The Dutch are cutting off their own fingers due to the sharp increase in the cost of food controls by the Dutch Food and Good's Authority (NVWA). Therefore container ships with meat, fruit and vegetables are using the harbour at Antwerp. "Rotterdam is a con." Reports de Telegraaf. According to CDA MP Geurts, the government have again shot themselves in the foot, following the adverse effects of service station tax increases along the border. The forced price rises of 80%, are for many, meat, fruit and vegetable container ships, a reason to stock up on supplies in the port of Antwerp instead of Rotterdam. "The government have broken our good harbour and trading position,"said the CDA MP Geurts.
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Fraud
Secretary of state Dijksma (Economic affairs) hiked up the NVWA prices because more food fraud had come to light and the NVWA system had to be expanded. Deltalinqs, the organisation for Rotterdam Harbour businesses and Fenex, the branch organisation for logistic service providers, are alarmed. The VVD and CDA actually wanted the money to be found by making the present NVWA more efficient, however this proposal received no parliamentary majority.
This meant that businesses were forced to pay for the controls. Detalinqs and Fenex believe this has put The Netherlands out of the market since rates in other countries have not risen so quickly.
Source: Telegraaf