NETHERLANDS: PROPOSAL FOR A DECREE GOVERNING THE ENACTMENT OF THE COMMODITY ACT DECREE ON PENTACHLOROPHENOL IN NON-FOODS The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6. G/TBT/Notif.97.199. 1. Member to Agreement notifying: NETHERLANDS. If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2). 2. Agency responsible: Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports. 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): Non-foods containing pentachlorophenol. 5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Proposal for a Decree Governing the Enactment of the Commodity Act Decree on Pentachlorophenol in Non-Foods, 4 pages in English. 6. Description of content: The Decree provides for a ban on the trade in or import into the Dutch territory of non-foods containing pentachlorophenol. 7. Objective and rationale: PCP and compounds thereof harmful to humans and the environment. PCP is contaminated with dioxins and dioxins are released when non-foods containing PCP are incinerated completely. Also, usage of non-foods treated with PCP constitutes a considerable risk to public health. PCP is accumulated in fat tissue and is hence absorbed into the food chain. Esters and salts break down into PCP in the environment. This is why they are treated the same. The present Decree aims to protect public health interests as well as possible, by banning non-foods containing PCPs. 8. Relevant documents: Commodity Act. 9. Proposed date of adoption: Not relevant; Proposed date of entry into force: The day after the publication of the Decree in the Bulletin of acts and decrees of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. 10. Final date for comments: 2 July 1997. 11. Text available from: National enquiry point. (0147)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0413 19970529\FO-0002)