Technology not ready
Van Dam extends the e-CMR trial
The pilot project with e-CMR, the alternative registration system for the transport of solid manure, has not yet started. That is what outgoing State Secretary Martijn van Dam reports to the House of Representatives. According to the minister, the technology is not yet reliable enough to give the system the green light.
At the beginning of March, Van Dam promised to start a pilot with the e-CMR system. The SGP submitted a motion for this, which was supported by VVD, CDA, PVV and ChristenUnie. This pilot has a duration of 6 months. However, from 1 January 2017, fertilizer exporters are already obliged to invest in the AGR/GPS system.
Technically not optimized
Hoffmann Bedrijfsrecherche has tested the e-CMR system on behalf of the government. The report highlighted a number of points for improvement, which, according to co-creator Jan Scherff of Manure Processing Friesland, have now been implemented. According to Scherff, the system is now ready for use. Van Dam, however, takes a different view. In his letter of 8 May, he again underlines that in his view the reliability of e-CMR is not yet in order. 'The instrument must be optimized in a technical sense before a pilot project can be carried out.' However, the design and layout of the pilot project will be given shape.
Apologies again and again
Van Dam does not dare to say when fertilizer exporters will be able to get started with the alternative to AGR/GPS. According to Scherff, the government has been postponing the file for more than a year, he said in an earlier interview with Boerenbusiness† “New excuses keep popping up. The urgency is missing.'
Foreign exporter does not want to incur costs
In the meantime, from 1 March last, the presence of AGR/GPS will be checked for the transport of solid manure. A system worth 3.800 euros, which every truck must be equipped with. Foreign transporters, with whom fertilizer exporters do a lot of business, are not interested in these extra costs. If e-CMR is still approved, it will also be wasted money. The alternative consists solely of a smartphone app, which records the loading and unloading location and subsequently generates a digital consignment note.
Niels van der Boom
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