Schouten aims to reduce government fees NVWA

Minister Schouten of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality has had an investigation carried out into the NVWA's supervision and inspection fees. That investigation was carried out by KPMG. According to the Minister, the results give no reason to further investigate whether more outsourcing of tasks leads to increased efficiency at the NVWA. In addition, the Minister wants to contribute 6 million less to the fees for the business community next year.

Based on a benchmark with 7 supervisory organizations in the Netherlands, comparable to the NVWA, KPMG concludes that the NVWA is moving in the main lines within the range of operating costs and is efficient. However, improvements are possible, for example in the reduction of absenteeism due to illness. 

Reconsider cost price model

In the division of costs between the business community and the government, there are points of departure for charging more on the one hand and charging less on the other. Schouten wants to reconsider elements of the cost price model. Starting point: There must be an integral allocation of the actual costs to the products and services of the NVWA. In addition, any adjustments must lead to more transparency, a more targeted distribution of costs between government and business, sectors and different types of business.

Reimbursements

Of the current fees of the NVWA, 75% is compulsorily charged on the basis of European regulations and 25% follows from the application of the government's 'Maat houden' policy in the Netherlands. At present, the fees are only partly based on actual costs, as the government bears part of the costs. The study shows that, on the basis of European regulations, the government can also opt to pass on standard charges in specific areas. Schouten adheres to the current principle of actual costs, which is in line with Dutch policy within 'Maatschap houden'.

Lower government contribution

Schouten strives to pass on actual costs. According to Schouten, there are a number of categories that cannot be permanently financed by the government for the business community. She wants to move towards a model in which the rates will cover costs within a few years. In concrete terms, this means that it intends to take a first step by 2021 and to reduce the government's contribution to the reduction of fees for the private sector by 6 million euros.

Click here for the report 'Cost allocation and efficiency of the NVWA' (Dutch only)