15 July 2026
Large poultry producers in the European Union are subject to updated requirements under the revised Industrial Emissions Directive (IED 2.0) (Directive (EU) 2024/1785), which entered into force in August 2024. The revised directive was introduced to harmonize environmental performance standards across Member States for large-scale intensive pig and poultry farms.
The directive aims to reduce industrial emissions, including ammonia, methane, and nitrogen oxides, while improving resource efficiency, water management, and circularity within these intensive production systems. The requirements apply only to the largest intensive poultry farms, with the following capacity thresholds:
- 40,000 broilers
- 21,439 laying hens
- 37,500 ducks
Extensive, organic, and pasture-based farming systems are generally excluded from these industrial requirements.
Implementation will be phased in according to farm size rather than taking effect immediately for all operators. The largest facilities are expected to comply between 2030 and 2032.
Although the directive is already in force at the EU level, Member States have until 1 July 2026 to transpose it into national legislation. Once transposed, national authorities will be responsible for issuing permits and enforcing the environmental requirements for poultry facilities within their jurisdictions.
Despite its expanded scope, the revised directive has been criticized for not addressing agricultural pollution more comprehensively, particularly because cattle farming remains outside the scope of the IED.
