. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/Notif.00/80
15 February 2000
(00-0579)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade
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:   Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment
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):   Stations for regulating
gas pressure and measuring stations, combined heat and power installations with a
maximum power of up to 7500 kw, fuel burning  equipment with a maximum power of 2500
kw, telecommunications buildings, wind turbines with a maximum power of 20 MW,
draining machines and sewer draining machines, facilities for the extraction, purification
and storage of water, soil and ground water purification installations, facilities for thestorage of propane and fireworks.
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Draft Decree
Containing Rules for Facilities and Installa tions (Decree on Facilities and Installations
under Environmental Management).
6. Description of content:   The general rules relate to pollution caused by noise and
vibrations, energy consumption, waste materi als and waste water, emissions into the
atmosphere, pollution caused by lighting, safety and protecting the soil.  These rules resultin the obligation to obtain a licence for these facilities laid down in Article 8.1 of the
Environmental Management Act, being abolished (in part).
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:   It
is the intention of the Decree to lay down rules effecting the greatest possible protection of
the environment against all the possible harmful consequences posed by these facilities. An
investigation based on this shows that the environmental licence is seen to be an overlyharsh instrument for certain branches of industry that cause environmental pollution of a
more limited, generally local nature.  The burden on both industry and the government in
these cases is disproportional.  With this Decree a concession is made to the businesscommunity's request that this be provided for in general rules.
8. Relevant documents:   Chapter 8, heading 8.2 of the Environmental Management Act
already sent in notification no. 98/0271/NL, among other things.G/TBT/Notif.00/80
Page 2
9. Proposed date of adoption:
Proposed date of entry into force: }1 October 2000
10. Final date for comments:   1 October 2000
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ X] or address, e-mail and telefax
number of the other body:           