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ZuivelNL secretly passes on data to CBS and RIVM
Since 2019, the ZuivelNL sector organization has been supplying all company data from individual dairy farms in a traceable form to CBS and thus also to RIVM. This is done without asking for the necessary permission or informing those involved. This is evidenced by documents in the hands of Boerenbusiness.
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ZuivelNL and also the government have the existence of this agreement always denied. This is also evident recent answers from Minister Christianne van der Wal of Nature and Nitrogen to questions from Member of Parliament Wybren van Haga. Despite specific questions, she carefully keeps ZuivelNL out of the picture.
The RIVM uses the data, among other things, to create more accurate maps for the Aerius model. According to the document, the delivery of the data takes place on the basis of the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) law, but nowhere in the agreement does it refer to the Data Protection Act (GDPR) or does it make clear whether the agreement is subject to it? satisfies.
Dairy farmers have no choice whether or not to hand over their company data. The delivery conditions of the processors enforce the delivery of the data, under penalty of refusal to deliver milk. The data collected from the dairy is then brought together by ZuivelNL and the data processor From Aachen. From there the data goes on to the government.
Data provided free of charge
ZuivelNL supplies the data without charging any costs to Statistics Netherlands and to the RIVM via the statistics office, but it is not clear from the agreement what purpose or reason was for supplying the data. The document that has now become public also shows that the data supply can be adjusted annually. The 'deal' is initially valid for five years, but will then be tacitly extended every year, the text states.
ZuivelNL suspended the supply of data this summer, but without disclosing the contents of the agreement. Data delivery has also not been stopped. The start of the data transfer was at a time when ZuivelNL was actually managed by NZO and LTO Melkveehouderij and there was minimal communication about the activities.