In January this year, the Ministry of the Environment of Chile submitted for public information the preliminary draft regulation on the emission of pollutants in fishmeal and fish oil plants and fish feed plants that, based on their odours, generate nuisance and constitute a risk to the quality of life of the population*. This would be the second odour regulation to be addressed in this country after the recent approval of the Law Regulating Odour Emission from the Pig Sector in February. But this is just one of the Ministry's many actions. In this post, we will review some initiatives being carried out by this organisation.

   Chile, perhaps with the exception of Germany, may be the only country in the world working effectively on odour impact management at a regulatory level. The Chilean Ministry of Environment has set out to end the free exhaust policy and improve air quality concerning this environmental vector. But what is this country doing to improve air quality for its citizens?

   Finally, more than a year after the Council of Ministers for Sustainability pronounced favourably on the Final Draft, the Odour Emission Regulation for the Pig Sector in Chile is now published in the Chilean Official Journal, and therefore, as of today, there is a new legislation and odour limits for the pig sector in Chile.

   The Odour Emission Regulation for the Pig Sector will be applicable for the whole Chilean territory, for the emitting sources defined as breeding, fattening and/or reproduction plants of pigs whose number is equal to or greater than 750 animals and whose weight is greater than 25 kilograms. This new regulation defines three sets of facilities. Those between 750 and 25,000 animals (small units), those between 25,000 and 50,000 (medium units), and those over 50,000 animals (large units). In addition, certain differences are also made between existing and new farms.