the planning process.
Read the press release
