The Minister for the Environment, Magnus Heunicke, has announced that an independent investigation will be launched regarding emissions from the company Cheminova, now known as FMC, in the North Sea. This initiative comes in response to demands from opposition parties who seek clarification on the Danish Environmental Protection Agency’s (Miljøstyrelsen) handling of FMC’s environmental permits. During a hearing in the Danish Parliament, Heunicke stated, “I propose that we conduct an independent investigation into the Danish Environmental Protection Agency’s failure to reevaluate FMC’s – formerly Cheminova’s – environmental permits.” The background for the investigation stems from revelations by the Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR), which have shown that Cheminova has been authorized by authorities to discharge environmentally hazardous substances into the sea. According to experts, this authorization is in violation of EU regulations.
Previously, Magnus Heunicke assured the Danish Parliament that the European Commission had approved the authorities’ guidelines on the discharge of environmentally hazardous substances. However, according to DR, several experts have argued that this is misleading, as the EU has not endorsed these guidelines as they have been interpreted. Heunicke denies the accusations of misleading information, stating, “I take it very seriously when such statements are made. Therefore, I must also say that I do not agree that when a minister submits Danish authorities’ interpretation of EU rules to Parliament, it in any way constitutes misleading Parliament.” He further emphasized that it is the Danish authorities who are responsible for interpreting EU regulations.