Ammonia policy having only limited effect

Little progress in animal welfare policy in intensive livestock farming

The general policy to reduce ammonia discharges and associated nitrogen deposition has not had enough impact to protect biodiversity in the Netherlands, particularly in the specially designated Natura 2000 areas. Intensive farming is the main source of ammonia. The introduction of the PAS programme to reduce ammonia discharges has been delayed. Furthermore, the State Secretary for Economic Affairs intends to use half the environmental gains achieved by the PAS programme to increase livestock farming. Only limited progress has been made regarding animal welfare policy. The Court of Audit draws these conclusions in its audit report entitled Sustainable Intensive Livestock Farming: follow-up audit 2013, which it published on 22 May 2013. The report follows up the Sustainable Intensive Livestock Farming audit of 2008.