A majority in the Folketing has agreed to exempt Danish vegetable growers from the new nitrogen rules for one year. The supplementary deal was announced on September 1, 2026.
The parties behind the Green Tripartite agreement have reached a supplementary deal on the new fertilizer law. According to DR, vegetable production will be kept outside the new nitrogen regulation model in 2027.
Danish agriculture as a whole faces new and stricter requirements on nitrogen discharge from 2027. Vegetable producers are exempted for one year. They must keep following the current rules until January 1, 2028.
Minister Christian Rabjerg Madsen said in a press release that he is aware of conditions for the country’s vegetable producers. They make up a modest share of the total farmland, but stand to be hard hit by the new nitrogen regulation, per the minister.
He described the temporary exemption for areas with vegetable production as common sense. The Social Democratic minister also stressed that the nitrogen regulation remains crucial for handling the challenges facing Danish waters and seas.
Hit harder than grain
The exemption follows several days of considerable drama over the new fertilizer law. The law tightens regulation of nitrogen discharge from fertilizer into marine environments. The stated aim is to improve critical conditions in Danish waters.
Farming groups have warned that the rules mean significant extra bills that could threaten their businesses. DR notes that Venstre has been under particular pressure from the criticism. The government has focused mainly on the objections from vegetable growers.
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For agricultural technical reasons, vegetable production can end up harder hit than grain production. DR reports that several experts have previously told Berlingske the fertilizer law could therefore mean more expensive Danish vegetables.
The government will now ask its civil servants and external experts to calculate more thoroughly on the technical basis for nitrogen discharge from vegetable production. Once that work is done, the new nitrogen regulation can be better tailored to the sector, according to the announcement.
SF welcomed the outcome, saying it helps Danish vegetable production. Agriculture spokesperson Carl Valentin called the situation close to perfect in a written statement. He said legislation protecting the fjords from oxygen depletion and fish deaths is finally arriving, while growers get a breathing space.
