The Netherlands
Bennett, G.
Agriculture and the Polluter Pays Principle a study of six EC countries: 87-124
1991
DOI: 10.1001/jama.1932.02740600060026Document Number: 368061
Farming in the Netherlands is highly intensive and dominated by the livestock sector. As a result, there is a huge quantity of manure which cannot be disposed of through normal agricultural practices, the main problems caused by this surplus being the pollution of groundwater and surface waters by phosphate and nitrate. Given the seriousness of these problems, the Dutch government has developed a series of control measures to reduce water pollution by livestock farming. The major costs incurred by livestock farmers are those specifically directed at the problem of livestock waste, e.g., specific measures to control pollution by phosphate and nitrate are likely to cost the agricultural sector Dfl 360 million in 1991. The restrictions (both quantitative and seasonal) on the application of manure to agricultural land have necessitated a substantial increase in on-farm storage facilities for livestock wastes. It is estimated that the costs borne by the agricultural sector to control the pollution of soil and water totalled Dfl 151 million in 1988, with 11% of this amount being provided by government subsidies. The majority of these costs were incurred through the payment of the surplus levy and expenditures on storage and transport of livestock wastes. The most important measure now under development is the provision of large-scale reprocessing for surplus livestock wastes, with 65% of the annual Dfl 300 million investment required from 1994 being met by the livestock farmers. The ability of the livestock farmers to absorb this additional financial burden is questionned and reductions in the density of livestock in some areas is inevitable.