Industrial regulations

Part A (1) and A (2) installations

The IPPC and LA-IPPC systems apply an integrated environmental approach to the regulation of certain industrial activities and are the means by which the Government has implemented the European Community Directive on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (96/61/EC) (IPPC Directive). The primary aim of the IPPC Directive is to ensure a high level of environmental protection and to prevent and where that is not practicable, to reduce emissions to acceptable levels.

Regulators must set permit conditions which are based on the use of the BAT, which balances the cost to the operator against benefits to the environment. Regulators are required to set permit conditions for pollution to air, land and water, The PPC Regulations also include provisions relating to energy efficiency, site restoration, noise, odour, waste-minimisation, accident prevention and heat and vibrations, which were not covered by the previous regime.

The PPC Regulations also apply to a wider range of activities, including food and drink manufacturers, large-scale intensive livestock production (pigs and poultry) and landfill. Since 31 October 2000, any new installations are required to apply for a PPC permit. Existing installations were required to apply for a PPC permit over a phased timetable until 2007.

Part B installations

Part B installations are regulated under LAPPC and do not come under the scope of the IPPC directive. As with A(1) and A(2) installations Regulators must set permit conditions which are based on the use of BAT. However these conditions extend only to emissions to air. The transfer into the LAPPC regime from the previous regime (EPA 1990) will, in most cases, essentially be an administrative one.