Sector parties satisfied with agreement on Phosphate Reduction Plan

The Dutch Dairy Association (NZO), the Dutch Federation of Agriculture and Horticulture (LTO Nederland), the trade union of the Dutch dairy farmers (NMV) and the Dutch Agricultural Young People’s Association (NAJK) are satisfied with State Secretary Martijn van Dam reaching an agreement with the European Committee about the implementation of the Phosphate Reduction Plan and the derogation for 2017 on Friday 3 February 2017. This means that the member dairy farmers have to start working on reducing the number of dairy cows.

The sector plan for phosphate reduction in dairy farming, which was presented on 14 December 2016, has been converted into a ministerial decree. In his Letter to Parliament, the State Secretary gave more details about the arrangements made. Therefore, the sector parties expect that the decree will soon be published in the Government Gazette.

Now that the European Committee has given its approval for the implementation of the reduction plan, derogation for 2017 has been secured. The Phosphate Reduction Plan can help the sector to bring the phosphate production below the limit again. This reduction frees the way for negotiations about the next derogation period 2018-2021.

Apart from the ministerial decree, the package of measures includes two other components. By now, cattle feed companies have tightened the phosphorous content in their feed and an arrangement for those who stop farming will be drawn up on 20 February.