WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/Notif.99.55
11 February 1999
(99-0552)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade
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: Commodity Board for Soft Drinks and Waters
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):  Soft drinks and waters
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Second Amendment to
the Implementation Decree on Deposits for Soft Drinks and Waters 1998
6. Description of content:  The Implementation Decree on Deposits for Soft Drinks and Waters
1998 renders the charging of deposits for glass and plastic bottles compulsory. This
therefore also applies to single-use glass bottles.  The "Second Amendment to the
Implementation Decree on Deposits for Soft Drinks and Waters 1998" aims to drop the
obligation to charge deposits for single-use glass bottles.
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable:  The
Amendment to the Implementation Decree repeals the obligation to charge deposits for
single-use glass bottles used for soft drinks and waters.  In fact, such an obligation has notapplied for a long time, although, by law, the deposit obligation still applies to single-use
glass bottles.  However, should they so request, manufacturers, importers or wholesalers
may be granted exemptions from this obligation without any verification, based on the
provisions contained in the "Delegation Decr ee on Exemptions Regarding Single-Use Glass
Bottles 1998" (notified under G/TBT/Notif.97.41).  On account of the present Amendmentto the Implementation Decree, companies no longer need to apply for exemptions from
charging deposits for single-use glass bottles, since the obligation to charge deposits will be
repealed when this Decree enters into effect.
8. Relevant documents:
- Industrial Organization Act;
- Establishment Regulation;
- Deposit Regulation from the Soft Drinks and Waters Commodity Board;- Implementation Decree on Deposits for Soft Drinks and Waters 1997.
9. Proposed date of adoption:  22 June 1999
Proposed date of entry into force:  5 July 1999          
10. Final date for comments:  7 April 1999
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ X ] or address, e-mail and telefax number of
the other body:           