POV takes North Brabant to court

The Producers Organization Pig Farming (POV) wants to have a number of environmental regulations drawn up by the province of Noord-Brabant declared non-binding. On behalf of all Brabant members, the POV is therefore taking the province to court. 

The summons focuses on several regulations in Brabant, such as the Noord-Brabant Spatial Planning Regulation, the Further Spatial Planning Regulations, the Brabant Care Score for Livestock Farming and parts of the Crisis and Recovery Act..

Major consequences for pig farmers
According to the POV, the rules have been unlawfully imposed. In addition, she claims that there is an insufficient legal basis and that the rules are contrary to the general principles of good governance. Pig farmers in North Brabant would be forced to comply with requirements that exceed the statutory requirements, while the rules (according to the advocate) have no positive effect on nature.

It can be concluded from the summons that the costs incurred by pig farmers in Brabant are enormous: varying from €130.000 to more than €1,5 million per company. This drives up the cost price in North Brabant disproportionately, compared to other provinces. It is estimated that about 310 pig farmers in Brabant are forced to stop their business as a result. According to calculations, an additional 10% of the pig farmers who continue will fall below the poverty line.

Summons: first step
Like the province, the POV emphasizes that it strives to make pig farming more sustainable. However, the POV does not want to take the road there through mandatory measures and the pace that the province has in mind. That is why the POV strives for a non-binding declaration. The summons is the first procedural document in the civil proceedings against the province.

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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