News Nitrogen crisis
Schouten does not give secret, FDF tours to RIVM
Because the substantiation of the feed measure has not been released before the stated ultimatum, the Nitrogen Claim (SSC) and Agri Facts (STAF) foundations are taking the Ministry of Agriculture to court in summary proceedings. Farmers Defense Force (FDF) has subsequently determined its action target for the national action day next Wednesday: the RIVM in Bilthoven.
Both foundations had given the Ministry of Agriculture until today (July 17, 12 noon) to provide the information, but that has not happened. The ministry did issue a letter about the 'Public Access to Government Act' procedure (WOB), but the organizations had already indicated that they were not satisfied with this. A WOB can take months, time that this nitrogen crisis does not have.
Agriculture Minister Carola Schouten apparently does not want to reveal the calculation of the feed measure herself. The foundations therefore want to have it done by means of summary proceedings that Schouten does disclose this information. The court is expected to determine the date of the hearing next Monday or Tuesday.
Interim injunction
According to the foundations, the urgency for summary proceedings is great enough, as the announced concentrate regulation - to be introduced on 1 September - could affect the health of the cows. If the subdistrict court judges in favor of the SSC and STAF in this case, LNV must release the substantiation of the current feed track. Whether the ministry should do this immediately remains to be seen. At the end of last year, the RIVM received weeks after a judge's decision to make all nitrogen emission data public.
Farmers Defense Force (FDF) has also redefined its action target due to the refusal of the agriculture ministry to make the calculations public. This will now be the RIVM in Bilthoven. It is the second time that the institute has welcomed a parade of trekkers. On October 16 last year there was already a large demonstration of tractors near Utrecht, as a harbinger of the large farmers' protest on the Malieveld.
Political choices
In a message to its followers, FDF therefore speaks of a déjà vu, referencing the earlier legal proceedings of Stichting Mesdag Zuivelfonds at the time. "A food measure is pushed down our throats, the calculation method of which is kept hidden." According to the movement, political choices dominate at RIVM over scientific evidence. Reference is made, among other things, to the nitrogen emissions from highways, for which different starting points are used.
FDF also tries to enthuse arable farmers with the message that the campaign goes further than the feed measure and that arable farmers are also on Schouten & Co's wish list. "Phytophthora will soon no longer be controllable."
Jorine Cosse
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