'Reducing manure fraud in full swing'

Outgoing State Secretary Martijn van Dam says that it is mainly up to the sector to tackle manure fraud. The question is: how do we do that? Cumela and LTO give their view on the situation.

Hans Verkerk van Cumela states that the trade association he represents believes that fraud is ethically irresponsible. In doing so, we put the bill on the environment and therefore on our children and grandchildren. 

He calls on companies that are involved in this to stop using this method and to take a responsible attitude. 'Fraud decreases or only stops when it is no longer profitable or when the risk of being caught with high fines is substantially increased. This requires that more enforcers are visible in the field. In addition, at our request, changes have been and will be made in the regulations that reduce the possibilities of fraud. Finally, together with other parties in the manure chain, we are considering options for promoting and rewarding good behaviour.'

Result of changes
Martijn van Dam also summed up those changes in the regulations, which should yield results in his letter of early May. It's about:

• Improved registration of manure storage since 2016.
• A standard Bibob test for new fertilizer intermediaries.
• Extra attention for manure transport with extremely high contents.
• Mandatory AGR/GPS equipment for solid manure means of transport since 2017.
• Mandatory sampling of solid manure by an independent sampler as of 1 October 2017.

Intermediaries who only want to respond anonymously sneer at this. “These measures only make it harder and more expensive for those who work fairly. The costs are rising, which makes fraud even more attractive.'

Greater chance of getting caught
Harry Kager is a specialist in water and soil at ZLTO and LTO Nederland. He thinks that the intermediaries are still reasoning from the situation of a few years ago. 'I am now receiving many signals, via members, that there is a greater chance of being caught in the event of fraud. The NVWA is really working on it and that is also a deterrent.'

Kager further states that the statements of Rien Nagel of the Rabobank, who spoke of a "manure fraud culture" in the south of the Netherlands in particular, go too far. 'The numbers are not clear. Not for anyone. Then you can't speak of a "fraud culture", I think. This does not alter the fact that LTO is categorically against fraud with manure and that we also contribute to reducing this. And I think we're on the right track.'

Pillars for the approach
The LTO policy officer proposes 3 pillars for the approach. The first is a better (political) commitment to valorising manure and minerals. 'Strict generic standards encourage cheating, which I don't condone fraud with.' According to Kager, the second pillar is certification for intermediaries and fertilizer traders. 'We are working hard on that. I hope and expect that this can become effective around October this year.'

And thirdly, Kager argues that excesses must be addressed. 'And that is increasingly being done by the NVWA. The only criticism I have is that they could communicate this a little more and better. News about sentences and arrests is a deterrent and helps to deter people from fraud.'

Kager therefore does not share the accusation that (Z)LTO does not do enough to combat manure fraud and sometimes even turns a blind eye. 'If someone gives me the name of a fraudster, I immediately pass it on to the NVWA. They can then go after it. Everyone has their own task, but from LTO we do report it if we receive a serious suspicion of manure fraud. How often has that happened in recent years? A couple of times.'

Shame
The brokers remain skeptical. 'A boy like Niels Lentjes is currently happily trading manure again. It's unbelievable that he can do that after everything he's been charged with and found guilty for.' There is simply too little happening, says the same intermediary, adding: 'I am ashamed to be active in the fertilizer trade more than once.'

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