Legacy Martijn van Dam
Still in a hurry around the animal numbers law
Around the summer of 2016, there was suddenly an announcement that preparations for the animal numbers laws had been set in motion. Since then, it has become quiet around the subject and the phosphate rights and the POR scheme dominated the news. Now it appears that State Secretary Martijn van Dam is still coming up with bills.
Freshen up. Around the summer of 2016, results came out of major studies into the harmfulness of large livestock farms. Although there is no link with asthma, allergies, zoonosis and antibiotic resistance were found, there was a link with COPD† Poultry farming in particular did not do well.
It was reason for Van Dam to say that provinces should be given more options to animal numbers to be able to control. He announced new regulations before the Christmas recess. That date was not met and it became quiet around the subject. Due to the expected introduction of the phosphate rights and the discussions about the POR scheme, it increasingly seemed to be about superfluous regulations.
Now there is a sequel. It is counting down to the elections and after that the formation can start, but there is no reason to slow down for Van Dam. He wants to send bills on this subject to the House before the summer. Remarkably enough, deputy Anne-Marie Spierings, D66 deputy for Noord-Brabant, said on Friday: 'We don't so much want to reduce the livestock as we want to tackle nuisance areas. When the regional cycles are closed, the livestock in Brabant will probably not shrink.' Which also raises the question of whether legislation on animal numbers is really a solution. Previously, so-called Agricultural Development Areas (LOG) did not work either.
Herman van den Pol
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