Schouten adjusts Nitrates Directive proposal

Agriculture Minister Carola Schouten has adapted the draft 7th action program Nitrates Directive. The necessary matters - such as the time to sow a catch crop - will be relaxed, except for sandy and loess soils. The impact on agriculture and horticulture will nevertheless remain significant after these adjustments, the caretaker cabinet acknowledges. Further measures will be passed on to a new cabinet.

The Council of Ministers has agreed, so that the final 7th Action Program (AP) will be sent to the House of Representatives. Schouten and her colleague Barbara Visser of Infrastructure and Water Management announced this in a statement.

An important part of the 7th AP is the obligation to sow a catch crop by 1 October, something that has raised concerns. in the sector soared this year. This obligation will only apply to sandy and loess soils, the cabinet reports. Winter crops are excluded from this rule. The following crops may fall into this category: winter vegetables, flower bulbs that are planted in autumn, sugar beet and starch potatoes. The Committee on Experts in the Fertilizers Act (CDM) will advise on this.

Although in principle the minister maintains the mandatory sowing of a catch crop before 1 October after maize, a committee is set up that annually issues advice on the feasibility of sowing the catch crop in view of the weather conditions. Farmers do have the opportunity to sow the catch crop after maize or other non-winter crops after October 1, but then a discount on the user standard will follow. In the period up to 1 November, the fertilizer standard for the coming year will be reduced proportionally. When sowing after 1 November or when no catch crop is sown, there is a maximum discount on the fertilizer standard for the following year. The CDM is still being asked for advice on the determination of the discount on the usage standard.  

One of the adjustments is also the mandatory rotation with rest crops, so that less fertilizers leach into the groundwater. This will also only apply to sandy and loess soils. Because the impact on clay and peat soils is small, according to the cabinet, these soils are excluded from this, as are organic arable farming and long-term crops, such as tree cultivation, asparagus cultivation and some ornamental crops.

Sector proposal 'customized approach' weighs in
To improve water quality, sector parties LTO Nederland, NAJK, NAV, POV, BO Akkerbouw, NZO, Rabobank and Cumela jointly initiated a so-called 'customized approach'. The entrepreneur works with a plan adapted to his or her company to achieve the water quality goals. It has been agreed to further develop this tailor-made approach together with central government, the cabinet announced.

Despite the adjustments, the 7th AP remains a strong package of measures with a significant impact on agriculture and horticulture, the cabinet realizes. "However, the task of improving water quality is great and the current package, according to the calculations of the environmental effects, is still insufficient to achieve the targets for surface water quality of the European Nitrates Directive and the Water Framework Directive. A new cabinet must - in conjunction with the nitrogen and climate dossier - make further choices," said a statement.

€118,7 million has been made available for future manure policy. Over the next four years, this money will be used for research and pilot projects, support for area processes, monitoring, supervision and enforcement.

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