. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/NLD/49
27 August 1999
(99-3557)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  THE NETHERLANDS
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where
applicable).  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or
practicable:  Animal feed
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Amendment V to the Animal Feed
Decree on GMP standards within the animal feed sector 1997.
5. Description of content: .  Animal feed companies may gain voluntary recognition on the
basis of the Animal Feed Ordinance on the GMP Recognition Regulation within the animalfeed sector 1992 and are then required to meet additional quality requirements.  The Animal
Feed Decree on GMP standards within the animal feed sector 1997 contains the quality
standards products included within the framework of GMP.  The said decree contains the
clause that, in accordance with Decision 96/449/E, GMP-recognized compound feed and
premix manufacturers may only collect animal proteins from mammals which haveundergone special treatment (133 degrees C, 20 minutes, 3 bar).  The present amendment to
the decree relaxes this clause as far as pet-food manufacturers are concerned.  Subject to
conditions, GMP-recognized preparers of pet foods may collect animal proteins (from
mammals) which have not undergone the treatment of 133 decrees C, 20 minutes and
3 bars.  The conditions pertain to keeping separate heated and non-heated proteins for the
entire course of the manufacturing process in the compound feed company and not using
non-heating proteins on production lines on which feeds for ruminants are produced.  TheDecree also contains requirements regarding proteins originating from mammals for the
purpose of GMP-recognized storage and transhipment companies.  The requirement
included in the decree that these companies mu st feature on the list of known processing
companies of low and high-risk materials has been dropped.  Proof that the animal proteins
intended for processing in ruminant feeds have been used in accordance with Europeanregulations must be submitted by means of documents required by Decision 97/735/EC.
6. Objective and rationale: [   ] food safety,  [  X ] animal health,  [     ] plant protection,
[    ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease,
[    ] protect territory from other damage from pests           
The Animal Feed decree on GMP standards within the animal feed sector 1997 prescribes,
in addition to the requirements pursuant to the relevant European legislation requirements to
be met by animal-feed preparers and traders affiliated to the GMP with regard to thehandling of animal proteins.  The aim of these regulations is to prevent the spreading of
BSE pathogens in feeds intended for ruminants.  Meanwhile, a relaxation of additional
requirements has proved possible.  This is the purpose of the present decree.G/SPS/N/NLD/49
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7. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:           
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:
- Animal Feed Ordinance on the GMP Recognition Regulation within the animal feed 
sector 1992 with amendments I to IV
- Industrial Organization Act- Ordinance establishing arable marketing boards
- The Animal Feed Decree on GMP standards within the animal feed sector 1997
9. Proposed date of adoption:  17 June 1999
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  17 June 1999
11. Final date for comments:
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [     ] National notification
authority, [  X ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:           
12. Texts available from: [     ] National notification authority, [  X ] National enquiry point
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: