Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Licensing

Since 1994, sites involved in large-scale or complex industrial/other processes with significant polluting potential have been required to have an Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) licence.

The Protection of the Environment Act, 2003 brought IPC licensing into line with the more comprehensive EU Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive. Energy use and greenhouse gases are included in the process, which places a greater emphasis onenergy efficiency in industrial activities.

Further provisions of the Protection of the Environment Act extend the scope of IPPC licensing to include:

• Changing the technical basis of licensing from BATNEEC (Best Available Technology Not Entailing Excessive Costs) to Best Available Techniques (BAT).  
• Introducing more activities in the licensing system in areas such as intensive agriculture, the treatment and processing of milk, the slaughter of cattle, food production, and the production of paper, pulp or board.  

IPC and IPPC licenses are issued and enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency.

For more information go to www.epa.ie/licences