Ireland East MEP Mairead McGuinness said recasting of legislation relating to pollution control in major industrial installations is bringing together seven separate pieces of legislation into one text.

"However, in the process, the commission has decided to introduce changes to the licensing of large pig farms, which would add additional costs and bureaucracy.

"I reject this attempt to impose a double layer of regulation on pig production, which is facing major threats to its very survival in Ireland and the EU," she said.

Ms McGuinness said farming is already covered by many directives relating to nitrates and ground water. The attempt to impose a further piece of legislation is both unnecessary and harmful.

"Today we managed to get support for several amendments rejecting attempts by the commission to bring in by the back door further restrictions on both pig and poultry production.

"The proposal remains unfavourable to pig production and must be amended in second reading," she said.

Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith has meanwhile reminded farmers who think they are likely to go over the limit of 170kg of nitrogen per hectare this year that they have until April 3 to submit a derogation application for 2009 to his department.

According to Irish Examiner.com, Minister Smith also announced that the payment of refunds worth over e24 million to more than 122,000 farmers will begin this week. The refunds relate to deductions made from their single payments in respect of modulation.