The buy-out scheme for livestock farmers to control ammonia emissions and the Subsidy Scheme for the Remediation of Pig Farms (SRV)
With effect from 1 January 2013, intensive livestock farms in the Netherlands have had to comply with nationwide regulations on low-emissions housing systems. These regulations set maximum levels for ammonia emissions. However, in its Action Plan for reducing ammonia emissions from livestock farms, the Dutch government has applied a policy of tolerance. Farms intending to stop pig farming in the long term were able to opt into a buy-out scheme until 1 January 2020 in order to achieve compliance. Owners of pig farms participating in the buy-out scheme to reduce ammonia emissions were not required to convert their pig stalls as other farmers were. They still had to achieve the same reduction in emissions as they would have if they had adopted a low-emissions housing system on 1 January 2013, but were able to use different measures to achieve this. The scheme allowed farmers who intended to stop pig farming in the foreseeable future to continue rearing pigs for a few more years. For such farmers, it was preferable not to make any more significant investments in their farms. Farmers willing to cease production could also register for the Subsidy Scheme for the Remediation of Pig Farms (SRV). This was originally designed for pig farms that caused localised pollution due to their use of concentration areas. Pig farmers within these areas who stopped breeding permanently were eligible for this subsidy.
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