Recovery notifications positive
'I&R requires the highest alertness'
Minister Carola Schouten (Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality) makes an appeal to cattle farmers: "Assessing the Identification & Registration Data (I&R) requires nothing less than the highest alertness." She sees I&R as the sector's responsibility.
On Thursday 15 March, the House of Representatives debated the possible fraud involving twins and the I&R system. The main question is still: how many companies committed actual fraud† That question remains open, because Schouten stated several times that (in order to get this answer) an answer must first be given to the question of whether there is intent.
250
records
Intention and motive
In order to determine whether there is intent, the intention and motive must be considered. For example, Schouten previously provided a factual summary of financial gain in a letter to parliament, but "even this does not have to be a reason for fraud", according to Schouten.
Behind the scenes, hard work is being done to ensure that the data is also correct at the latest companies. This is about 250 files. Schouten announces that there will be a second round. "We hope to start the second phase in mid-April. The companies that did not come forward during 'cross checks', but that do have unexplained outliers, will then still be investigated." It is estimated that there are still 100 companies.
The last 100 companies can provide an afterburner. For example, Helma Lodders (VVD) asks for care in communication. "These are the farms for which there are no milking lists and where the percentage of twins is high. We have to make sure that this is not presented as fraud again." Rik Grashoff (GroenLinks) argues for clear communication.
Call to dairy farmers
During the debate, it also emerged that there is a lot of criticism from the various parties of the I&R system. A few also point to the mistakes at Rendac. However, Schouten emphasizes that the system is the responsibility of the sector and the dairy farmer. She therefore calls on livestock farmers to look at the data. "This requires nothing less than the highest alertness."
Schouten is positive about the peak in recovery reports. There were 1 recovery reports in 650 week. "It is very important that the animals can be traced." This does not alter the fact that the I&R system is not watertight. For example, Schouten says that 15 points for improvement are already on the table. "The system must above all ensure correct registration." The points for improvement come from a working group in which farmers also participate.
Communication between systems
It is still unclear whether this includes the fact that the communication between the systems of Rendac, CRV and I&R sometimes does not go well. Dairy farmers also point out that even the milking robots do not always transfer the data properly to the I&R system. There also appears to be resentment about Schouten's statement, in which she reports that all dairy farmers have made corrections. There are also known situations in which livestock farmers did nothing and the blockade was nevertheless lifted.
The SGP and PVV still come to the aid of the injured livestock farmers with 2 motions. One party asks for compensation for the costs incurred by the DNA research when the registration of the twins turned out to be correct. The second party argues that no discount on CAP monies may take place at death notification errors.
Schouten received compliments that she admitted that she did not understand the impact of the news about the has underestimated fraud† Schouten: "You should always reflect on what you have done." Before the summer, she will present a vision on agriculture, nature and food quality.
Herman van den Pol
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