. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/N/NLD/41
26 February 2002
(02-0956)
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:   Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment.
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):   Waste substances
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   National waste
management plan 2002-2012.
6. Description of content:   In the National Waste Management Plan, the policy for waste
management for the period 2002-2012 is outlined, with an idea of what we can expect in2012.
The plan is the frame of reference for decisions regarding waste, such as licensing. Only
motivated departures from the above are permitted.Section 1 of the plan is the policy framework which does not contain any technical
regulations.
However, the policy framework does indicate the difference between disposal andrecovery.  Section 2 of the plan (the sector plans) contains the general policy framework for
specific (categories of) waste.  The sector plans contain minimum standards for processing
waste.  The minimum standards constitute specific technical regulations.  After all, thestandard indicates the minimum high quality of treatment/processing of a certain waste or
category of waste.  The following aspects were  taken into consideration when the minimum
standards were laid down:  environmental effects, expenses, viability, implementability,implications for import and export, the practicality and effectiveness when granting licences
and the incentive it creates for the waste-processing sector to increase the environmental
yield of waste processing and the developm ent of new techniques.  The environmental
effects have, for a number of waste substances, been described in an environmental report.
Chapter 10 of Section 1 of the plan includes an extensive explanatory note to the minimum
standards.  Prior to the National Waste Management Plan, minimum standards had been laiddown for processing hazardous waste (Long -term plan on hazardous waste II 1997-2007.
When the draft National Waste Management Plan was composed, the minimum standards
included in the Long-term plan on hazardous waste II were reviewed and standard were alsolaid down for non-hazardous waste.G/TBT/N/NLD/41
Page 2
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
The plan aims to protect the environment.  The minimum standards which are laid down in
the draft National Waste Management Plan indicate what the minimum high quality of
treating/processing a certain waste or category of waste is.  The standards are intended toprevent waste from being treated/processed at a lower level than desirable.  They thus
specify the order of preference of waste management for particular waste substances and are
as much as possible formulated as target regulations.  The minimum standards are notincluded in a generally binding regulation.  They serve as a point of reference when
granting licences. Consequently, a mutual  recognition clause has not been included.
8. Relevant documents:   Chapter 10 (Waste) of the Environmental Management Act.  This
includes in Article 10.3 the obligation on the part of the Minister for Housing, Spatial
Planning and the Environment to draft a National Waste Management Plan.
9. Proposed date of adoption:  1 May 2002
Proposed date of entry into force:  1 June 2002
10. Final date for comments:   26 April 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:           