
There is 'spectacular' news in the Netherlands. The National Government has been convicted of paying some citizens living near large livestock farms due to the high odour load they get. More impressive is the reason the Hague Court gave in its sentence for condemning the Dutch government: 'inadequate' odour legislation of the Dutch Government.
The Odour Nuisance and Livestock Farming Act (Wgv) was developed by the Dutch government and published in 2006. Unfortunately, this legislation did not adequately protect the Dutch citizens. Therefore, in a sentence just issued, the Court of The Hague orders the State to pay compensation for the damage caused to the plaintiffs. Furthermore, in this sentence from September (but recently published), the Court of The Hague declares that the State has acted unlawfully towards a set of plaintiffs because the protection against odour nuisance that the Wgv offers them is insufficient or has failed.