The consultation is open for mandatory use of alternatives to chemicals

The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality has included a basis in the “Plant Protection Products and Biopesticides Decree” to oblige the use of alternatives to chemical products. Farmers can provide their opinions on this proposal via online consultation.

The amendment decree gives outgoing Agriculture Minister Pete Adema the opportunity to request alternatives to chemicals. Consider, for example, alternatives to glyphosate-containing products used to spray grasslands, green manure, and hunting crops. These standards must meet the criteria of necessity, proportionality and appropriateness.

The online consultation is open from May 16 to June 13. In the “Plant Protection Products and Biopesticides Decision” It was added that the Minister of Agriculture can specify the crops, applications and under what conditions alternatives to chemical-only products can be used.

Glyphosate-containing agents

These alternatives may include the use of specific equipment. The amendment decree implements Adema’s intent to require alternatives to products containing glyphosate for certain applications.

The reason is the House of Representatives’ desire to ban the use of products containing glyphosate, which was clear from the proposals put forward by MPs Tgerd de Groot (D66) and Laura Brommett (GroenLinks-PvdA). Moreover, it will be essential to achieve the strategic objectives of the Future Vision for Crop Protection 2030 implementation programme.