National government

Zero VAT on fruit and vegetables delayed

The coalition agreement includes a review of how the VAT on fruit and vegetables can eventually be reduced to 0%. The Cabinet is currently working on the details of this agreement. However, it is not possible to arrange ..

An end to misleading discounting

03 May 2022

Misleading consumers with false price reductions is a persistent phenomenon both online and in physical shops. The Council of Ministers has agreed to a proposal from Minister Micky Adriaansens of Economic Affairs and Cli...

Cabinet aims to make industry more sustainable

06 April 2022

The Netherlands has great ambitions in the area of climate. This also has consequences for the sustainability of the industry, which has become even more important due to the corona crisis and the war in Ukraine. Disrupt...

Payment term to SMEs shortened to 30 days

21 March 2022

The bill to reduce the maximum statutory payment period of large companies to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from 60 to 30 days was adopted by the House of Representatives on 15 March 2022. This will halve the...

Food waste decreases by 8% in 2019

09 March 2022

The total amount of food waste in the entire Dutch food chain decreased in 2019 by about 8% compared to 2018. This is a significant decrease for the first time compared to previous years. In 2019, the total amount of foo...

Nutri-Score to be introduced in the first half of 2022

19 January 2022

Dutch food producers are expected to be allowed to use Nutri-Score as a logo in the first half of 2022. The logo will then also be suitable for online use. For example, in webshops offering food products, according to th...

Clean label: not so clean as claimed

01 July 2021

A warning to all producers who are busy making their food products 'clean label'. Food additives that have not been approved are not allowed to be sold or used in foodstuffs. The NVWA ('Dutch Food and Consumer Product Sa...

Payment period of large firms to SMEs reduced to 30 days

17 March 2021

The maximum statutory payment term of large companies to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be shortened to 30 days. This will halve the current allowed payment period and make it equal to the payment period ...

Nitrogen approach: perspective for entrepreneurs

10 March 2021

The Dutch Senate has approved the bill proposed by Coordinating Minister Schouten of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality to reduce nitrogen emissions and improve nature. With this bill the government ensures that ...

Many webshops are not familiar with new EU rules

08 March 2021

On July 1, 2021 the new EU VAT rules on e-commerce will enter into force. This legislation applies to Dutch webshops with an annual turnover of € 10,000 or more from sales to individuals in EU countries outside the Nethe...

The national protein strategy

08 February 2021

In 2018, the European Commission asked all member states to shape a national protein strategy to become less dependent on import flows as a European Union. In December, the Dutch version, the National Protein Strategy (N...

Van Veldhoven: Time for a circular economy law

22 January 2021

The Netherlands is ready for the next step on the road to a circular economy. The basis has been laid. Less raw materials are being used per product, but the use of raw materials in total is not yet decreasing. It is tim...

NVWA 2021: improving flexibility and supervision

28 December 2020

In the year 2021 a lot is asked of the change capacity of the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) and its employees. This is the conclusion of Inspector General Maarten Ruys in his foreword to the NVW...

Food suppliers gain a stronger position in the chain

24 November 2020

Farmers, horticulturists and fishermen have a weaker negotiating position compared to large and concentrated market players in the chain. This means, for example, that they can easily be put under pressure to accept disc...

Monitor provides insight into organic production

16 October 2020

The costs incurred by farmers and horticulturists in producing organic agricultural products are covered by the yields in five out of the six cases examined. This is shown by an analysis by the Consumer and Market Author...

Nitrogen approach: nature stronger, perspective for construction

14 October 2020

With a package worth billions for nature restoration and measures to reduce nitrogen precipitation, at least half of nature will be at a healthy nitrogen level in Natura 2000 protected areas by 2030. This structural appr...