Short-term implementation of laws on phosphates inevitable

The Dutch Dairy Association has with concern taken note of the figures of the Central Statistical Office about the development of the production of phosphates at cattle farms. The figures underline again the need for short-term implementation of laws on phosphates at the dairy farms as well as holding on to the reference date 2 July 2015 in order to retain the EU derogation. A system of laws on phosphates including reduction may be radical, but it does enable the dairy farming sector to develop itself as a land-related sector in a sensible way within the environmental limits.

According to the Central Statistical Office, the production of phosphates by the dairy farms amounted to 92.8 million kilos in the year 2015. The limit that the dairy farming sector has set itself is 84.9 million kilos of phosphates. Therefore the Dutch Dairy Association expects the plans of State Secretary Van Dam with respect to the implementation of laws on phosphates to be broadly supported by the Dutch Lower Chamber and the Upper Chamber. Only then the sector will be able to develop itself within the environmental limits.