Outcome PBL evaluation
Tackling manure fraud key to derogation
The Dutch manure policy is not effective enough to achieve the agreed targets for clean surface water in Europe. That is the outcome of the PBL evaluation of the Fertilizers Act. The current approach to the manure problem is reaching its limits. Black manure is seen as one of the culprits.
The PBL, Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, concludes that the nitrate target for groundwater in sandy areas is generally achieved. This is despite the fact that standards are exceeded in a few sub-areas.
However, the target for phosphorus in surface water, derived from the Water Framework Directive, is not being achieved. At least half of all measurements were incorrect. This is mainly due to agricultural pollution. Nitrate concentrations in water, which leach under agricultural land, have decreased significantly in the past 10 years. That decline is now stagnating.
Derogation on the draft
The results of the report pose a threat to the retention of the derogation for manure utilization rates. One of the conditions for the derogation is that the water quality in the Netherlands shows an improvement.
De LU scheme from the phosphate reduction plan, which started in March, aims to reduce livestock in the Netherlands. This is done to stay below the phosphate ceiling. That is another condition of the derogation. Logically, fewer animals also means less pressure on the fertilizer market. However, less pressure on the fertilizer market does not automatically mean that an improvement in water quality is initiated.
Should the derogation expire before 2018, the costs of the disposal of manure and the purchase of fertilizer will increase by approximately EUR 200 million per year. That is a huge amount for Dutch agriculture. This once again underlines the importance of the derogation for manure standards.
Prevent manure fraud
In order to still achieve the target, reference is made, among other things, to the approach to manure fraud. That standard is still being exceeded. However, the average was only less than 5 milligrams of nitrate per liter of groundwater. In fact, the objectives of the European Nitrates Directive are achieved in almost the entire sandy area.
The problems mainly lie in the south of the Netherlands. There the exceedance is still above 30 milligrams of nitrate per liter. Some of this is probably caused by manure fraud. According to the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, approximately 10 percent of risk companies exceed one or more usage standards. Very high phosphate levels were also found in the manure samples.
The nitrate target for groundwater may be feasible with the current manure policy. That is what the Planbureau voor de Livability says. The condition is that the government and the agricultural sector will work together to tackle manure fraud. The PBL also aims for more regional customization.
Outgoing State Secretary Martijn van Dam will comment on the findings later in the year.
Wouter Job
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