Minister of Environment: Investigating issues such as restricting the development of pig farming industry under the pretext of environmental protection

On September 7th, Cover News learned from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment that on September 6th, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs held a video conference to standardize the delineation and management of prohibited areas for livestock and poultry breeding and promote the development of pig production. Minister of Environment Li Ganjie stated that it is necessary to investigate issues such as restricting the development of the pig industry or reducing pig production capacity under the pretext of improving ecological environment quality.

Li Ganjie emphasized that ensuring the production of live pigs and the supply of pork in the market is an important political task at present. It is necessary to further strictly regulate the delineation and management of prohibited areas for livestock and poultry breeding, and effectively promote the stable, healthy, and green development of live pig production.

Li Ganjie emphasized that under the leadership of the provincial people's government, all regions should actively carry out investigations into illegal and irregular issues such as the excessive delineation of prohibited breeding areas, restrictions on free range households, and the prohibition of building breeding farms that achieve no pollutant emissions through the utilization of manure resources. County level work accounts should be established to comprehensively verify the relevant situation of prohibited breeding areas.

Li Ganjie pointed out that in response to the problems identified during the investigation, it is necessary to implement immediate reforms and resolutely and quickly cancel the ban on breeding that exceeds the legal regulations and the designated ban on breeding areas. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment will include these prominent issues in the central ecological environment protection inspection and strengthen supervision, and carry out special actions in a timely manner. To strengthen policy support, priority should be given to supporting the reconstruction of large-scale livestock farms that require closure and relocation in prohibited breeding areas; Accelerate the environmental impact assessment approval for livestock and poultry breeding construction projects that meet the requirements of ecological environment protection; Livestock and poultry manure returning to the field for full utilization are not required to apply for a pollutant discharge permit and are subject to registration management. Guided by the improvement of ecological environment quality, we should accelerate the resource utilization of livestock and poultry manure, strengthen the prevention and control of livestock and poultry breeding pollution, increase technical guidance and assistance, and focus on improving the comprehensive utilization rate of livestock and poultry manure and the matching rate of manure treatment facilities and equipment in large-scale breeding farms. When promoting tasks such as pollution control in livestock and poultry breeding, various regions should be based on reality, effectively implement classified guidance, precise policies, and legal supervision. It is strictly prohibited to use the designation of prohibited breeding areas to implement a "one size fits all" approach under the guise of improving ecological environment quality. We will resolutely investigate and hold accountable any "one size fits all" behavior. For farmers who need to close and relocate their livestock farms, a reasonable transition period should be given, and simple and crude behaviors such as "all closures", "stop before proceeding", and "cleaning up instead of management" and perfunctory response measures should be strictly prohibited.

Li Ganjie requested that the ecological environment department actively work with the agriculture and rural departments to strengthen guidance on the investigation and rectification of prohibited breeding areas, increase policy support for the rectification and adjustment of prohibited breeding areas, and jointly serve the stable, healthy, and green development of the breeding industry. Ecological and environmental departments at all levels should strengthen organizational leadership, further clarify and implement responsibilities, increase work investment, make every effort to promote, and strive for practical results. The main responsible comrades should personally inquire, personally promote, and personally implement. We need to closely collaborate and cooperate with agricultural and rural departments to form a working force, and ensure timely communication, joint research, rigorous deployment, and joint implementation in stabilizing pig production and resolving major risks. We need to strengthen inspection and supervision, and carry out special inspections according to the situation in areas where work progress is ineffective, there are problems of false rectification, perfunctory rectification, and strong public feedback. We will hold accountable in accordance with regulations, discipline, and the law.