Regulators clarify oversight of Ferreira do Alentejo olive factory

Portuguese regulatory authorities have clarified their respective roles regarding an olive pomace factory in Ferreira do Alentejo, which has faced allegations of environmental crimes and public health impacts.

During a parliamentary hearing, the Vice-President of the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), Rogério Silva, stated that the agency is not responsible for monitoring the facility's licensing, except for matters concerning water resources. He explained that since 2023, the company has not held a wastewater discharge license because it uses evaporation ponds and sends waste to a biomethane unit. Silva noted that air quality monitoring falls under the jurisdiction of the Alentejo Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR).

Separately, the Inspector-General of IGAMAOT, José Brito e Silva, reported that inspections conducted between 2012 and 2026 resulted in several administrative offense processes. These included issues with the rejection of degraded water, the unauthorized spreading of solid residue on agricultural land, and the modification of chimney heights without proper air emission permits. The inspector noted that the factory's licensing is coordinated by the Ferreira do Alentejo Municipality and holds an environmental title issued by the CCDR Alentejo.