'It is a mess at RVO.nl'

The patience of dairy farmers and traders will be put to the test this year with the transfer of phosphate rights. At least, that's what the traders claim, who believe that the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl) is in default. According to RVO.nl, that is nonsense.

"Then the site is down and the next time the phone remains unanswered," says Jacob Vrieling of Poortman Makelaars, who mediates in the trade† According to the broker, transferring phosphate rights takes a lot of time and that is not good for trade. "With a small deviation from the standard, the whole system is down." At RVO.nl, there is often no one at home to solve the problem. "Both buyer and seller want to go ahead and benefit from clarity," says Vrieling.  

viscous processes
The consistency of the processes is particularly irritating. RVO.nl promises on its site to handle the transfer of phosphate rights within 8 weeks, but according to Vrieling, RVO.nl does not fulfill those promises. "It can take anywhere from 3 to 5 months, sometimes even longer." Vrieling has 1 case in which the phosphate rights were traded in January, but were not transferred until July.

Other agricultural brokers and dairy farmers also regularly express their annoyances about the state of affairs at RVO.nl in the corridors. A broker, who does not wish to be mentioned by name, says he is already preparing his customers for this.

RVO.nl: "Everything in order"
Michel van der Maas, press officer at RVO.nl, does not recognize Vrieling's criticism. According to Van der Maas, RVO.nl has the ins and outs of the file in good order and the staffing is up to scratch. "We had some occupancy problems at the beginning, but those are now a thing of the past," says Van der Maas. "As a rule, everything goes well."

Van der Maas has been informed that delays can occur if the forms are not properly completed. "In that case, the cause is not with us." Van der Maas advises entrepreneurs to contact them by phone in case of problems. Filling in a complaint form on the website is also an option. The spokesperson does not have the impression that the complaints are pouring in. "Otherwise I would have received signals of that internally and I don't have them."  

Wouter Job

Wouter Baan is editor-in-chief of Boerenbusiness. He also focuses on dairy, pig and meat markets. He also follows (business) developments within agribusiness and interviews CEOs and policymakers.

w.baan@boerenbusiness. Nl

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