'Generic threshold difficult in the short term'

A generic threshold value for nitrogen is difficult to achieve in the short term, the Council of State wrote in its advice to the cabinet on Tuesday 26 November. The organization proposes to investigate sectoral or area-specific threshold values ​​for nitrogen deposition.

The advice of the Council of State comes at the request of the House of Representatives. In October, Minister Carola Schouten (Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality) asked the Council of State under what conditions a threshold value for nitrogen can be introduced. If that value is set, no permit is required for activities whose nitrogen deposition remains below this threshold value. This is within the framework of the Nature Conservation Act. The business community has argued for a threshold value of (minimum) 1 mol per hectare per year, equivalent to the Nitrogen Approach Program (PAS).

not in favor
However, the Council of State indicates in its advice that it sees no point in a nationally applicable threshold value. It therefore proposes a number of workable alternatives. "A sectoral threshold value can apply to the construction sector, which contributes relatively little to nitrogen deposition. It is also possible to set area-specific threshold values. These must then be specified based on the situation in a certain region," the organization reports.

The Council of State also states that no threshold values ​​can be set for Natura2000 areas in border areas. From the Cabinet this request was made, because in these regions there are few possibilities to reduce nitrogen deposition (due to influences from abroad). "The argument that those Natura2000 areas need less protection against foreign nitrogen deposition is not acceptable," says the advisor.

December deadline
The cabinet has set itself the deadline to come up with a package of measures in mid-December to tackle the nitrogen problems in the country. Due to the publication of the advice of the Council of State, the chance has decreased that the national threshold value will be included.

Kimberly Baker

Kimberly Bakker is an all-round editor at Boerenbusiness. She also has an eye for the social media channels of Boerenbusiness.

k.baker @boerenbusiness. Nl

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