Manure export counts towards phosphate ceiling

Processed and exported manure continues to count in the calculation of exceeding the phosphate ceiling. This is apparent from the sixth Nitrates Directive action programme, which Schouten sent to the House on Friday 22 December.

The Netherlands has proposed to the European Commission (EC) not to include processed manure when determining phosphate production for the phosphate ceiling.

Processed animal manure counts
It appears from the plan that processed animal manure that is sold outside the Netherlands also counts towards achieving the phosphate production ceiling. "The EC is waiving our wish. This is due to exceeding the phosphate production ceilings in the past, the risks for compliance with the usage standards and usage instructions, and the current situation in the field of manure fraud," says Schouten.

In the sixth action program Nitrates Directive, for the first time, ceilings set per sector† These partitions were already there, but are now definitively fixed. Schouten: "Determining and maintaining the sectoral ceilings is essential for obtaining a new derogation."

Mandatory row fertilization after maize
Despite the improvements in water quality, there are still areas where the Nitrates Directive is exceeded. Row fertilization will therefore be mandatory on sandy and loess soils from 2021. However, there will be more room for phosphate fertilization on poor soils.

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