The main goal of the project was to provide support to operators in the intensive farming and food and beverage (FDM) industry sectors, which together represent half of the total number of  IPPC/IED installations in Serbia. Also, as part of the accession process of Serbia to the European Union, the project prepared a Directive Specific Implementation Plan – DSIP in cooperation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection, including all IPPC operators and their technical and financial analysis in accordance with the requirements of the IE directive.

The general objective of the project „Further Implementation of the Industrial Emissions Directive in Serbia” was to support competent authorities and operators in Serbia in the implementation of the IE directive through a comprehensive analysis of measures that operators should implement in order to achieve full compliance with the requirements of the Directive. A special focus was placed on reducing the environmental impact of operators in the food production chain through specific measures related to the efficient use of energy and resources and the reduction of waste generation. In addition, the project provided support to operators in improving existing and introducing new technologies with the aim of aligning their operations with Best Available Techniques (BAT).

The project was implemented within four main components and a series of different activities that involved all relevant stakeholders:

• Preparation of the Directive Specific Implementation Plan – DSIP and the legislative framework in the field of environment related to the implementation of IED.
• Technical support – direct technical assistance to competent authorities and operators in the food production chain in the process of obtaining integrated permits through the preparation of manuals, applications, and relevant plans and draft permits; constant support for operators (Help-desk).
• Promotion of Technological Improvement – promoting cooperation between companies and University in order to promote environmental protection programs, as well as help them to adopt innovative EU standards and develop new market opportunities; support in the preparation of project proposals related to technology transfer.
• Raising awareness and capacity building – organisation of workshops, seminars, and working groups.

The previous project achieved many significant results on the path of transposition and implementation of IED in Serbia. The following results can be highlighted:

• Directive Specific Implementation Plan for IED prepared, that included 227 large industrial installations. An analysis of compliance with the best available techniques and emission limit values ​​prescribed by the Directive was performed for these IPPC installations, as well as an analysis of their financial capabilities to implement the necessary measures. A detailed technical, financial and socio-economic analysis was elaborated for 68 installations, to be used in the negotiation process with the EU, to get extended periods to reach full compliance with the requirements of the Directive.
• Draft of new Law on IPPC prepared, with significant changes aimed at simplifying the procedure for issuing permits and fully harmonizing it with the requirements of the Directive.
• Ten draft integrated permits for the food processing industry prepared (50% of the total number of companies from the food industry that are subject to the issuance of an integrated permit), as well as ten draft integrated permits for farms. During the realisation of the project, 5 permits were issued by the competent authorities (local self-governments).
• Integrated permit form (template) for the food industry sector prepared.
• Activities within the promotion of technological improvement in the food production chain were aimed at supporting operators and other stakeholders in the identification of funding opportunities and preparation of project proposals to foster innovation in the field of environmental protection. Three companies received direct assistance in preparing applications for individual grants.
• Special attention was paid to communication and disseminating information on the Industrial Emissions Directive – One study trip abroad, a student competition, 22 workshops, and three conferences attended by more than 1000 participants were organised and 9 manuals and instructions, 12 leaflets, 2 educational films, and 4 short videos were prepared.

More on the activities and results of the IED Serbia project can be found here.

General objective of the project was to support the Serbian Competent Authorities and operators in the adoption of a sustainable approach for the implementation of the IPPC/IE Directive in the intensive rearing sector, considering the connections with other Directives and the specificity of the involved installations. The project was proposed taking into account all the challenges faced by farms in drafting applications for integrated permit and fulfilling relevant legal obligations, as well as competent authorities at the republic and local levels who are in charge of issuing integrated permits.

The project was implemented through three main components and different activities that brought together all relevant stakeholders:

• Identification of the connections between the Industrial Emissions Directive and other Directives specifically pertaining to the intensive rearing sector, as well as legal gap analysis in the existing legislation of the Republic of Serbia. 
• Improving the quality of applications submitted by the operators from the intensive rearing sector, improving the quality of permits issued by local self-government units, and ensuring inspection supervision in accordance with the Industrial Emissions Directive.
• Improving public participation and awareness on integrated pollution prevention and control through visibility events and informative materials.

Project „IPPC Farms“ covers the entire integrated permitting process, starting from the application for integrated permit (involvement of and working with farms), through the writing of integrated permits (work with competent ministry and municipalities), to enforcement and inspection of compliance with permit conditions (work with the republic and local inspectorates).

The most important results of the project:

• The amended Rulebook on the contents, layout and completing the application for integrated permit was adopted in April 2016 and published in the „Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia No. 32/2016“ – the new application form tailored to operators from intensive rearing sector.
• Revised data on the application and permit status in the intensive rearing sector and the list of farms subject to the integrated permitting procedure. 
• Increased number of submitted applications for integrated permits and improved quality of applications and underlying documents. 
• Published  Manual on the preparation of the  IPPC  application,  providing details on how to fill in the application and draft all relevant plans required by the application procedure.
• Published Manual for the efficient use of energy on farms for intensive rearing of poultry and pigs.
• Checklists and instructions for environmental inspectors were created.
• Draft integrated permit written in the framework of the project adopted as official integrated permit in the Municipality of Plandište. The procedure based on the prepared draft initiated for two more farms. 

More on the activities and results of the IPPC farm project can be found here.