Authorities

The VERA system is among other things, established as a help for attainment of the general BAT demands on European livestock productions

VERA is implemented differently in the three participating countries, and is still not completely in place within the involved authorities. On this page, you can find detailed information on the different national application processes and how a VERA Verification Statement can be used in applying for national market access.

	The Netherlands	Denmark	Flanders
Is there a national application process that accepts VERA?	Yes	Yes	At this moment, no clear working method regarding accepting a VERA Verification Statement has been implemented by the Flemish authorities
Which VERA protocols are accepted?	Air Cleaning Technologies; Livestock Housing and Management Systems	Slurry separation technologies are not covered by the Danish regulatory system	Flemish authorities are aware of VERA and are looking into the acceptance of technologies verified by VERA
Additional testing, information needed?	Yes, for instance extra measurements and information on agricultural preconditions	No	Yes, for instance measurements should only take place in mechanically ventilated barns and information on agricultural preconditions

Information Germany: There isn’t a national approval system in Germany. Per federal state, local authorities decide whether or not to accept the use of an emission reducing technology. Therefore, there are no clear national requirements.

Please note that the information on this page is subject to changes and decisions made on national state level. Therefore it may be possible that the information is outdated. VERA tries to update this page regularly.

National application processes

The Netherlands
In the Netherlands there are three national systems to verify the reduction of ammonia, odor, and dust in innovative Air Cleaning Technologies and Livestock Housing and Management Systems called the Regulation on Ammonia and Livestock (RAV), the Regulation Odor Nuisance and Livestock Farming (RGV) and the Regulation Dust for Innovative Barns and Techniques. The responsible authority is the Dutch Enterprise Agency (RVO), commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. Technical advice on applications is given by the Technical Advice Pool (TAP).

National Verification Regulation
Regulation on Ammonia and Livestock (RAV)
Regulation Odor Nuisance and Livestock Farming (RGV)
Regulation Dust for Innovative Barns and Techniques

Name of process
Application route Regulation on Ammonia and Livestock (RAV);
Application route Regulation Dust for Innovative Barns and Techniques.

Website
Ammonia and Odor

Dust

Focus emission
Ammonia, Dust, Odor

Participating regions
All

Goal
Ammonia & Odor: To be listed on the RAV approved technology appendix 1. (link)

Dust: to be listed on the dust list (link)

Detailed information on the Dutch national application process

How to gain Dutch market access with a VERA Verification Statement

In the Netherlands the VERA test protocols for Air Cleaning Technologies and Livestock Housing and Management Systems are accepted to apply for the listing on the RAV approved technology list in order to gain Dutch market access. A VERA statement can be submitted to RVO for the approval however there are additional steps and requirements needed. Below we outline the additional steps and requirements needed to gain Dutch market access.

The scope of RAV only covers for Air Cleaning Technologies and Livestock Housing and Management Systems. Please see the questions below for information on other types of agricultural technologies.

For Air Cleaning Technologies and Livestock Housing and Management Systems reducing Ammonia, Odor and Dust please follow these steps:

Go to the RVO website for ammonia and/or go to the RVO website for dust for more information. This website is only available in Dutch.
Discuss the wish to access the Dutch market with your verification body contact person.
Check the test plan against the Dutch testing and reporting requirements and identify any gaps with your verification body contact person – please see below for Additional Testing and Reporting Requirements.
Please get into contact with the International VERA Secretariat to be connected with a Dutch RAV contact person.
Include the additional testing and reporting requirements in your test plan and test report as discussed with the RAV and verification body contact person.
Start testing and continue the VERA verification process.
After the VERA statement has been published get in contact with your RAV contact person.
Send all verification documents; test plan, test report, raw data, and the VERA Statement to rav@rvo.nl
The RAV will review the data and calculate a definitive emission reduction factor to be included on the RAV list.

Which components should be included in your test plan and test report?

The Technical Advice Pool – TAP evaluates your VERA Statement based on the below criteria, therefore it is vital that these components are included in your test plan and test report.

Barn measurability
Description test location
Description emission reducing system
Agricultural preconditions
Measuring method, strategy and equipment
Data processing and calculation method
Description test report
Conclusion: does the test report meet the agreements made, or the measurement protocol?

If want to conduct measurements in the Netherlands you are required;

to apply for a so called “proefstalstatus” at RVO and;
to find two farmers for Air Cleaning Technologies and four famers for Livestock Housing and Management Systems who want to apply your technology;
to follow the roadmap mentioned above; and
The farmers need to apply for a “bijzondere emmissiefactor” (special emission reduction %) at RVO which will allow your technology to be placed on the RAV list during the measurement period;

This means that your technology can be used by other farmers as well.

Additional Testing and Reporting Requirements to access the Dutch Market

Test locations
Please check which agricultural preconditions are different in the test locations compared to the Dutch national preconditions called the landbouwkundige randvoorwaarden (see page 35). It is important to be aware of these agricultural preconditions before you start testing but it is especially important to describe these differences in the test report.

Test plans
Measurability should be clearly included in the description of measurement plans. Describe the location of the barn (e.g. adjacent premises), and other factors which can disturb the measurements (e.g. direction of the wind) and explain how this will be taken into account. Sufficiently describe the management system.

For ammonia
No extra testing or reporting required.

For dust
Specifically for air cleaning technologies more measurements are required, with a minimal of two locations with six measurements each.

For odor
Specifically for air cleaning technologies more test locations are required. Testing needs to be done in four locations with six measurements each. Sampling, transport and storage should be taking place in air tight containers. See: Dutch odor Protocol

Required Dutch Emission Reductions to get on the TAP Technology List

The emission reduction for dust has to be at least 10% from the baseline. This does not count for the so called proefstallen.

For odor only a reduction factor is given which determines in which level the technology is classified.

Does the Dutch regulatory system cover all technologies covered by VERA?

Covers and other Mitigation Technologies for Reduction of Gaseous Emissions from Stored Manure

These technologies are not covered by the Dutch regulatory system. Please contact the International VERA Secretariat for more information.

Slurry Separation Technologies

These technologies are not covered by the Dutch regulatory system. Please contact the International VERA Secretariat for more information.

Measurement of Gaseous Emissions from Land Applied Manure

These technologies are not covered by the Dutch regulatory system.

The following information is available on ammonia reduction:

https://www.wur.nl/upload_mm/9/2/a/392e7151-dd14-48f8-aedd-798542e7a328_1719217_Oene%20Oenema%20bijlage%201.pdf

https://www.wur.nl/upload_mm/7/a/d/12d39726-79e5-4da1-98c4-4820344cfc9a_1719217_Oene%20Oenema.pdf

Please contact the International VERA Secretariat for more information.

Denmark
In Denmark the list of approved technologies determines which technologies can be used to reduce ammonia and/or odor in applications for new animal production units or revision of existing environmental permits. The Technology List is a part of the Danish Approval Act (DAA) for livestock production etc. The purpose of the Technology List is to give the municipalities and farmers an overview of approved market available technologies that can be used to fulfill the environmental requirements of the DAA. The list of Environmental Technologies contains technologies which through tests have been documented to be environmentally efficient and operationally stable. The list supports the Environmental Approvals for Livestock Holdings. The Ministry of Environment and Food – Environmental Protection Agency is the responsible authority.

National Verification Regulation
The Environmental Approval Act

Name of process
n.a.

Website
MST

Focus emission
Odor, Ammonia

Participating regions
All

Goal
To get on the Technology List

Detailed information on the Danish national application process

How to gain Danish market access with a VERA Verification Statement

The VERA system is fully implemented in Denmark, meaning that all technologies that are admitted to the Technology List need to be tested according to one of the VERA test protocols. Its also possible to get on the list by following some special Danish test rules. Overall the requirements are the same as in the VERA system, but certain deviations have been added, making the test cheaper at some points.

In Denmark a VERA Verification Statement that has been issued on the basis of a VERA test in Germany, Flanders and the Netherlands can be sent to the VERA Secretariat along with an application, if the technology manufacturer wants to apply for admission to the Danish Technology List.

Are there any additional steps that need to be taken or extra information that needs to be provided in the VERA test plan or test report by the applicant to get on the technology list?

No, the Danish national application process does not require any additional tests or information at this moment.

Is emission reduction on dust covered by the Danish regulatory system?

There are no emission levels for dust in the Danish regulatory system. As a part of the environmental permit, the farmer has to consider dust and take actions to avoid unnecessary emissions of dust.

What are the minimum emission factors/reductions required to the get on the technology list for ammonia and odor?

There are no minimum reduction requirements, as long as the effect is statistically significant.

Are slurry separation technologies covered by the Danish regulatory system?

Slurry separation is not a separate tool to decrease emissions of ammonia and odor according to the Danish regulation.

Germany
There isn’t a national approval system in Germany. Per state, local authorities decide whether or not to accept the use of an emission reducing technology. Therefore, there are no clear national requirements.

National Verification Regulation
n.a.

Name of process
n.a.

Focus emission
Ammonia, Odor, Methane

Participating regions
All, but regulation takes place on federal state level (Bundeslander).

Goal
to get your technology accepted on federal state level

Detailed information on the German application process

Where can you apply for market access on a federal state level?: A list of contact persons per federal state will be made available in the future.
If your technology has been accepted in one federal state, does this also apply for other states?: No. Each federal state (Bundesland) can set its own requirements. So the acceptance of a technology is decided by each federal state on its own.

Flanders
In Flanders the national system to verify the reduction of ammonia and odor in innovative barn systems is included in the Flemish regulation for ammonia reduction. New pig and poultry barns have to be built according to one of the techniques included in the list of low ammonia emission barn systems (AEA-list). The responsible authority is the Flemish Land Company (VLM). Cattle and barns for biological production are not obliged to follow this regulation.

Secondly, the Program Approach Nitrogen (PAS) helps famers who emit nitrogen in special protection zones to get permits. PAS tries to contribute to the emission reduction goals of Europe’s Natura 2000 (website). The PAS-list includes ammonia emission reducing measures and techniques which farmers can use to reduce the calculated contribution to critical depositions. The research institute for agriculture, fishery and food (ILVO) is responsible for the verification of techniques to be listed on the PAS-list. Each stakeholder can introduce measures to be listed on the PAS list. Applicants will receive guidance from the ILVO Scientific Secretariat.

Although the barn techniques on the AEA-list also meet the conditions of the PAS-list, they are not explicitly included on the PAS-list.

Please note that the PAS-list application has been put on hold until at least the end of 2020.

National Verification regulation
Flemish regulation for ammonia reduction;
Programmatic Approach Nitrogen (PAS).

Name of process
“General application procedure for inclusion in the ‘List for barn systems for ammonia emission reduction’” (AEA-list);
“Procedure for inclusion of a measure in the PAS-list” .

Website
AEA: VLM
PAS: ILVO

Focus emission
AEA: Ammonia and odor;
PAS: Ammonia (odor and dust will be included in the new PAS protocols for air cleaners. The other protocols will follow accordingly).

Participating regions
All

Goal
To be listed on the AEA lists for: poultry and pigs

To be listed on the PAS list link

Detailed information on the Flemish application process

How to gain market acces in Flanders with a VERA Verification Statement

At this moment, no clear working method regarding accepting a VERA Verification Statement has been implemented by the Flemish authorities. VLM and ILVO are aware of VERA and are looking into the acceptance of technologies verified by VERA. We advice you to point out at the beginning of your national application that your technology has been verified via a VERA Protocol. The Flemish experts will review the VERA Verification Statement and data and will decide whether or not additional information is needed in order to gain Flemish market access.

Additional Testing and Reporting requirements to acces the Flemish market

Test locations
Measurements should only take place in mechanically ventilated barns;

Please check which agricultural preconditions are different in the test locations compared to the Flemish national preconditions called the “landbouwkundige randvoorwaarden”. It is important to be aware of these agricultural preconditions before you start testing, but it is especially important to describe these differences in the test report.

Specifically, for air cleaning technologies more measurements are required at various locations. The amount will be clarified in the revised air cleaning protocols at the end of the year.

Test plans
The current VERA procedures contain some possible limiting aspects in order to apply on a national level in Flanders. There are for instance concerns with accepting ‘old’ data, data integrity measures

The information on this page was last edited on: 6-01-2021