Country Reports Coexistence in the Netherlands

The Netherlands was the first country in the EU to develop coexistence guidelines with consensus from all stakeholders. The van Dijk committee, named after its chairman, was able to come up with an agreement between farmers – both conventional and organic -, seed producers, and chain organizations involved in Dutch agriculture on practical measures for enabling coexistence.

Measures at the farm level

The Main Board of Arable Crops has set up regulations for coexistence based on the coexistence agreement:

• Farmers wishing to grow GM crops must notify their neighbours in a public register before February 1st. Likewise, farmers intending to produce GM-free crops must inform neighbouring farmers producing GMOs.

• Farmers must comply to prescribed codes of practice; at all stages of cultivation appropriate measures must be taken to avoid the mixing GM and GM-free crops. These include thoroughly cleaning machinery, maintaining separation distances, and implementing segregated storage and transport.

• Minimum separation distances have been set for potatoes, sugar beet, and maize. For GM fields adjacent to conventional fields, the separation distances are 3 metres for potatoes, 1.5 metres for sugar beet, and 25 metres for maize. If the GM field is adjacent to a field with an certified GM-free crop (as is the case for organic farming), the minimum separation distances increase to 10 metres for potatoes, 3 metres for sugar beet, and 250 metres for maize.

Liability for economic losses

When proposed codes of practice for coexistence are upheld, the possibility of unwanted mixing and subsequent economic losses is considered remote. A grower who does not adhere to the coexistence measures can be held liable under the Dutch Civil Law for losses due to adventitious presence of GM material. This is only the case if the financial loss can be proven and can be linked to an individual farmer who planted GMOs. If a farmer growing GM crops observes required coexistence measures and unwanted mixing still causes losses, a public fund compensates for the loss. Such a fund is to be established for each crop. The details of this fund are currently being worked out.

Enforcement of compliance

Compliance is enforced by including coexistence measures in certified Good Agricultural Gap schemes. Farmers who do not observe coexistence measures may be reproached and even fined by the Main Board of Arable Crops.

Monitoring

Extensive monitoring is planned for evaluating the effectiveness of the coexistence measures. The coexistence measures are open for adjustment in cases where changes seem appropriate. The van Dijk committee has made suggestions for a monitoring protocol, which include details on sampling, detection, reporting, and consequences.

See also on GMO-Compass:

• Coexistence: Different Agricultural Systems Working Side by Side