Unworkable rules around substance possession threaten

Growers may soon be prohibited from stocking crop protection products that are not intended for and permitted for their own cultivation. This proposal threatens to create unworkable rules, warn the LTO and the SGP, among others.

The House of Representatives will debate the new Plant Health Act this afternoon, Wednesday 15 January. The measures relating to plant protection products are part of this. The proposed ban concerns the possession of substances that are not intended for and allowed in the crops being grown at that time.

Doesn't help the environment either
According to LTO Nederland, this proposal completely ignores the daily practice of the grower. The crops grown can rotate annually due to rotation and changed cultivation plans. The proposed ban would only lead to additional costs and red tape. Not even the environment would benefit. After all, if the grower changes his cultivation plan, he would have to get rid of half-empty packaging of crop protection products, says Joris Baecke.

According to the LTO director with the Healthy Plants portfolio, the grower is unnecessarily incurring costs. "Disposal costs have to be incurred first and then have to purchase the relevant crop protection product again for a next crop where the product is allowed again."

Sprays for others
In addition, implementation problems arise for suppliers. The article prohibits the sale and supply of crop protection products to growers that are not applicable to the crops they are currently growing. The question is whether suppliers should then check growers' building plans. In addition, many growers and contractors also carry out spraying for other companies. It is unclear who is responsible.

SGP MP Roelof Bisschop also speaks out strongly in the matter. "Once again, farmers are in danger of being saddled with rules that are nice on paper, but are difficult or even unworkable in practice." Bisschop: "What if you have some left over and want to start using it again in two years' time, because that's how it works in practice. And do they really not know at the ministry that some farmers also spray at their neighbors or other colleagues? not work!"

Jeanette Pennings

Jeannet has her roots in the flower bulb sector and she grew up on an agricultural company in the northern part of North Holland. As a generalist she reports for Boerenbusiness across all sectors. She is also exploring the possibilities of sponsored advertising.

j.pennings@boerenbusiness. Nl

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