Boerenbond threatens legal action against the Nitrogen Decree | local

The Flemish government approved a new decree on nitrogen last month. A long-awaited majority amendment to this decree was submitted to the Flemish Parliament last Tuesday. Urgent advice has also been requested from the State Council immediately. This advice is expected to be presented today, after which the text could be voted on in plenary session on Thursday.

If the text is voted on as submitted, Boerenbond will take legal action. “The new nitrogen decree issued by the Flemish government provides farmers with greater legal certainty in general, but does not give them future prospects,” says the organization. “There is a lack of perspective, especially for farmers who want to do business, such as young farmers,” Borenbund says.

“In addition to the fact that the decree misses many opportunities to make the sector more sustainable, it also contains illegal and unfair elements.” The organization refers, among other things, to “zero fertilization,” a measure that stipulates that fertilizers may not be used on or within the soil, except for direct release through grazing. According to Borenbund, temporarily destroying unused production rights at the individual company level is also a breach of the word.

“These remain fundamental issues that we will always continue to oppose,” says Lud Sissens, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Borenbond. “We have considered the texts as they are presented today. If this is voted on in this way, we will go to the Constitutional Court to fully defend the rights of our farmers in this difficult file.

Gröne Kring, a young farmers’ organisation, agrees. The organization says: “We were somewhat positive after the negotiations, but upon reading the decree we no longer see any prospects.” Therefore, he calls for making the necessary adjustments through amendments.