THE NETHERLANDS: ORDER AMENDING THE ORDER ON QUALITY AND USE OF OTHER ORGANIC FERTILIZERS The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6. G/TBT/Notif.97.237. 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 Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries. Agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification can be indicated if different from above: National Enquire Point. 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): The Order on quality and use of other organic fertilizers relates to the quality and the use of sewage sludge, compost and black soil or a combination of one of these substances with animal fertilizer. 5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Order Amending the Order on Quality and Use of Other Organic Fertilizers (12 pages in Dutch and English). 6. Description of content: The Order on quality and use of other organic fertilizers contains rules which promote the appropriateness of sewage sludge, compost and black soil for the objective for which these substances are intended (quality requirements). This Order also contains rules to protect the soil when these fertilizers, as well as a combination of one or more of these fertilizers with animal fertilizer, are used. The obligation to use these fertilizers only when the methods described in Appendix V are applied falls within this scope. The latter implies that animal fertilizer has to be applied using equipment which ensures the required outcome. The quality requirements are based on the Fertilizer Act, while the application provisions draw on the Soil Protection Act. 7. Objective and rationale: It is our aim to protect the environment. This is why both quality requirements for sewage sludge, compost, black soil and application requirements for these substances and a combination of one or more of these fertilizers with animal fertilizer have been drafted. The obligation to use these substances as described in Appendix V to the Order has been included in the interest of soil protection. The purpose of the Order is to implement EC Directive No. 86/278/EEC of 12 June 1986, on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture (OJEC L 181). It also implements EC Council Directive No. 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991, concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources (OJEC I 375). 8. Relevant documents: Articles 2, first paragraph, 6, 19 and 22 of the Fertilizer Act and Articles 6, 7, 15 and 66 of the Soil Protection Act. 9. Proposed date of adoption: 1 August 1997; Proposed date of entry into force: 1 August 1997. 10. Final date for comments: 31 July 1997. 11. Text available from: National enquiry point. (0161)

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