PFOS pollution: 3M pays farmers a combined €1.8 million in compensation

Chemical company 3M, which has a factory in the Belgian town of Zwijndrecht, must pay 37 surrounding agricultural businesses EUR 1.8 million in damages. This amount serves as compensation for the consequences of the so-called no-regret measures.

The amount, which was announced Friday, was determined by a steering committee with representatives from the agricultural sector, the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries and 3M itself. Farmers could apply for compensation in February. The steering committee has now decided that 37 farms will receive compensation for the consequences of the no-regret measures in the area around the 3M site in Zwijndrecht. ​

No-regret measures are conservative precautionary recommendations, which, on the advice of the Agency for Care and Health, apply to the site itself and to the immediate vicinity of the site where PFAS contamination can be expected or has been detected.

"From the beginning, our goal was to pay the farmers the right compensation as soon as possible. After all, many farmers have suffered a great loss of turnover," Karl Vrancken, PFAS commissioner and also chairman of the steering committee said. ​ ​

"A compensation of 1.8 million for the consequences of the no-regret measures is reasonable. This compensation by 3M is already an important signal to society and to the duped farmers in particular."

The farmers will receive the compensation from 3M by May.

Earlier this week, the Flemish PFOS investigation commission also presented its final report, in which it identified the chemical company 3M as the major culprit for the PFOS pollution in Zwijndrecht. The commission then also recognised a "collective policy responsibility". ​

© BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK: Scientist Karl Vrancken pictured during the presentation of the first interim report on the PFAS pollution coordination strategy to the Flemish government, in Brussels, Friday 10 September 2021.