WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/NLD/42
27 August 1999
(99-3550)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  THE NETHERLANDS
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  Industrial Board Poultry Trade and Industry
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where
applicable).  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or
practicable:  Fresh poultry meat.
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Decree implementing the taking of
specimens from the scruff of the neck 1999.
5. Description of content:  The measures for industrially processing poultry have been further
detailed in the ordinance referred to under point 8.  The latter specifies, inter alia , that the
status regarding the presence of the said micro-organisms is known of all batches of poultry.
This is vital in order to prevent cross-infection.  The decree implementing the taking of
specimens from the scruff of the neck 1999 contains regulations for taking specimens from
the scruff of the neck in order to establish the bacterial infection level of poultry following
slaughter.
6. Objective and rationale: [  X ] food safety,  [     ] animal health,  [     ] plant protection,
[    ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease,
[    ] protect territory from other damage from pests           
7. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:           
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Ordinance on
hygiene regulations within the poultry-processing industry 1997 (BPI).
9. Proposed date of adoption:  6 October 1999
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  1 November 1999
11. Final date for comments:  6 October 1999
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [     ] National notification
authority, [  X ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:           
12. Texts available from: [     ] National notification authority, [  X ] National enquiry point
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:           