EP: Feeding measure possibly contrary to EU rules

Minister Carola Schouten's temporary animal feed measure may contravene EU animal health legislation. That is why MEPs Annie Schreijer-Pierik (CDA) and Bert-Jan Ruissen (SGP) are demanding clarification and, if necessary, intervention from the European Commission in joint written questions.  The Minister of Agriculture wants to impose a measure to limit the protein content of cattle feed on dairy cattle farming for the period from September to December of this year. However, veterinarians have been warning for weeks that the feed measure, despite an exemption provision being included, is to the detriment of animal health. 

And the latter is contrary to European legislation, says Schreijer-Pierik. "The Minister claims that the alternative sector plan would not be sufficiently guaranteed by law, but that seems to be equally the case - in the field of animal health - for the minister's own animal feed measure. According to EU policy, any measure must therefore exclude animal health impairment in advance and be approved by animal health experts. "Veterinary specialists must be fully involved, together with the agricultural sector". 

Ruissen (SGP) stresses: "The health of the animal must come first. This is also stated in black and white in the EU regulations. I am therefore very curious to know what the European Commission thinks of the Dutch feed measure, which is very one-sidedly aimed at nitrogen reduction. 

According to the Rules of Procedure, the European Commission must answer written questions by Monday 24 August at the latest.

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