WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/N/NLD/50
3 September 2002
(02-4671)
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:   Productschap Dranken, Commissie Bier
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):  Refillable bottles and
refillable beer crates.
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Draft regulation on
the handling of extra returnable packaging.
6. Description of content:   The objective of the draft regulation is to eliminate distortions in
the distribution of beer in returnable bottles and crates, which are a result of the collectionbehaviour on the part of consumers with regard  to empty bottles and crates. In addition, the
regulation aims to improve the sorting and handling of bottles and crates in the trade.
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
The deposit-money system, which has already been in use for many years, results in
unwanted disparities in the distribution of empty bottles and crates. For this purpose, theVBR1 system has been in existence for dozens of years now, whereby businesses receive
compensation for handling extra returnable packaging, namely the packaging which is
collected on top of the quantity sold.  Since the amounts are now being brought into linewith the increased costs, it is considered necessary for this system to be laid down in a
regulation in line with the Soft Drinks and Waters Committee, (previously the Soft Drinks
Commodity Board Notification G/TBT/96.129)
8. Relevant documents:   Industrial Organisation Act ; Regulation implementing the Beer
Committee, Beverages Marketing Board Decree of 6 May 2002, Bulletin of Acts andDecrees 2002, 264.
9. Proposed date of adoption:  Autumn 2002
Proposed date of entry into force:  Spring 2003
10. Final date for comments:   1 November 2002
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:           