Watchdog Rebukes Wiersma’s Plan to Notify 60,000 Farmers Before Emissions Data Release

Overview

• In a public advice, the ACOI says the minister’s individual ‘zienswijze’ procedure borders on procedural misuse of the transparency law and serves only to delay publication.
• The RVO estimates mailing and processing responses from nearly 60,000 farmers would cost €15–60 million, equal to roughly 5–20% of its annual budget.
• Wiersma says she will review the advice but maintains farmers should be personally informed and allowed to give views, citing the sensitivity of addresses that are often also home locations.
• Journalists from Omroep Gelderland, Follow the Money, and NRC are seeking 2024–2025 emissions data after the Raad van State ruled such information must be public, with the court indicating a Staatscourant notice is sufficient.
• The ACOI urges annual publication of emissions data and proposes channeling funds into a hotline and other preventive support for farmers rather than mass notifications.