Opinions Wilfried Neelen
Manure fraud: another black day
A major international fertilizer fraud investigation with raids on dozens of places, seizures and arrests. On February 12, we were again surprised. It should be clear that this is not a small beer. It appears that the NVWA and the Manure Bank have good reasons for this.
Whoever enters the word manure fraud in Google will get 193.000 hits. It's not the first scandal and it won't be the last. The article 'The Manure Conspiracy' of the NRC of November 2017 has now shown little self-cleaning capacity. In any case, it seems that the NVWA is doing everything it can to suppress the fraud. Without the self-cleaning capacity of the fertilizer industry, mopping with the tap is open.
The trade associations and all other stakeholders are constantly on the wrong track and you can expect them to take steps to turn the tide. But are membership numbers more important than taking steps? The representatives and directors are insufficiently laced with self-reflection or decisiveness.
Seeing blind or consciously incompetent
A few months ago I sounded the alarm and informed the trade association about malpractice that frequently crops up. Despite my warning, there was no response. You can expect that the signals are red when a signal comes from your own sector? I cannot help but feel that the trade associations and other stakeholders, who partly hold the key to change, are in their own hands and consciously choose to 'seeing blind', or 'consciously incompetent'.
The question that comes to my mind: are they thus become part of the manure fraud? The idea that certifying 'voluntary' and Inspection fertilizer the solution is going to be is too short-sighted. The companies that now large-scale fraud are accused, are certainly also affiliated with Keurmest. Certifica- tion and Keurmest will be of no use if they are not prepared as parties and stakeholders to cut their own meat and thus intervene harshly themselves.
Keurmest's objective fails? The fertilizer industry should not just leave it to the NVWA, the supervisory authorities and the government to take firm action. The NVWA already has enough of itself, due to the large organizational problems and the musical chairs at the top.
Affluent parties in the fertilizer industry are the direct object
In the manure sector 90% do their best, work neatly and according to the rules. Mistakes are made and that cannot be ruled out with this inscrutable and complex fertilizer legislation. But the well-off parties are not only stuck with all the costs of the stricter regulations and enforcement, but in the future also with the costs of certification and participation in Keurmest. All this to keep the 10% junkers in check. That's not going to work. The fertilizer industry, led by the industry association, must urgently take action and have the balls to take rigorous steps. This is to prevent the continuous flow of manure fraud.
Manure legislation is an inscrutable jungle and even officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, RVO and the NVWA categorically refuse to answer difficult questions. Questions from the sector for which the answers are invariably lacking. While the answers are necessary to know how to interpret the complex regulations. In my opinion, there is not a single official at the ministry who knows the legislation through and through. That's saying something! A certificate of incapacity is in order.
Not an excuse but an observation
The politeness and decency to answer questions is totally alien to officials (with some exceptions) and apparently it is not part of their job responsibilities. It is impossible for the manure distribution sector to act correctly in that case. The limits are being pushed for lack of answers and clarity. This is of course no excuse for the manure fraud, but an observation.
Not only the government, but also LTO Nederland, POV, Cumela Nederland, Transport en Logistiek Nederland (TLN) and Rabobank have a duty of care. They are not carrying it out sufficiently, is my cautious conclusion. Is this duty of care that has not been properly performed 'partly' the cause of the constant manure fraud?
Of course, every entrepreneur is responsible for his own actions. More and more rules - the risk regulation reflex - is not the solution.
Wilfried Neelen
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