. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/N/NLD/10
21 March 2001
(01-1373)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   THE NETHERLANDS
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):           
2. Agency responsible:   Commodity Board for Soft Drinks and Waters
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and web-site
addresses, if available) of  agency or authority designated to handle comments
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   National Enquiry
Point – EC WTO TBT Enquiry Point
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ X], 2.10.1 [    ], 5.6.2 [    ], 5.7.1 [    ], other:           
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading.
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):   Soft drinks and waters
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Fourth Amendment to
the Implementing Decree on Deposits on Soft Drinks and Waters 1997
6. Description of content:   Under the present amendment to the Regulation on Deposits on
Soft Drinks and Waters in the Netherlands, the deposit will be aligned in November 2001with deposits applicable in the surrounding Memb er States in such a way as to realise the
best possible level of harmonisation.  The amendment also provides for the transition in the
currency of the deposit from guilders to euros as of 1 January 2002.
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
The Dutch authorities are of the opinion that, within the framework of the transition from
national currencies to euros, it is preferable to move towards the best possible level of
harmonisation of deposits within Europe. This certainly applies to Member States bordering
onto one another, such as the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. Although the presentamendment to the Deposit Regulation will presumably not lead to full harmonisation of
deposits, the differences will be minimised such that it will become unattractive for
companies and individuals to return in one country empty bottles purchased in another witha view to recouping a substantially higher deposit. In conclusion, it should be noted that the
previously applicable obligation to state the amount of the deposit on the label shall
re-enter into effect as of 1 March 2002. This obligation has been temporarily withdrawn toallow for a smooth transition to euros.
8. Relevant documents:
- Industrial Organisation Act
- Order Establishing the Commodity Board for Soft Drinks and WatersG/TBT/N/NLD/10
Page 2
- Order on Deposits on Soft Drinks and Waters 1997
9. Proposed date of adoption:  26 June 2001
Proposed date of entry into force:  1 September 2001
10. Final date for comments:   5 June 2001
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ X] or address, telephone and fax
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses, if available of the other body:           