'Failure to derogate improper EU governance'

The absence of a derogation decision by the Brussels Nitrate Committee is maladministration. That is the view of Wil Meulenbroeks, chairman of LTO Dairy Farming.

The postponement of the decision until June at the latest, as Minister Schouten announced in a letter to parliament this spring, has no insurmountable consequences. But it is certainly difficult and it makes insecure, says Meulenbroeks when asked Boerenbusiness.

Mineral utilization at stake
Meulenbroeks: “At my company, we divide the fertilizer application over 3 moments during the growing season, which is getting longer due to global warming. Suddenly having to distribute differently has negative consequences for mineral utilization, which increases nitrate leaching. And that is precisely the aim of the derogation decision, namely to prevent nitrate leaching due to too much fertilization in one go.”

Meulenbroeks continues: “With common sense you would think that making a decision couldn't be that difficult. A matter of meeting extra once in between instead of 4 times a year, as the Nitrate Committee is used to. And we are confident that the derogation will be extended again. Go with that banana, I think.”

Link with phosphate rights
If the Nitrate Committee unexpectedly decides not to extend the derogation by June at the latest, the consequences will be serious. Concern about this is growing in the fertilizer trade. Should the loss of derogation actually come up for discussion, the phosphate rights may also be called into question. But then it will no longer be possible to change the law this year. This takes more than half a year. 

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