In an investigation into organized, cross-border manure fraud, today (Thurs 11 February) raids were carried out at 32 companies in the Netherlands and Belgium.
In the Netherlands, the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) and the police have searched 8 locations in North Brabant, Limburg and Utrecht, the NVWA reports in a news item. Administration was seized and bank balances, real estate and vehicles were seized. According to the Flemish newspaper De Standaard, 24 house searches were carried out in Belgium.
Separate criminal investigations in the Netherlands and Belgium have led to the suspicion that a number of facilitating companies in both countries are collaborating in fraud involving fertilizers, according to the NVWA. The suspected intermediaries, transporters and processors probably manipulate administration and mandatory manure samples. For example, manure on paper gets a different destination than in reality. A lot of money is made in this way, according to the NVWA.
Unjustified subsidy Dutch co-digester
One way of processing manure is co-fermentation. In co-digesters, biogas or heat is generated by fermenting a mixture of animal manure and other products. The residual product can be used for fertilization in a number of cases. The investigation shows that presumably unauthorized products have been used by a Dutch co-digester, according to the NVWA. Presumably, incorrect administration of supplied and processed manure was also kept. As a result, this manure processing company may have incorrectly received a subsidy from the Dutch government.
According to the NVWA, the fraud jeopardizes the scope that the Netherlands is given to deviate from the European application standard for fertilizers (derogation). An excess of manure on land is also harmful to the living environment and public health, according to the NVWA.
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