Agricultural
Law
The Institute for Agricultural Law, founded in 1993, has the objective "to stimulate
the practising of agricultural law in a broad sense". Agricultural law is of
great importance, to agricultural enterprises as well as to related companies
such as service providers in this area, and to the government, as well. If agricultural
law is seen in a broad perspective - as is done by the Institute - the field
contains a cross-section of public and private law. To name some subjects: land
use law (tenancy, ownership), land use planning, nature protection, market law
(production quota) environmental law (manure, emission), water law, animal welfare
law, product-quality law. The promotion of knowledge and development in all
these fields of the law is a responsibility shared by the Board, the Council
of Scholars and the office of the Institute for Agricultural Law.
What does the Institute actually have to offer?
Science
The Institute for Agricultural Law is a scientific institute. This means that the products of the Institute must meet high requirements. Research results have to fulfil scientific needs, as is the case for the publications of the Institute. It is not only the so-called 'pure science' that is our concern, but the application of law in practice as well. This means: research has, if necessary, a practical application, publications serve in the first place those who have to work with them in practice.
Education
In agriculture and therefore also in agricultural law, it is important to keep
well-informed. Legal developments are fast: European regulations, national laws,
court law, doctrine, everything changes at high speed. To maintain the quality
of legal work and even improve it, permanent education is necessary. The Institute
fulfils that need by organising conferences and courses, mostly about actual
developments in law and court decisions, but the Institute also organises a
'Basic course in agricultural law'. Often a course is offered 'in company'.
A course can be made to order for individual organisations. Thus, courses were
organised on the subjects: production quota in agriculture, manure regulations
and agricultural tenancy. Your organisation can also hire our professional quality
in developing and organising courses and workshops. The stimulation of academic
education is one of the tasks of the Institute as well. At the Nijmegen University
a chair for agricultural law is supported by the Institute.
Research
The Institute does scientific research on the basis of our own research programme.
Besides, research is carried out for third parties. These projects vary from
merely offering advice, for example in judicial procedures, to comprehensive
research projects. Our commissioners are: the government (municipalities, provinces,
state, European Union), Law Firms, real estate agents, companies and interest
organisations. The subjects vary widely: from land development to European Law,
from expropriation to animal welfare, from green laws to product quality law.
If the Institute itself cannot provide the necessary expertise, we can rely
on a vast network of national en international experts. Your organisation, too,
can find an answer to legal questions at the Institute for Agricultural Law.
Publications
The Institute is responsible for distributing knowledge of agricultural law
by providing all kinds of publications. The Institute edits the 'Agricultural
Law Review'. The Institute publishes a series of academic thesis, a series 'Reports
and Essays', and the Institute produces syllabi for courses, that are available
to the public. Those who want actual agricultural law news on their desks immediately,
can subscribe to the weekly electronic newsletter of the Institute, for information
about new acts and literature. If necessary, full text documents are sent by
fax or e-mail. Furthermore, the Institute participates in several journals,
books and law text books of other publishers.
Documentation
Good
information, for the Institute as well as for the relations of the Institute,
depends on the availability of all kinds of legal sources. One of the main tasks
of the Institute is therefore the development and the maintenance of an agricultural
law documentation centre. In the collection of the Institute you will find laws,
reviews from home and abroad, books, reports, case law books, etc. In the documentation
centre the answer to all questions can be found, that is: if it has ever been
written about. Are you in search of a certain book or do you want to know something
about a certain subject, we can provide the literature, or advise you on the
subject.
Procedures
The Institute for Agricultural Law does not receive subventions. Income is gained
from producing high quality products for commissioners, in the form of a course,
a publication or a research project. We consider working in commission a challenge:
a good product for a reasonable price.
Co-operation
The Institute for Agricultural Law co-operates with a large number of institutions
on education or research, such as universities and research institutes. There
is also a close co-operation with the Dutch Agricultural Law Society. The Institute
is a member of the European Society for Agricultural Law.
Organization
The Institute is established in Wageningen. Director is prof. D.W. Bruil
LL M
Board of supervision
prof. M.J.A. van Mourik LL M. (chairman)
prof. R.C.J. Galle LL M.
E.R. Kleijwegt LL M.
prof. B.M.J. van der Meulen LL M.
C. van Schaik LL M.m.
T.H.M. Schijf LL M.
Editorial
staff :
prof. G.M.F. Snijders LL M. (chairman)
W.H.G.A. Filott LL M.
prof. A.A. Freriks LL M.
E.H.M. Harbers LL M.
J.A.G. Jansen LL M.
W.L. Valk LL M.
Address
Institute for Agricultural Law
Postbox 245
6700 AE Wageningen
tel. 0317 424181
fax 0317 424313
email: info@iar.nl