Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Starting January 1, 2028, Flemish farms in Special Protection Zones must stop using manure. 798 farms will be affected. Compensation is offered, but Andy Pieters calls for better rule understanding and enforcement.
As reported by VRT news, starting January 1, 2028, the Flemish government will enforce a ban on using manure for fertilisation on farms located within Special Protection Zones (SBZ). The ban will impact a total of 798 farms, which are primarily small-scale plots with an average size of 2.80 hectares.
They mentioned that the main goal of this ban is to protect biodiversity and prevent nutrient overload in delicate ecosystems. Excessive manure can damage the soil, water, and surrounding habitats. Therefore, manure use will no longer be permitted in these SBZ areas.
How will the 2028 manure ban impact 798 Flemish farms?
According to the officials, the provinces of Limburg, East Flanders, Antwerp, Flemish Brabant, and West Flanders will be most affected by the manure ban. Limburg has the most farms impacted, with 236, about 30% of the total, due to its many protected areas.
East Flanders has 197 affected farms, and Antwerp has 173. Flemish Brabant will see 111 farms affected, and West Flanders will have 81. Because exceptions are ending sooner, farmers in these provinces, especially those in protected areas, must change how they farm.
To help farmers deal with the financial impact of the manure ban, the Flemish government is offering a compensation plan. Farmers will receive financial aid based on the size of their affected land, with the amount varying depending on when they choose to stop using manure. Those who voluntarily stop fertilising earlier will receive more money.
The Flemish government mentioned that if a farmer chooses not to fertilise this year, they will be paid out €14,375 for every hectare of damaged land. But by 2028, this has fallen to €12,500 per hectare. On top of this payout, the Flemish government has vowed additional support to persuade investors to keep investing in the land.
Flemish Parliament member Andy Pieters has raised concerns about how well farmers understand the new manure ban. He wants the government to explain the rules better so farmers know what’s happening. Pieters also wants to ensure farmers and horticulturists get fair compensation, especially those who will struggle with the changes.
He also wants better ways to check if the rules are being followed. He mentioned that the government needs to help farmers financially while also making sure they follow the new environmental rules.
In the past, farmers could apply for exceptions to this rule, but these exceptions will be phased out more quickly, requiring full compliance by 2028. There’s a special plan for farms that can’t fertilise more than 20% of their land.
“A report by the Institute for Nature and Forest Research (INBO) shows that enforcement of zero fertilisation is failing on a large scale. It is crucial that the competent minister also takes this to heart, especially if we as a government are allocating so many resources to it, ”
Says Pieters.
