NVWA fines millions annually

The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) annually fines companies and individuals on the fertilizer market millions of euros. In 2014, 3.025 inspections were carried out by the NVWA. 527 fines were imposed, representing a total of 5 million euros. However, the seriousness of the situations varies considerably.

In addition, 2014 official reports were also drawn up in 124. One year later, in 2015, 4.334 inspections were carried out by the NVWA. In addition, 340 administrative fines were imposed, good for more than 7 million euros. 143 official reports were also drawn up that year.

A year later (in 2016), 4.046 checks were carried out. At that time, 574 companies or individuals were fined an administrative fine, more than 4 million euros in total. A further 122 official reports were then drawn up. 

Seriousness of the violations
However, the seriousness of the violations varies considerably. Sometimes it concerns simple administrative imperfections, but it can also concern fraud with manure. This concerns the creation of fictitious sales (the manure is only removed on paper). 

Livestock farmers who are involved in manure fraud, and whose involvement is proven, risk high fines (11 euros per kilo of phosphate and 7 euros per kilo of nitrogen). Payment entitlements can also be reduced and the excess of manure removed is added retroactively to the manure accounting. This often results in the standards being exceeded, which can even endanger the maintenance of the derogation. 

Fraud investigation takes time
The NVWA states that fraud investigations are time-consuming and that the burden of proof is legally difficult to obtain. 'Fighting fraud will continue to receive our undiminished attention. Whether extra effort is needed is a political question and it is therefore not up to the NVWA.'

The NVWA recently conducted a number of major fraud investigations. Last year, for example, following a criminal investigation at an intermediary, fraud was discovered at more than 40 livestock farmers, mainly in the south of the Netherlands. An investigation is currently underway in the north of the country, where more than 30 livestock farmers are believed to have been involved in fraud.

Roundtable discussion 'Manure fraud'
On 16 May, the Economic Affairs Committee asked the BOR to: an advice to write about the report'Evaluation Fertilizers Act 2016' from the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL). That advice showed that there are no concrete indications of manure fraud in the south of the Netherlands.

However, this is not the only report that gives signals of manure fraud (the NVWA fraud investigation was already mentioned above). In response to these signals, the House of Representatives will hold a meeting on Thursday 22 June round table discussion about manure fraud.

Kimberly Baker

Kimberly Bakker is an all-round editor at Boerenbusiness. She also has an eye for the social media channels of Boerenbusiness.

k.baker @boerenbusiness. Nl

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