Draft legislation aimed at placing further restrictions on hunting will increase bureaucracy and needs to be made much simpler, according to MPs from the two ruling parties, broadcaster Nos reports on Monday.

Junior economic affairs minister Sharon Dijksma had drawn up new rules which would require hunters to prove there are too many hares, rabbits, pheasants, wild ducks and wood pigeons before they are allowed to shoot. In addition, they would have to say in advance how many animals they planned to kill.

The MPs want to amend the minister’s plans so that hunters would not have to prove a cull is necessary or how many animals they plan to shoot. In addition, environmental and animal protection groups would be given input into the plans for hunting in a given area.

‘In the proposal as it now stands, there would be a lot of extra rules and hunters would be bogged down at their desks with paperwork,’ VVD MP Rudmer Heerema is quoted as saying.

‘We believe hunters should serve the natural environment,’ said Labour MP Henk Leenders. ‘Our proposal puts controls on hunting and gives environmental organisations the right of input into hunting plans.’

Total ban

Meanwhile, the animal rights party PvdD has submitted its own draft legislation which would ban hunting for pleasure altogether. ‘It is not appropriate to kill animals when it is not necessary,’ says party leader Marianne Thieme.

The PVV, Socialists and GroenLink favour a total ban.

Last week a large number of leading Dutch chefs wrote to parliament urging it to resist either banning hunting or increasing bureaucracy for hunters. This, they said, would force them to buy game such as hare and duck abroad.

MPs are due to debate hunting later on Monday.