News Summons FDF
Action FDF: hindering is allowed, blocking not
The court in Lelystad prohibits Farmers Defense Force (FDF) from blocking distribution centers of supermarkets. If they do, this action group must pay a penalty of €100.000 per location. However, the judge also states that the farmers are allowed to take action.
The Farmers Defense Force (FDF) protest may cause 'some nuisance'. "A ban on causing any nuisance would effectively amount to a ban on demonstrating," according to the judge of the Central Netherlands District Court.
Access not restricted
In concrete terms, this prohibition means that the access via public roads to and from a distribution center and/or other business locations of all members of the CBL for freight traffic or other traffic may in fact not be hindered. Nor should the normal operation of the distribution centers be disrupted.
The preliminary relief judge does demand that distribution centers must remain accessible. This is because a blockade can cause damage to consumers and supermarkets. The Central Bureau for Food Trade (CBL) seems to be the summary proceedings (to avoid a blockage of its distribution centers).
FDF pays for costs
In addition to this ban on blocking distribution centers, the judge also demands that Farmers Defense Force post a message on its social media channels in which the ban is shared. In addition, the organization must pay the legal costs to the CBL: approximately €1.700. FDF says it will appeal the verdict. According to the lawyer of the action group, a so-called emergency appeal is being submitted.
The action group has since sent letters to municipalities. This shows that Farmers Defense Force at 45 distribution centers from Jumbo and Albert Heijn, among others, wants to protest. Whether this plan will go ahead (given this ruling) and in what form remains unknown. FDF does call on its Facebook page to refrain from any action against members of the CBL, as long as there is no other decision on the emergency appeal. FDF states that 'we have been silenced'.
FindFarm
In line with the actions, Farmers Defense Force announces the website FindFarm to have launched. The idea behind this is that consumers can visit various farm shops when there is less available in the supermarkets.
Anne-Jan Doorn
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