Summary: This report provides an overview of the assessment of the odour impact of pig units including appropriate odour assessment methods to quantify emissions
Close to 200 pig units will be applying for IPC licences in Ireland in the next few years [2001], as a result of the EPA Act of 1992 and European IPPC licensing requirements. The assessment of the odour impact of these pig units will be an important element of the licensing process, which will be carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency. Suitable criteria for ‘acceptable exposure’ to odours are required, in order to set, limit and target values for odour impact. Appropriate odour assessment methods are required to quantify emissions and, if required, to control and enforce licence conditions. To allow pig producers to manage the impact of odours, information is required on the relationship between production practice, housing types and odour emissions, as well as on suitable approaches to the abatement of odour emissions.
This report provides an overview of these issues, based on literature review, a limited programme of measurements and experience gained from the regulatory practices in other countries. This information will assist the EPA in formulating its approach to processing licence applications and in achieving transparent and uniform decision-making on odour issues for that purpose.
This report was prepared by OdourNet UK Ltd. as part of the Environmental Monitoring R&D sub programme (1994-1999), supported by an ERDF grant.
https://www.epa.ie/media/epa-2020/publications/research/RD94_99-Odour-and-Intensive-Agriculture..JPG