. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/N/NLD/55
10 October 2002
(02-5471)
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 Economic Affairs
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):
The Mining Regulation pertains to various products, including:
- helidecks (Chapter 4), provided with certain equipment and materials, such as an anti-skid
net (Article 4.4.2), lighting (Article 4.4.4), a sa fety net (Article 4.4.5), a wind bag (Article
4.4.6), meteorological equipment (Article 4.4.7), fire-fighting equipment and equipment forrescue activities (Paragraphs 4.6 en 4.7);
- identifying marks, noise beacons and light beacons (Chapter 5);
- communications equipment (Chapter 6, Paragraph 6.2);
- meteorological equipment (Chapter 6, Paragraph 6.3);
- closing devices and other equipment accompanying boreholes (Chapter 8, section 8.3to 8.5);
- piping (Chapter 10).
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   The Mining
Regulation          
6. Description of content:  The Mining Regulation further details the Mining Act and the
Mining Decree. The Mining Regulation contains, inter alia, rules with regard to exploratory
analyses involving the use of explosive substances (Chapter 2), the design of helidecks on
mining installations (Chapter 4), the way in which a mining installation must be
recognisable and must be lit (Chapter 5), and the necessary means of communication andmeteorological equipment (Chapter 6). Chapter 7 indicates the way in which a mining
installation is to be inspected for technical integrity, while Chapter 8 contains regulations
with regard to boreholes and wells (e.g. reports, installation, use and repair). Chapter 9
regulates for oil mixtures to implement OSPAR decisions (based on the OSPAR agreement
of 22 September 1992). Finally, standards are prescribed for piping (Chapter 10).G/TBT/N/NLD/55
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7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
Insofar as the standards or requirements under point 6 contain quantitative import
restrictions or measures of equal effect within the meaning of the TBT-Agreement with
regard to products, these are justified by the interest of the protection of the environment
and the safety of particularly shipping, aviation and fishing. Indeed, mining is a dangeroussector of industry, in which requirements with regard to the safety of the products to be used
are necessary.
8. Relevant documents:  Mining Act; Mining Decree; various standards, whose location is
included in the relevant article;
DIN 4150 (in Article 2.2.4, Paragraph 2); ii. International Civil Aviation Treaty (Article 4.4.4,
Paragraph 4); iii. NEN 6675 (Article 9.1); iv. NEN 3650 and API specification 17j (Article10.1 and 10.2).
9. Proposed date of adoption :    5 December 2002
Proposed date of entry into force:   1 January 2003        
  
10. Final date for comments:   2 December 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:           