The Danish government made this decision after intensive talks with the European Commission. Over the past ten to fifteen years, Denmark, like the Netherlands and Ireland, has failed to sufficiently reduce pollution in (coastal) waters.
Germany previously tried for years to escape European regulations and consequently lost the derogation in 2014. Some Danish agricultural businesses have had an exemption from the nitrate directive for 22 years, but soon they will be allowed to spread less animal manure on grassland. As a result, an alternative place must be found for one million tons of animal manure in the short term.
The loss of the derogation has major consequences for the cattle sector, since about 40 percent of Danish dairy cows are on farms that use it. Livestock farmers will have to find up to 35 percent more land to manage their animal manure elsewhere, estimated at 30,000 additional hectares. A similar situation threatens in Ireland.
In recent years, successive Dutch agriculture ministers have tried in vain to get permission for further postponement. This is not negotiable with Brussels, partly because there is already a phased reduction planned over the coming years.
The option of reducing the livestock population has also been high on Denmark’s agenda for several months, partly after an expert committee ('the green tripartite') advised introducing an additional tax on nitrogen emissions. In that case, livestock farmers could receive subsidies for switching to sustainable and climate-neutral food production.