Brussels responds positively to Schouten's approach

Brussels has responded positively to the approach to cattle fraud by Minister Carola Schouten (Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality). Schouten was in Brussels on Monday 29 January for a consultation.

Schouten has held various consultations in Brussels with representatives of other European member states. These consultations dealt with, among other things, cattle fraud, that came to light last week.

Approach explained
Schouten explained in Brussels what is going on around the incorrect registration of calves for the Identification & Registration System. In addition, she explained her position and the approach taken by the ministry, as well as the follow-up actions that are still being planned.

This concerns the ongoing investigation of the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, the involvement of the Public Prosecution Service and the sanctions imposed on fraudulent dairy farmers. According to Schouten's spokesperson, there was a positive response to her openness, explanation and approach.

Derogation
The negotiations between the Netherlands and Brussels on the derogation walk plenty. Schouten said that last week the cattle fraud does not facilitate these negotiations. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, the Netherlands meets the requirements from a technical point of view. Dutch livestock farming produced in 2017 5 million kilos of phosphate less than allowed by Brussels. 

View the interview with Harm Wiegersma, chairman of the Dutch Dairy Farmers' Union, about cattle fraud here.

© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.