. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/NLD/39
11 February 1999
(99-0532)
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:   Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports
3. Products covered (tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules deposited
with the WTO.  ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):   Various
foodstuffs, such as fish, dairy products, cereals, potatoes, vegetables, fruit, organs and meat,
eggs, crustaceans, shellfish and mollusc, and protein products
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:   Draft Commodities Act Regulation
on contaminants in foodstuffs
5. Description of content:   This draft Regulation does not contain any new material
standards.  It combines the five existing Commodities Act Regulations on contaminants in
foodstuffs in a new blanket regulation.  This covers:  dioxins in milk, the nitrate content invegetables, PCB standards, radio-activity of caesium in food and drinks, and heavy metal
standards.  In addition, the draft penalises any actions contrary to (EC) Regulation 194/97.
6. Objective and rationale: The draft has been compiled to promote transparency in
legislation.
7. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [ X ].
If an international standard, guideline or  recommendation exists, whenever possible,
identify deviations:   -
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Commodities Act
Regulation on dioxin in milk, Commodities Act Regulation on the nitrate content in
vegetables, Commodities Act Regulation on PCB standards, Commodities Act Regulation
on standards regarding radio-activity of caesium in food and drinks and Commodities ActRegulation on heavy metal standards.
9. Proposed date of adoption:  31 March 1999
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  1 April 1999G/SPS/N/NLD/39
Page 2
11. Final date for comments:  29 March 1999
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:   National Contact point – EC SPS
Enquiry point
12. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [  X ] or address, telefax number and
E-mail address (if available) of other body:            