News Nitrogen
New nitrogen advice again: Take away the farmer's permit
Once again, fuel has been thrown on the fire in the nitrogen file. This time by the Dutch state attorney, who proposes to take away the permits from livestock farmers who farm near Natura 2000 areas. A measure that goes even further than expropriation. LTO reacts incensed and says it will do everything legally to fight this.
AD reports about the proposal based on documents that the newspaper has seen. Withdrawing permits is much more effective for the government than expropriate, said State Attorney Hans Besselink. In the sense that it is much faster. The expropriation process could take years, he said. When a license is revoked, a dairy farmer is forced to stop production quickly.
The opinion of the State Attorney is addressed to the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. According to the AD, he is responding to a non-public memorandum regarding the decontamination of the livestock. Although LNV does not rule out the possibility of revoking permits and expropriating farmers in advance, the ministry is currently mainly focusing on the voluntary buy-up of companies. According to the state attorney, it is better, because of the time pressure, to immediately aim for the withdrawal of permits. This would be possible on the basis of paragraph 2 of Article 5.4 of the Nature Conservation Act.
LTO: Un-Dutch and scandalous
The scenario in which legally obtained and tested permits are revoked is un-Dutch and scandalous, according to LTO. In a statement, LTO chairman Sjaak van der Tak states: "We do not accept under any circumstances that farmers are disenfranchised. As far as we are concerned, this scenario will immediately go into the trash. We therefore ask the minister to withdraw this disastrous scenario. LTO we ask all parties in the House of Representatives to make the same request to the minister."
LTO points out that farmers, employers, builders and nature organizations presented a widely supported solution in May. Through a combination of broad innovation, voluntary relocation and voluntary buy-out, the nitrogen reduction from the legally established 26% will be accelerated to 40% in 2030.
'Insight into the entire package that the cabinet is considering'
LTO wants 'insight into the entire package that the cabinet is considering'. According to the organization, it is now 'time for honesty, transparency and respect for farmers and citizens'. Van der Tak: "LTO Nederland, together with all farmers in the Netherlands, will legally pull out all the stops to fight this violation of rights. If there has ever been a reason to be united as a sector, demonstrating, lobbying or public-oriented, then is it now."
'Delete country lawyer'
Member of parliament Wybren van Haga (Groep Van Haga) proposes in a press release on behalf of his new party Interest of the Netherlands to remove the state lawyer from the list of lawyers after this 'crazy attack on farmers'. According to him, the nitrogen crisis is a politically created problem. Van Haga is going to discuss the 'witch hunt on farmers' in the House.
Wouter Job
© 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.
