The higher PFAS standards announced today by Minister Van Veldhoven will not get most of the soil transport sector out of trouble. That conclusion is drawn by Transport en Logistiek Nederland (TLN).
Since October, there has been a strict standard for PFAS, a collective name for polluting chemicals. If there are more than 0.1 microgrammes of PFAS per kilo of building soil in the soil, no soil may be moved.
The PFAS crisis is more acute for many transport companies than the nitrogen crisis because soil transport in the Netherlands is now largely at a standstill. The industry association checked with its members whether the higher PFAS standards, set today, will have a positive impact on business operations. Many affected companies fear that trucks will remain on the sidelines for the time being, TLN said. They doubt whether the measures taken will provide relief.
Read also: TLN comes up with damage claim for PFAS and nitrogen crisis
Damage mounts
The damage in the transport sector is said to have reached tens of millions of euros by now. TLN regrets that the government is not yet giving duped companies any information about possible compensation. For instance, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment refuses to allow short-time work to companies whose employees have to sit at home unemployed due to the crisis.
'More follow-up steps needed'
"Although the PFAS standards have now been adjusted, it therefore remains to be seen whether this will be of any benefit to companies in the short term," TLN said. Members of the industry association say they do not expect ground transportation to move this year. "Many more follow-up steps are needed to get things moving again. Speed is of the essence." TLN hopes lower authorities will update and adopt soil quality maps at the earliest possible date.
