./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/N/BEL/17
26 July 2001
(01-3726)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:  French
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   BELGIUM
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):
2. Agency responsible:
Ministry of the Interior
Rue Royale 66B-1000 Brussels
Tel.:  +32 2 500-2252
Fax:  +32 2 500-2119
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers and E-mail and Web site
addresses, if available) of the agency or  authority designated to handle comments
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:
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):   Coffins and shrouds
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Preliminary Draft
Royal Decree Implementing Article 12(2) and (4) of the Law of 20 July 1971 on Cemeteries
and Disposal of the Dead
6. Description of content:   This proposal sets out the regulations for coffins and shrouds.
Coffins should be made of wood or another material that does not prevent either the
normal, natural decomposition of the corpse or cremation.  The use of cardboard coffins is
prohibited.
The use of plastics or metal for the handles, ornamentation and elements involved
in the construction of the coffin, such as nails, screws, staples, fasteners and watertightmetal joints, is authorized.
Inner boxes made of zinc, lead or plastic are authorized in the cases provided for in
international treaties and ratified by the Legislator.
Coffin upholstery should be made exclusively from natural, biodegradable
materials.
Shrouds should also be made exclusively from natural, biodegradable materials.G/TBT/N/BEL/17
Page 2
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
Article 12 of the Act of 20 July 1971 on cemeteries and undertaking services,
amended by the Act of 20 September 1998, makes provision, in cases stipulated by the
Crown, for authorization to be granted for a corp se to be embalmed before being placed in a
coffin.  The Crown also has the authority under th is provision to define the conditions to be
met by coffins and shrouds.
The aim of this draft Royal Decree is to implement this provision.
8. Relevant documents:
9. Proposed date of adoption:
Proposed date of entry into force: }60 days
10. Final date for comments:
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [  X ] or address, telephone and fax
numbers and E-mail and Web site addresses, if available, of another body:
CIBELNOR