MPs on Tuesday delayed a vote on legislation which would amend the law requiring large Dutch firms to change accountants every eight years, the Financieele Dagblad says on Wednesday.

The new law, which was passed in 2012, was due to come into effect in January 2016 and most firms have already switched auditors.

However, a report by law firm NautaDutilh in the FD on Tuesday said the Dutch laws conflict with European regulations which give companies more time to make the switch. The report concludes that Dutch firms have been compelled to take action to switch accountant too quickly.

The paper says finance minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem was aware of the conflict and had drawn up an amendment to the 2012 law. However, Christian Democrat MP Pieter Omzigt called for the vote to be delayed pending a full explanation from the minister.

Omzigt and other MPs say they want to know when the minister became aware the Dutch rules were not  in line with European legislation and why action was not taken sooner.

The Dutch rules also stop companies using the same accountant to control its books and provide advice. The aim of the change is to make accountants more independent in the wake of the financial crisis.