A wnaiff y Gweinidog gadarnhau faint o unedau dofednod dwys sydd wedi'u cymeradwyo ar hyn o bryd i weithredu ledled Cymru, a pha gamau y mae Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru wedi'u cymryd i leihau'r effaith gronnol y gallai'r unedau hyn ei chael ar yr amgylchedd o'u cwmpas?
Poultry units with more than 40,000 birds are classified as intensive and as such require a permit under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) issues and regulates these sites, of which there are 119 approved permits operating currently in Wales. These may be subject to planning approval, which is the responsibility of the Local Planning Authority (LPA). NRW is the competent authority for environmental permitting for these sites and completes a habitats risk assessment (HRA) for them.
Where the proposed development is for less than a 40,000 bird unit, it is the responsibility of the LPA to complete the HRA where there is a risk of an impact on any special areas of conservation. NRW will provide comments to the LPA on the planning application for these sites.
All permits that NRW has issued (for more than 40,000 birds) can be viewed at: https://naturalresources.wales/permits-and-permissions/check-for-a-permit-licence-or-exemption/?lang=en
NRW’s current guidance for intensive rearing of pigs and poultry permit applications require that an assessment is carried out that takes into account background levels of ammonia and the cumulative impacts of any surrounding developments. This enables it to ensure any relevant permission issued will include appropriate conditions to minimise adverse environmental consequences.
The planning team in NRW uses guidance note GN021 and requires applicants for intensive poultry units to include emissions assessments, which include cumulative impacts to protected sites. GN021 also includes the need to show how manure/litter from the units will be used for agricultural benefit. Environment officers in local teams review the documents for the spreading of manure; they ensure it is compliant with the Code of Good Agricultural Practice (CoGAP). NRW may identify wider risks and changes that would need to be made to the proposed farming practice to improve the health of the local ecosystem.