. /. WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/TBT/N/SWE/38 
15 June 2004 
 (04-2592) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:  English 
   
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circ ulated in accordance with Article 10.6. 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   SWEDEN 
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):         
2. Agency responsible:   Ministry of the Environment 
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and web-site 
addresses, if available) of  agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:  
Kommerskollegium (National Board of Trade) 
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 app licable, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in  addition, where applicable):   Metal and plastic 
containers 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Proposal for an 
ordinance concerning a new deposit and return system, (3 pages, in Swedish) 
6. Description of content:   According to the proposed ordinance, a revised deposit and return 
system for plastic and metal beverage contai ners will be introduced in Sweden.  The 
ordinance requires that anyone who commercia lly bottles beverage into plastic or metal 
containers must ensure that the containers are included in an approved deposit and return 
system.  A deposit and return system should only be approved if the applicant shows that the operator of the system disposes of the human, financial and technical resources that are required to make the system acceptable both from an environmental and consumer 
perspective.  Containers should be labele d with information concerning the approved 
deposit and return system.  Commercial sale of containers that are not included in the 
deposit and return system will be prohibited. 
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:  
The purpose of the proposal is to reduce litteri ng and increase recycling of metal and plastic 
containers.  Additionally, by creating a deposit and return system that includes all plastic- 
and metal containers, and not only aluminum and certain plastic containers as is stipulated 
today, the proposed ordinance ensures equal market conditions for beverage containers 
made of equivalent materials.  
Today it is difficult for consumers to tell the difference between steel plate beverage 
containers which are not included in the exis ting deposit and return system and aluminum 
beverage containers which are.  It can be fru strating to return a number of containers and 
only receive a deposit for some of them.  Th is can lead to a situation which create 
credibility problems for the deposit and return  system as a whole.  The purpose of the G/TBT/N/SWE/38 
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proposal is also to ensure continuous credibilit y for the system by ensuring that equivalent 
beverage containers are included in the deposit and return system irrespective of packaging 
material. 
8. Relevant documents:         
9. Proposed date of adoption:  30 September 2004 
Proposed date of entry into force:  15 November 2004 
10. Final date for comments:   15 August 2004 
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ X] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses, if available of the other body: