News Meat
Meat sector is blunt in ruling on inspection rates
The Trade Appeals Board (CBb) has ruled in a long-running case between slaughterhouses and the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority about inspection costs. The judge partly agrees with both parties, but the meat sector still feels that the petition is rejected.
Companies in the meat sector believe that the inspection rates are unjustifiably too high and have been litigating about this for years. The calculation method drawn up by the Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality would be too broad. According to the meat sector, it is not fair that the inspection fees also fill the coffers of the Animal Sector Quality Inspection (KDS). In the meantime, the KDS has more than €10,5 million in cash, while according to the COV the inspection rates should be intended to only cover the direct costs.
The judge ruled that the calculation method was correct, but also ruled that the minister had incorrectly passed on some cost items. This concerns participation costs, depreciation costs of buildings and land, and costs for Christmas packages (NVWA costs) and costs for hiring advisors and accountants (KDS costs). However, these cost items are relatively limited in relation to the bigger picture. The minister does not have to repay the money in the KDS and this was the intention of the litigating companies.
It continues to feel unfair
Laurens Hoedemaker, chairman of the Central Organization for the Meat Sector (COV), first reaction to the ruling is disappointing. He had hoped for more, he said when asked. "Apparently the judge interprets European legislation in this area more broadly than we and our lawyer had estimated." After the appeal, the meat sector has little choice but to accept the ruling. However, it does feel unfair to Hoedemaker. He points out that the high inspection costs are borne by the consumer and do not contribute to the livestock farmer's earning capacity.
The minister must now make new decisions on the objections of the companies and on the points in which the meat sector has been vindicated. The minister is given thirty weeks to do this.
Wouter Job
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