October 28, 2009
De Heus Ravenstein feed plant overproduces; forced to stop
The administration of the Dutch province Noord-Brabant presses feed manufacturer De Heus to stop producing at its facility in the town of Ravenstein, as the plant had exceeded the production limit of 140,000 tonnes.
The plant has to discontinue producing within two weeks' time.
The province administrators already demanded De Heus to cease production at the end of September, but the company managed to postpone the decision by presenting new view points. The Council of State, however, rejected the amendment.
De Heus produces under an Environmental license of 1986 which limited feed production to 140,000 tonnes but the facility had manufactured 191,000 tonnes so far this year.
Last year the Province Administration granted a new license to produce 325,000 tonnes, but the Council of State annulled the permit.
A spokesman for De Heus said it will apply for a new license mid next week.
De Heus is expected to be able to continue producing at the facility if the new application is accepted, the spokesman said.