News item | 02-05-2023 | 6:37 pm
With the peak load approach, the cabinet wants to achieve a substantial reduction in nitrogen precipitation in the short term. This allows nature to recover, and PAS reports can then be legalized if possible and new economic developments can be made possible. The national termination scheme for peak load livestock farming locations (Lbv-plus), which, in addition to the other support options, forms part of the peak load approach, was approved today by the European Commission. Minister for Nature and Nitrogen, Christianne van der Wal, writes this in a letter to the House of Representatives.
The Lbv-plus is a one-off, financially very attractive scheme that is made available to dairy, pig, poultry and veal calf farmers who fall under the target group of the peak load approach. The target group consists of approximately 3,000 companies that, nationally, cause the most nitrogen precipitation on congested Natura 2000 areas and for that reason can voluntarily make use of various support options to significantly reduce their nitrogen emissions.
In addition to the Lbv-plus scheme, the National Termination Scheme for Livestock Farming Locations (Lbv) has today been designated by the European Commission as a permitted state aid measure. This scheme is available to a larger group of dairy, pig and poultry farmers, which also causes a considerable amount of nitrogen deposition on overburdened Natura 2000 areas. The Lbv scheme therefore offers a solution to agricultural entrepreneurs who would like to stop, but who do not fall under the target group of the peak load approach.
Both schemes are scheduled to open on 1 July this year. In the short term, the two termination schemes will first be adopted by the Minister for Nature and Nitrogen, after which they will be published this month. The tool will also be available online with which entrepreneurs can check whether their business location falls within the target group of the peak tax approach. This is the case when the nitrogen precipitation caused by their location on overburdened Natura 2000 area is above the threshold value. In addition to termination schemes, the peak load approach will also contain other options to support entrepreneurs in significantly reducing their nitrogen deposition, such as (combinations of) innovation, sustainability, conversion or relocation. For this, customization is offered as much as possible. The government wants entrepreneurs to be able to gain insight into these different options at the same time, so that they can make a decision based on sufficient information about all these options.
The coming weeks will be used to discuss the start of implementation with the sector parties and fellow governments. Agreements are also being made with the provinces about the implementation of the peak load approach, so that each province has an approach that is suitable for the tasking and working method in that area. Everything is aimed at making a full start as soon as possible with the peak load approach, for which an important follow-up step has now been taken with the approval of the European Commission.