Jansen: 'Cattle-Dense Areas Act unnecessary'

The POV has reservations about the Interim Act on 'livestock-dense areas'. State Secretary Martijn van Dam wants to send this law to the House of Representatives before the summer. According to POV chairman Ingrid Jansen, this bill misses the mark on several points. 

The bill gives the provinces more powers to set limits on the size of livestock farming. One possibility is that a limit is set on animal numbers. According to Jansen, the emphasis in the law has shifted from health risks for local residents to the quality of the living environment. That is why the NVV and LTO Varkenshouderij submitted their views on Monday 22 May.

Numerous laws
According to Jansen, a new law is unnecessary. By this, the POV chairman is referring to existing legislation such as the Fertilizers Act, the Environmental Management Act, the Odor Nuisance Act and other legislation. These laws are sufficient to regulate the effects of livestock farming. 'Another law is therefore unnecessary,' says Jansen. 

In this Act, provinces are given free rein. In theory, a province could decide to limit the number of farm animals to zero, because the conditions are lacking. The law is also contrary to European treaties, such as the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). The aim of this treaty is to stimulate agricultural productivity and to stabilize markets. 

Wouter Job

Wouter Baan is editor-in-chief of Boerenbusiness. He also focuses on dairy, pig and meat markets. He also follows (business) developments within agribusiness and interviews CEOs and policymakers.

w.baan@boerenbusiness. Nl

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