Environmental permits may be required by some cattle and dairy farmers in the future in order for them to keep livestock, under a radical new proposal from the European Commission.

The rules would apply to dairy farmers with over 100 cows and suckler farmers with over 80 cows when young stock are included.

Pig farms with over 300 sows and poultry units with over 11,000 layers are also in the firing line.

Furthermore, it is proposed that the permits will be made publicly available, free of charge.

In administration alone, the permit system is expected to cost EU farmers €265m per year.

Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue has slammed the proposals.

He told the Irish Farmers Journal: “They do not appear to be based on the reality of Irish livestock farming which is incredibly sustainable.”