Headlines July
Inspectorate investigates Plus for lack of surcharges on plastic
The Environmental and Transport Inspectorate is to investigate supermarket chain Plus for not yet applying surcharges on single-use plastic packaging.
Since 1 July, companies have had to charge surcharges for food collected or delivered in disposable plastic packaging. This does not only apply to catering establishments: supermarkets must also charge a 'plastic surcharge' on products that can be consumed immediately, such as meal salads, small yoghurt containers and ready-to-drink coffee. The amount of the plastic or Single Use Plastic surcharge (SUP) must be shown separately on the receipt so that the customer knows what is being paid for the disposable plastic packaging.
Excuse
"Technically, we did not manage to get it on the receipt in time," says a spokesperson. The company hopes to sort things out by mid-July. As far as we know, Plus is the only supermarket chain not yet compliant with the new rules. The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT), which enforces the rules, says it has not received any notification from Plus itself and says it is launching an investigation. Depending on the outcome of this investigation, the ILT will decide what the next steps will be. "It had been known for a long time that this law was coming. This feels like an excuse," said a spokesperson. Plus commented that it is waiting for the ILT's investigation. In early April, the ILT imposed a fine on brewer Heineken when the company continued to market cans without a deposit, despite its introduction five days earlier.
Symbolic
In other supermarkets, where surcharges on plastic are already levied, customers often do not notice this, according to a tour by NOS. At the largest chains, low surcharges are applied at the expense of their own profits. Government advice is to charge 50 euro cents extra for a meal pack, 25 cents extra for a cup and 5 cents for pre-packed vegetables, fruit, nuts and portion packs. But companies are allowed to deviate from that. And they do: supermarkets are well below. Most apply one price for all pre-packed SUP products and do not differentiate between the different packages. Market leader Albert Heijn, Jumbo, Dirk van den Broek and Coop apply a surcharge of 5 cents. Plus will also apply 5 cents. Lidl goes even lower, with a more symbolic surcharge of 1 cent. Aldi applies amounts of 5 to 10 cents. For the vast majority of chains, the levy is deducted from their own profit margin. Plus and Coop do pass the levy on to their customers. Vomar does not want to say anything about this.
'Guide prices are there for a reason'
Sales prices will therefore remain largely the same as before 1 July. "They have that right," says a spokesperson for the ILT. "That is allowed within the law. But the government's recommended prices are there for a reason. Those have a certain height so that it has an effect on people's behaviour." Still, he therefore sees no task for the inspectorate there. "You can think about this as a supermarket. But that is their own responsibility." It is notable, however, that most supermarkets have similar charges. The chains had earlier asked permission from the Authority for Consumer and Market (ACM) to act together and thus all apply the same surcharges on plastic. The ACM did not go along with this.
Source: https://nos.nl/artikel/2481457-inspectie-doet-onderzoek-naar-plus-vanwege-ontbreken-van-toeslagen-op-plastic
Hours of trouble for Catharina Hospital due to major power outage
The Catharina Hospital in Eindhoven suffered a major power failure on Friday. Operations scheduled for Friday were cancelled and the polyclinics were closed on Friday and will not reopen either. The emergency room will reopen at four o'clock. Due to the power cut, the hospital could not access patient data and calls could not be made. However, people who wanted to visit patients were welcome. A hospital spokesman informed that people whose (surgery) appointments for today had been cancelled would be called during the course of next week to schedule a new appointment.
Excavation work
A power cable was hit during excavation work on Friday morning, a hospital spokesperson informed. Acute care was then powered using an emergency power supply, which applied to the intensive care unit, for example. Current patients were able to stay in the hospital as usual. Due to the power cut, part of the network was down, preventing telephone traffic. From noon onwards, the network was restarted, step by step.
First aid
Initially, the hospital said that the emergency room remained accessible, but around noon it appeared that a different decision was taken. "We have asked hospitals and GPs in the area not to forward patients, the emergency room is closed for the time being," the hospital's website read at 11.30am.
Not life-threatening
Nurses and volunteers stood at the hospital entrance on Friday morning. They caught patients and told them that their appointments could not take place today. Most people reacted resignedly, understanding that the hospital cannot do anything about it either and that it is force majeure."It is annoying though," said a man who arrived at the hospital with his wife in a wheelchair. "It's not life-threatening but I did come all the way from Limburg. We have been in traffic jams, then you come here and have to go back again." Another patient said she had been looking forward to her hospital visit today for so long. "And now it's not going to happen. But yes, for other people it will be worse than for me."
Source: https://www.omroepbrabant.nl/nieuws/4307175/urenlang-problemen-voor-catharina-ziekenhuis-door-grote-stroomstoring
Two deaths from legionella infections, Ferroli central heating boiler likely cause
At least 11 people have contracted legionella since July last year, probably at the hands of a central heating boiler from manufacturer Ferroli. Two people have died as a result of the infection.Most people get flu-like symptoms, but in rare cases, severe pneumonia can develop. People with health problems, the elderly and smokers are therefore at greater risk of becoming seriously ill. This is reported by Ferroli and the RIVM. According to the health institute, the infections were most probably caused by two types of Ferroli combination boilers. All workers who installed these boilers have since been informed about the cleaning measures to be taken. As not all boilers can be traced in time, Ferroli has put a warning notice on its website. Ferroli and regulator NVWA are calling on people to have their boilers cleaned. It concerns boilers of the BlueSense and BlueHelix types made after 1 January last year. The serial numbers start with the number 22 or 23. Ferroli reports that until their boilers are cleaned, people can reduce the risk of contamination by, for example, ensuring that as little mist as possible is released when showering. Inhaling that mist can make you infected with legionella.
Newly installed central heating boilers form link between infections
Regulator NVWA and RIVM had been investigating the situation since June. The case began when four residents of a residential complex contracted legionella almost simultaneously. Where that complex is located, the RIVM would not say. "The peculiarity of that first cluster was its relation to recently installed boilers. That prompted us to also look at the following cases to see if there was a relationship with the boilers," says Tjalling Leenstra, head of infectious disease control at RIVM. Those subsequent infections were spread across the country, but each time it turned out that new combi boilers from Ferroli had been installed shortly before.
Risk of legionella infection is small
Legionella is not common in the Netherlands. About 300 people a year become infected. The bacteria can grow indoors in water pipes, but it takes time.
The bacteria do not normally get that time, because people use the taps in their homes almost daily and the water is changed that way. The risk of infection is therefore small.
Source: https://www.nu.nl/binnenland/6272181/twee-doden-door-legionellabesmettingen-cv-ketel-ferroli-waarschijnlijk-oorzaak.html
Layoffs at KPMG over test fraud, commissioner Van Boxtel steps down
Over a hundred KPMG employees in the Netherlands have been involved in exam and training fraud every year for the past five years. The accountancy and consultancy multinational reports this on the basis of internal investigations. A handful of people are sacked and two top executives have stepped down because of the scandal. At issue is the sharing of answers from tests. The chairman of the Supervisory Board, Roger van Boxtel, says he completed a voluntary training course "improperly". He has therefore stepped down since 25 June. Because of his exemplary role, "there should not be any room for doubt about my integrity", the former interior minister said.
Signals missed
Marc Hogeboom is stepping down as chief executive of the accountancy industry. He is not named as being involved in the fraud. However, Hogenboom does indicate that he "should have been more alert to the signals that answers for internal tests were being shared between them. I take responsibility for that." Hogenboom remains a partner at KPMG. The Financial Markets Authority wants a change in behaviour at KMPG as soon as possible. "I am shocked by the scale of this exam fraud and by the fact that this is playing out through all layers of the organisation," says AFM executive Hanzo van Beusekom. He says the scandal is damaging confidence in the accountancy sector. CEO of KPMG Stephanie Hottenhuis said she was also hugely shocked by the findings. "It is unacceptable that this has happened," she said. The company says it is investigating the cause of the problem and taking decisive action.
Other punitive measures
An unknown number of those involved in the exam fraud have been given sanctions. This may include, for example, a "firm interview", explains a KMPG spokesperson. The level of punishment depends on the employee's position and how involved the person was in the exchange of answers. Most of the group of employees received unsolicited answers, the spokesperson states. This was done by e-mail, for example. "If you get something like that then you should report it, but not all people did that," he says.
Cybersecurity and integrity
The investigation reviewed all tests taken by KPMG staff. These include exams on issues such as cyber security and integrity. These are mandatory tests. It varies by function how many exams there are, sometimes several per year. The examination was carried out by KPMG's forensic investigation arm. An external consultant has been appointed to monitor the process, the group writes. The investigation had been initiated following, among other things, a report from an internal whistleblower. Contact with regulators and reports of similar fraud at other audit firms abroad also prompted the forensic investigation.
Source: https://nos.nl/artikel/2482826-ontslagen-bij-kpmg-om-toetsfraude-commissaris-van-boxtel-stapt-op
Safety of police and citizens at risk due to problems with communication system
The safety of police officers and civilians is at risk due to problems with the C2000 communication system. In doing so, the police are breaking the law, the Dutch Labour Inspectorate confirms to NU.nl following reports by NOS.
C2000 is a closed communication network intended for the emergency services. Besides the police, fire brigades and ambulance workers also use the system. The system has been struggling with problems for years. Last year, for instance, it malfunctioned during a police chase in Rijsbergen. More recently, the system was down because of a malfunction, which prevented emergency services from communicating properly. The problems in Rijsbergen would have contributed to police unions filing a complaint with the Labour Inspectorate. The latter subsequently started the investigation.
System has 'basically' no coverage in buildings
The Labour Inspectorate's investigation, which NOS has in its hands, shows that C2000 has no coverage in buildings "in principle". In addition, there are 107 problem areas where the network works inadequately. According to the Labour Inspectorate, in "certain areas in the Netherlands, no communication with the C2000 system is possible by police employees". In doing so, the inspectorate stresses that communication between control rooms and police officers during a crisis situation "is necessary to do the job safely". The safety of citizens and officers is at stake in such situations due to the problems with C2000, the Labour Inspectorate concludes. Police do not know why communication system faltered during manhunt Rijsbergen
Improper network use also a problem
In addition, the study shows that overloading is lurking when the C2000 network is frequently used in crisis situations. Incorrect use by officers can also cause this. Officers in training receive training in the use of the system. But then too little information and instruction takes place in several police regions "to keep knowledge and skills at an acceptable level and thus meet the requirements of a vital, critical communication facility", the Labour Inspectorate concludes. The inspectorate judges that both the poor functioning of the system and the inadequate training of officers causes the police to violate the Working Conditions Act.
Police cannot object
The police cannot object to the inspection's conclusion. However, it does have two weeks to submit a so-called view to the Labour Inspectorate. After that, the inspectorate's opinion will become final. Until then, the Labour Inspectorate cannot say anything about it, a spokesperson said. The problems with the network must then improve within six months. According to the inspectorate, this can only be done by installing additional transmission masts. In addition, the police have three months to brush up officers on the use of C2000.
Police: 'C2000 works in 97 per cent of cases'
Police union ACP reacted happily to NOS. "For us, this is formal confirmation that there are serious problems with C2000, something we have been warning about for years," says Ramon Meijerink, ACP union adviser. "The police must now work very seriously and with appropriate urgency to improve C2000." The police force management said in a response that the police "do not depend" on C2000 for security. "It is a means of communication, no more and no less," a spokesperson told NOS. "C2000 works in 97 per cent of cases. With that, it meets the requirements set for the system, but understandably not the expectations of colleagues."
Source: https://www.nu.nl/binnenland/6274154/veiligheid-politie-en-burgers-in-gevaar-door-problemen-met-communicatiesysteem.html
The Environmental and Transport Inspectorate is to investigate supermarket chain Plus for not yet applying surcharges on single-use plastic packaging.
Since 1 July, companies have had to charge surcharges for food collected or delivered in disposable plastic packaging. This does not only apply to catering establishments: supermarkets must also charge a 'plastic surcharge' on products that can be consumed immediately, such as meal salads, small yoghurt containers and ready-to-drink coffee. The amount of the plastic or Single Use Plastic surcharge (SUP) must be shown separately on the receipt so that the customer knows what is being paid for the disposable plastic packaging.
Excuse
"Technically, we did not manage to get it on the receipt in time," says a spokesperson. The company hopes to sort things out by mid-July. As far as we know, Plus is the only supermarket chain not yet compliant with the new rules. The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT), which enforces the rules, says it has not received any notification from Plus itself and says it is launching an investigation. Depending on the outcome of this investigation, the ILT will decide what the next steps will be. "It had been known for a long time that this law was coming. This feels like an excuse," said a spokesperson. Plus commented that it is waiting for the ILT's investigation. In early April, the ILT imposed a fine on brewer Heineken when the company continued to market cans without a deposit, despite its introduction five days earlier.
Symbolic
In other supermarkets, where surcharges on plastic are already levied, customers often do not notice this, according to a tour by NOS. At the largest chains, low surcharges are applied at the expense of their own profits. Government advice is to charge 50 euro cents extra for a meal pack, 25 cents extra for a cup and 5 cents for pre-packed vegetables, fruit, nuts and portion packs. But companies are allowed to deviate from that. And they do: supermarkets are well below. Most apply one price for all pre-packed SUP products and do not differentiate between the different packages. Market leader Albert Heijn, Jumbo, Dirk van den Broek and Coop apply a surcharge of 5 cents. Plus will also apply 5 cents. Lidl goes even lower, with a more symbolic surcharge of 1 cent. Aldi applies amounts of 5 to 10 cents. For the vast majority of chains, the levy is deducted from their own profit margin. Plus and Coop do pass the levy on to their customers. Vomar does not want to say anything about this.
'Guide prices are there for a reason'
Sales prices will therefore remain largely the same as before 1 July. "They have that right," says a spokesperson for the ILT. "That is allowed within the law. But the government's recommended prices are there for a reason. Those have a certain height so that it has an effect on people's behaviour." Still, he therefore sees no task for the inspectorate there. "You can think about this as a supermarket. But that is their own responsibility." It is notable, however, that most supermarkets have similar charges. The chains had earlier asked permission from the Authority for Consumer and Market (ACM) to act together and thus all apply the same surcharges on plastic. The ACM did not go along with this.
Source: https://nos.nl/artikel/2481457-inspectie-doet-onderzoek-naar-plus-vanwege-ontbreken-van-toeslagen-op-plastic
Hours of trouble for Catharina Hospital due to major power outage
The Catharina Hospital in Eindhoven suffered a major power failure on Friday. Operations scheduled for Friday were cancelled and the polyclinics were closed on Friday and will not reopen either. The emergency room will reopen at four o'clock. Due to the power cut, the hospital could not access patient data and calls could not be made. However, people who wanted to visit patients were welcome. A hospital spokesman informed that people whose (surgery) appointments for today had been cancelled would be called during the course of next week to schedule a new appointment.
Excavation work
A power cable was hit during excavation work on Friday morning, a hospital spokesperson informed. Acute care was then powered using an emergency power supply, which applied to the intensive care unit, for example. Current patients were able to stay in the hospital as usual. Due to the power cut, part of the network was down, preventing telephone traffic. From noon onwards, the network was restarted, step by step.
First aid
Initially, the hospital said that the emergency room remained accessible, but around noon it appeared that a different decision was taken. "We have asked hospitals and GPs in the area not to forward patients, the emergency room is closed for the time being," the hospital's website read at 11.30am.
Not life-threatening
Nurses and volunteers stood at the hospital entrance on Friday morning. They caught patients and told them that their appointments could not take place today. Most people reacted resignedly, understanding that the hospital cannot do anything about it either and that it is force majeure."It is annoying though," said a man who arrived at the hospital with his wife in a wheelchair. "It's not life-threatening but I did come all the way from Limburg. We have been in traffic jams, then you come here and have to go back again." Another patient said she had been looking forward to her hospital visit today for so long. "And now it's not going to happen. But yes, for other people it will be worse than for me."
Source: https://www.omroepbrabant.nl/nieuws/4307175/urenlang-problemen-voor-catharina-ziekenhuis-door-grote-stroomstoring
Two deaths from legionella infections, Ferroli central heating boiler likely cause
At least 11 people have contracted legionella since July last year, probably at the hands of a central heating boiler from manufacturer Ferroli. Two people have died as a result of the infection.Most people get flu-like symptoms, but in rare cases, severe pneumonia can develop. People with health problems, the elderly and smokers are therefore at greater risk of becoming seriously ill. This is reported by Ferroli and the RIVM. According to the health institute, the infections were most probably caused by two types of Ferroli combination boilers. All workers who installed these boilers have since been informed about the cleaning measures to be taken. As not all boilers can be traced in time, Ferroli has put a warning notice on its website. Ferroli and regulator NVWA are calling on people to have their boilers cleaned. It concerns boilers of the BlueSense and BlueHelix types made after 1 January last year. The serial numbers start with the number 22 or 23. Ferroli reports that until their boilers are cleaned, people can reduce the risk of contamination by, for example, ensuring that as little mist as possible is released when showering. Inhaling that mist can make you infected with legionella.
Newly installed central heating boilers form link between infections
Regulator NVWA and RIVM had been investigating the situation since June. The case began when four residents of a residential complex contracted legionella almost simultaneously. Where that complex is located, the RIVM would not say. "The peculiarity of that first cluster was its relation to recently installed boilers. That prompted us to also look at the following cases to see if there was a relationship with the boilers," says Tjalling Leenstra, head of infectious disease control at RIVM. Those subsequent infections were spread across the country, but each time it turned out that new combi boilers from Ferroli had been installed shortly before.
Risk of legionella infection is small
Legionella is not common in the Netherlands. About 300 people a year become infected. The bacteria can grow indoors in water pipes, but it takes time.
The bacteria do not normally get that time, because people use the taps in their homes almost daily and the water is changed that way. The risk of infection is therefore small.
Source: https://www.nu.nl/binnenland/6272181/twee-doden-door-legionellabesmettingen-cv-ketel-ferroli-waarschijnlijk-oorzaak.html
Layoffs at KPMG over test fraud, commissioner Van Boxtel steps down
Over a hundred KPMG employees in the Netherlands have been involved in exam and training fraud every year for the past five years. The accountancy and consultancy multinational reports this on the basis of internal investigations. A handful of people are sacked and two top executives have stepped down because of the scandal. At issue is the sharing of answers from tests. The chairman of the Supervisory Board, Roger van Boxtel, says he completed a voluntary training course "improperly". He has therefore stepped down since 25 June. Because of his exemplary role, "there should not be any room for doubt about my integrity", the former interior minister said.
Signals missed
Marc Hogeboom is stepping down as chief executive of the accountancy industry. He is not named as being involved in the fraud. However, Hogenboom does indicate that he "should have been more alert to the signals that answers for internal tests were being shared between them. I take responsibility for that." Hogenboom remains a partner at KPMG. The Financial Markets Authority wants a change in behaviour at KMPG as soon as possible. "I am shocked by the scale of this exam fraud and by the fact that this is playing out through all layers of the organisation," says AFM executive Hanzo van Beusekom. He says the scandal is damaging confidence in the accountancy sector. CEO of KPMG Stephanie Hottenhuis said she was also hugely shocked by the findings. "It is unacceptable that this has happened," she said. The company says it is investigating the cause of the problem and taking decisive action.
Other punitive measures
An unknown number of those involved in the exam fraud have been given sanctions. This may include, for example, a "firm interview", explains a KMPG spokesperson. The level of punishment depends on the employee's position and how involved the person was in the exchange of answers. Most of the group of employees received unsolicited answers, the spokesperson states. This was done by e-mail, for example. "If you get something like that then you should report it, but not all people did that," he says.
Cybersecurity and integrity
The investigation reviewed all tests taken by KPMG staff. These include exams on issues such as cyber security and integrity. These are mandatory tests. It varies by function how many exams there are, sometimes several per year. The examination was carried out by KPMG's forensic investigation arm. An external consultant has been appointed to monitor the process, the group writes. The investigation had been initiated following, among other things, a report from an internal whistleblower. Contact with regulators and reports of similar fraud at other audit firms abroad also prompted the forensic investigation.
Source: https://nos.nl/artikel/2482826-ontslagen-bij-kpmg-om-toetsfraude-commissaris-van-boxtel-stapt-op
Safety of police and citizens at risk due to problems with communication system
The safety of police officers and civilians is at risk due to problems with the C2000 communication system. In doing so, the police are breaking the law, the Dutch Labour Inspectorate confirms to NU.nl following reports by NOS.
C2000 is a closed communication network intended for the emergency services. Besides the police, fire brigades and ambulance workers also use the system. The system has been struggling with problems for years. Last year, for instance, it malfunctioned during a police chase in Rijsbergen. More recently, the system was down because of a malfunction, which prevented emergency services from communicating properly. The problems in Rijsbergen would have contributed to police unions filing a complaint with the Labour Inspectorate. The latter subsequently started the investigation.
System has 'basically' no coverage in buildings
The Labour Inspectorate's investigation, which NOS has in its hands, shows that C2000 has no coverage in buildings "in principle". In addition, there are 107 problem areas where the network works inadequately. According to the Labour Inspectorate, in "certain areas in the Netherlands, no communication with the C2000 system is possible by police employees". In doing so, the inspectorate stresses that communication between control rooms and police officers during a crisis situation "is necessary to do the job safely". The safety of citizens and officers is at stake in such situations due to the problems with C2000, the Labour Inspectorate concludes. Police do not know why communication system faltered during manhunt Rijsbergen
Improper network use also a problem
In addition, the study shows that overloading is lurking when the C2000 network is frequently used in crisis situations. Incorrect use by officers can also cause this. Officers in training receive training in the use of the system. But then too little information and instruction takes place in several police regions "to keep knowledge and skills at an acceptable level and thus meet the requirements of a vital, critical communication facility", the Labour Inspectorate concludes. The inspectorate judges that both the poor functioning of the system and the inadequate training of officers causes the police to violate the Working Conditions Act.
Police cannot object
The police cannot object to the inspection's conclusion. However, it does have two weeks to submit a so-called view to the Labour Inspectorate. After that, the inspectorate's opinion will become final. Until then, the Labour Inspectorate cannot say anything about it, a spokesperson said. The problems with the network must then improve within six months. According to the inspectorate, this can only be done by installing additional transmission masts. In addition, the police have three months to brush up officers on the use of C2000.
Police: 'C2000 works in 97 per cent of cases'
Police union ACP reacted happily to NOS. "For us, this is formal confirmation that there are serious problems with C2000, something we have been warning about for years," says Ramon Meijerink, ACP union adviser. "The police must now work very seriously and with appropriate urgency to improve C2000." The police force management said in a response that the police "do not depend" on C2000 for security. "It is a means of communication, no more and no less," a spokesperson told NOS. "C2000 works in 97 per cent of cases. With that, it meets the requirements set for the system, but understandably not the expectations of colleagues."
Source: https://www.nu.nl/binnenland/6274154/veiligheid-politie-en-burgers-in-gevaar-door-problemen-met-communicatiesysteem.html
Translated from Dutch to English with Google translate