The nitrogen agreement: what does it mean for your business?
November 2023 - On 14 November, the Flemish government agreed on the new nitrogen standards. The rules have quite an impact on agriculture and also businesses.
Whether the agreement is also legally watertight remains to be seen. But that there is an agreement can already be called a small miracle. For farmers and entrepreneurs, the nitrogen agreement is crucial. It means there will be legal certainty for future projects, which is good for the economy.
No mandatory closures
No (agricultural) business will have to lay down its books compulsorily. Even peak emitters will have another chance to drastically reduce their emissions. Chicken and pig farmers, for example, can do so with air scrubbers that remove nitrogen from the air.
Less stringent for the industry than for agriculture
The nitrogen agreement contains different permit thresholds. These are stricter for agriculture than for industry. However, the thresholds have yet to be scientifically substantiated in the final text.
This is already good news for SMEs. As a result, they do not have to have complex and expensive studies carried out for every permit application to install a greenhouse, for example. Such a detailed and expensive scientific study must demonstrate that the project and its nitrogen emissions will not have harmful effects or lead to a meaningful degradation of nearby natural areas.
No licence freeze
There will be no permit freeze. Companies that exceed the set emission threshold can still apply for a permit if they carry out an individual appropriate assessment (see above). That way, case-by-case consideration can be made.
Measures cost €3.6 billion
The nitrogen agreement comes with a hefty price tag. All measures combined will cost EUR 3.6 billion up to and including 2030. The vast majority of that money will go to the agricultural sector, which will have to invest heavily.
