The cabinet does not support any further industrialisation of livestock farming, junior economic affairs minister Sharon Dijksma told MPs on Wednesday.

The minister was speaking during a debate on plans to develop a factory farm in Limburg combining one million chickens and 35,000 pigs with a slaughterhouse. Dijksma refused to comment directly on the Grubbenvorst plans because the Council of State still has to rule on the development.

A majority of MPs do not back the development of such enormous factory farms. Nevertheless, Dijksma said it is ‘not that simple’ to resist further industrialisation because local and provincial councils have a major role to play in the decision-making process, news agency ANP reports.

Dijksma said she is working on draft legislation which will prevent the development of massive farms if health could be at risk.