External investigation of RIVM errors finally put out to tender

RIVM is the showpiece that is taken out of the stable by the government to give everything a scientific touch and should therefore provide sound advice on whatever the subject is, from public health to nitrogen and possibly even more.
These kinds of institutes seem to me to belong more in Russia and China, where governments have an interest in being able to exercise control over what and how research is allowed. than in the Netherlands, where institutes such as TNO in Delft and the colleges and universities are free to choose what to research.
I have long had the feeling that the RIVM is a huge political failure, and is often an excuse to leave everything to them, which is of course crippling for the quality and effect of the studies and their results. RIVM should have had a culture of internal and external controls a long time ago precisely to prevent centralization from being or becoming an obstacle due to a lack of common sense and independence. It is a travesty that the House of Representatives is asking for clarification and the Minister is going to call in an independent consultancy to see what has gone wrong. Better late than never, but the entire concept and mission of the RIVM must be overhauled.

You may wonder whether dairy farmers perform better: serious polluters, subsidy junkies, no initiators, ruminants, need to be subtitled, etc.

Well done Jan Jaap; we desperately need an opinion with substance.