NETHERLANDS: PACKAGING MATERIAL REGULATION The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6. G/TBT/Notif.96.241. 1. Member to Agreement notifying: 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 can be indicated if different from above: 3. Notified under Article 2.9.2. 4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): Packaging material. 5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Regulation on Packaging and Packaging Waste (31 pages). 6. Description of content: This Regulation addresses Dutch manufacturers and importers who place packaged products on the Dutch market. They need to ensure that 45 per cent of the materials is recycled (15 per cent for each material) and 65 per cent of the packaging is recovered, as from 1998 but no later than the year 2000. In addition, they need to take measures to reduce packaging in terms of quantity and improve its quality. No specific goals are prescribed for this. Every five years a notification is to be sent to the Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, detailing the planned measures and every three years a report is to be issued on the progress made. This report will also be accompanied by the monitoring data required by Directive 94/62/EC. Other obligations contained in Directive 94/62/EC, such as those relating to heavy metals, logos and other essential requirements shall also be adopted in full in the regulation and imposed on the industry concerned. When meeting its obligations, it is important for the industry to have the choice of cooperation based on a covenant whereby the government is also involved, or implementing the obligations individually. 7. Objective and rationale: Protection of the environment. 8. Relevant documents: The Regulation is based on the Environmental Management Act. 9. Proposed date of adoption: Proposed date of entry into force: 1 October 1996. 10. Final date for comments: 18 September 1996. (267)

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