Eleven interest groups are filing a lawsuit against the Dutch State about the harmful effects of PFAS contamination. The trial will start on August 7 at the court in The Hague.
On Wednesday, law firm Knoops’ lawyers issued the summons. The interest groups want to appeal to the State “for gross negligence in its duty of care to protect Dutch citizens, animals and the environment against the harmful effects of pfas contamination”, the lawyers say.
According to the organizations, the Dutch State is taking too few measures to limit and prevent damage caused by pfas. It is the first time that such a large group of organizations has called the government to account in the field of pfas contamination.
Wat is pfas?
Pfas is een verzamelnaam voor een grote groep chemische stoffen die bijvoorbeeld worden gebruikt om consumentenproducten vet- en waterafstotend te maken. Een aantal pfas kan schadelijk zijn voor de gezondheid, bijvoorbeeld omdat ze kankerverwekkend zijn. Als de stoffen eenmaal in de grond zitten, is het moeilijk om ze eruit te filteren of de grond te reinigen.
The following eleven organizations are involved in the lawsuit: the Nature and Environment Federation of South Holland and North Holland, the Frisian and Zeeland Environmental Federation, the Healthy Water Foundation, SchipholWatch, the Association of Residents of Eelde Airport, the Volunteer Fire Department Association, the Fire Department Interest Association, the Union for Civilian and Military Defense Personnel and the West Friesland Elderly Network Foundation.
Tags: Eleven organizations Dutch State court pfas pollution Domestic
