German farmer's struggle with absurd red tape over a hand truck and feathers
A farmer in Lower Saxony, Germany, has highlighted the heavy bureaucratic demands placed on agricultural workers. Among the requirements, she must keep detailed records for everyday tasks—including logging the use of a simple hand truck on her own land.
The farmer's hand truck, used only to move goose feathers around her property, technically falls under strict regulations. These include obtaining a certificate for handling slaughterhouse waste and registering a transport and freight number. Even basic tools like a chainsaw require a certificate of competence, regardless of whether they are used for personal or professional tasks.
Fertiliser management adds another layer of paperwork. She must maintain records and submit them to six separate institutions. Field and grassland management is equally complex, with different agencies requiring their own control apps—none of which are compatible. Despite her calls for reducing red tape, no progress has been made since discussions began following Paul Ronzheimer's widely shared article on the issue. Recent searches on the topic instead bring up unrelated subjects, such as AI governance and financial reports.
The farmer's situation reflects broader challenges in German agriculture, where routine tasks demand extensive documentation. Without changes, the burden of multiple apps, certificates, and logbooks will remain. Officials have yet to address the issue directly or propose solutions.
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