Schouten returns to harsh words

Minister Carola Schouten (Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality) regrets the harsh words she has used regarding the fraud with the registration of cattle. "I underestimated the impact of bringing this out myself."

Schouten says in a interview with the Volkskant that it should have been more alert to communication about the gaps in the Identification and Registration System (I&R). "An image was created in which there would be large-scale fraud, I should have been more alert to that." She states that she should have been more aware of how her words came across.

Conscious
Schouten refers to the words 'tampering', 'cheating' and 'unacceptable fraud'. She used those words when it came out in January that the calf records of 2.100 farmers did not appear to be in order. Schouten also says in the interview that at that time she could only see that the livestock registration of the more than 2.000 cattle farmers was incorrect. "You see outliers, but you don't know if it's an unconscious mistake or if it was done deliberately." 

Not her intention
Schouten also says that it was not her intention to brand the entire sector as fraudsters. "If there is the impression that I have put an entire sector in a bad light, that was not my intention in the least. I really hope that my intentions are not doubted."

Schouten also states that she has acted as required by law. "Technically I had no other choice, then they have to give me another law."

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