Entrepreneurs in the agricultural, horticultural, and livestock sectors in the Netherlands must comply with the rules on animal manure. These rules cover:
- usage capacity and usage standards (in Dutch): the amounts of nitrogen and phosphate from all animal manure that you may use;
- use and spreading of animal manure: the way in which you use the manure and the spreading periods (in Dutch) in which you are allowed to do so;
- import, export (in Dutch) and storage of animal manure: the conditions for transporting and storing it;
- animal manure production: production may not exceed the available land area for animal manure application, unless a surplus is handled through regular contracts with other farms. You can conclude an agreement with a manure processing plant or similar for the processing or recycling of any surplus (in Dutch) still left.
Sampling solid manure
Transportation companies are not allowed to take their own solid samples from thick fraction. This can only be done by independent samplers belonging to an accredited organisation (in Dutch). Companies are accredited by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
Exemption to ban on use of natural fertilisers for research
You are not allowed to spread natural fertilisers (animal manure, sewage sludge, or a mix) between 1 September and 31 January. However, you can apply for an exemption for research to your provincial authority (in Dutch).
Expanding a dairy farm
If you wish to expand your dairy farm, you must compensate for the increase in animal manure production either by providing extra spreading capacity (land), complete processing or a combination of both. This is deemed necessary to avoid an undesired growth towards intensive factory farming as a result of the abolishment of the European milk quota system.
Calculate your usage capacity and usage standards
Dairy farmers need to comply with usage standards on animal manure, nitrogen and phosphate. You can calculate your usage capacity and usage standards with the Dutch-language Manure Tool (Regelhulp Mest).
Registration land use
Entrepreneurs in the agricultural, horticultural and livestock sectors in the Netherlands have to register their land use with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (in Dutch), among others with regard to the spreading of manure. Registration concerns surface area, planted crops, location and position and any changes with regard to these aspects.
Labelling animal manure
Manufacturers of fertilisers must comply with the labelling regulations, which are listed in the Fertilisers Implementation Decree (Uitvoeringsbesluit Meststoffen, in Dutch).
Online application procedure via Message Box
In the province of Noord-Brabant you can use Message Box to apply digitally for an exemption on the ban on spreading organic fertiliser. Message Box is a secure email system that enables you as an entrepreneur to exchange digital messages with Dutch government agencies.