Despite intensive discussions, outgoing Minister Piet Adema for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality is not receiving any help from the European Commission in creating more manure space for livestock farming. “It’s not going to happen, we have to take that seriously.”
During a parliamentary debate on Wednesday, March 27, several MPs expressed their concerns about the stalling of the manure market as a result of the loss of derogation. These concerns are shared by Adema, who says he is having intensive discussions about this in Brussels.
The minister proposed to the Commission, among other things, to create space for land-based companies within the derogation decision, but he was unable to do so. “So far, those conversations have been without any results.”
Generic discount
In the meantime, concern is increasing in both Parliament and the minister about a possible generic discount imposed by Brussels. The minister is currently working on a package of measures to prevent this. He is expected to announce it next week.
“If we do nothing, if we do not intervene, we will face a generic discount that will ultimately lead to our farmers facing economic losses and companies to collapse,” said Adema.
BBB MP Cor Pierik wants that if a generic discount is ‘unexpected’, farmers who are already reducing their livestock to reduce costs will be taken into account when determining a reference date. Adema asked Pierik to postpone a motion to that effect until after the manure debate scheduled for Thursday, April 11.
Great responsibility
The minister called that committee debate ‘extremely important’. ‘The outgoing cabinet and the House of Representatives have a great responsibility to prevent a generic discount.’
A week before the manure debate, on April 4, a so-called technical briefing will take place in Parliament about the effects of manure policy. MPs can ask questions to members of the Fertilizers Act Experts Committee (CDM). This independent scientific committee advises the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality on the maintenance of and amendments to the Fertilizers Act.
