Solid manure must be sampled from 1 October by an independent sampler. This means that this may no longer be done by the intermediaries themselves. This regulation was introduced to prevent fraud with phosphate levels in solid fraction. What are the first experiences of the sampler, the fertilizer distributor and the trade association?
Intermediaries are now no longer allowed to sample the solid manure themselves for more than 2 weeks and report the levels to the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl). The samples must now be taken by an independent sampler. Currently, 3 agencies have received permission from the government to do this.
A load may only be removed once the sampler has passed by. According to trade organization Cumela Netherlands, the prices per sample are €50 to €150 per sample. On top of that there are the analysis costs.
Not flexible
Koos Berghuis, director of Certicon Quality Inspections (1 of the 3 accredited samplers) is positive about the progress. However, he finds the registration system at the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) inflexible. Freights must be reported 1 day in advance before 13:00 PM, with a 2-hour window. "If we register 1 loads before 13 p.m. on 00 day and a third load is added the next day, it is not allowed to be taken. That is difficult to explain to livestock farmers and intermediaries."
'This is going through'
Johan van Pijkeren, planner at Jan Bakker Mesthandel in Dronten (Flevoland) is not happy with the way of working. Van Pijkeren: "Maybe the sector has brought this upon itself, but it is taking hold." In addition, he indicates that it is impossible to plan for the next day before 13 p.m. “Give us until the end of the afternoon and make the time frame at least 00 hours,” van Pijkeren responds.
The independent sampler takes 1 sample per load, but batch sampling may also take place under certain conditions. According to Hans Verkerk, fertilizer distribution secretary at Cumela, this is not widely used. “Batch sampling is comparatively very expensive.”
Towards the end of the afternoon
There will be an evaluation soon with all parties involved. Verkerk: "We would then like to propose that the time at which the transport must be known to the NVWA should be shifted to the end of the afternoon. This must also be done when manure is exported and that is more feasible."
Koos Berghuis: "I would rather look for a solution based on the fact that if a sampler is registered for an afternoon, he or she can sample all loads that are loaded or unloaded there. Aren't the samples taken independently? "
Safety
Another bottleneck is safety. "The sample must be taken immediately during loading and that sometimes causes dangerous situations," says Verkerk. Berghuis also agrees: "Some bio-installations have to keep their doors closed and then cramped situations arise in the hall, which you cannot stay in for long. Even when loading with large loaders and it is dusty in the sheds, the sampler must looking out."
Report NVWA
Farmers are responsible for having the samples taken, but can also have this arranged by their carrier. The manure may be sampled during loading or unloading.
The sampling organizations must report the sampling to the NVWA. This must include the following information: date and time of the planned sampling, notification number, business location and the name of the independent sampler.