Netherlands: Growers demand the lifting of the EU ban on water hyacinths

Hyacinth Bean

Netherlands

Regulation & Compliances

Sustainability & Environmental Impact

Published Feb 17, 2024

Tridge summary

Dutch nurseries Van Senten and Aqua Look, which dominate nearly 90% of the European water hyacinth market, are contesting a European Commission ban on the plant, deemed an invasive species. The nurseries argue that the ban, potentially costing them millions in lost revenue, lacks sufficient scientific backing. They have taken their case to the Council of State, which may refer preliminary questions to the European Court of Justice to determine if the European Commission has adhered to the rules.

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Original content

"We have been growing water hyacinths for more than sixty years," says a spokesperson for Van Senten. The director of Aqua Look adds: 'We grew up with it.' The two nurseries together serve the entire Dutch market and almost 90 percent of the European market. "It concerns a loss of turnover of millions of euros," says Van Senten's spokesperson. 'We were given a year to trade our stocks. We now only have permission to keep a mother bed to restart production if we win this case.' European ban The European Commission decided in 2015 to place the water hyacinth on the list of prohibited invasive species, because it is said to pose a danger to native species. This ban already applied to Spain and Portugal, because the water hyacinth thrives there. This ban now also applies to the other Member States. As a result of this European ban, the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality decided to tackle both Dutch companies. An exemption requested by Van Senten and Aqua Look was ...

Source: Nieuwe Oogst