WORLD TRADE G/TBT/Notif.97.341/Add.1
31July1997
ORGANIZATION(97-3231)
Original: English Committee onTechnical Barriers toTrade
NOTIFICATION
Addendum
ThefollowingcommunicationbyNetherlandsisbeingcirculatedinaccordancewithArticle10.6.
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Thefollowing information should beattached tonotification G/TBT/Notif.97.341.
ANNEX
The1997 Weapons andAmmunition Regulation
Thepurpose ofthe1997 Weapons andAmmunition Regulation, based ontheWeapons and
Ammunition Act(which Act,justasthisRegulation, willbere-enacted afternotification) is,justas
isthatof,andinconjunction with, theActaforesaid, forreasons of(public) safety, tocontrol legal
possession ofweapons andtocombat illegal possession ofweapons. Tothateffect theActcontains
theprohibition tocarry, haveinpossession, transport, cause tobebrought in,carried out,orbein
transit, ortomanufacture, repair ormodify weapons andammunition. Inaddition, theActprovides
foranumber ofpossibilities forexception under which these prohibitions arenotapplicable tocertain
categories ofweapons andammunition under certain conditions. These areexemptions, dispensations,
licences, recognitions, andpermits. Thegrounds forexemption arecontained inthe1997 Weapons
andAmmunition Regulation hereunder consideration. InthisRegulation itislaiddown, interalia,
under whatconditions theprohibitions contained intheActarenotapplicable tospecial investigating
officers, andtosections ofthepublic services, anditprovides forthegranting ofexemptions forantique
weapons orweapons which areinoperative. Inaddition, theRegulation contains therestrictions under
which exemptions, recognitions, dispensations, permissions andpermits mustbegranted, aswellas
further conditions. TheRegulation imposes conditions, forexample, ontheholders ofarecognition
fortheuseofweapons intheirtrade orprofession, inrespect ofage,moral conduct, professional
competency, andsecurity ofthebusiness premises andequipment, anditcontains rulesinrespect of
thecompletion ofapplication andqualification documents andthekeeping ofaregister andthefurnishing
ofinformation. TheRegulation alsoprovides forthecompulsory taking ofmeasures toprevent injury
anddamage through theuseofcertain types ofweapons.
Inimplementation ofandsupplementary totheWeapons andAmmunition Act,thepresent
Regulation therefore contains further conditions imposed onholders and/or users of,anddealers in,
weapons andammunition. With these detailed requirements itisenvisaged thatproducts which by
./.G/TBT/Notif.97.341/Add.1
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theirnature areadanger (tolife), suchasweapons andammunition, mayonlyunder verystringent
conditions bemanufactured, usedandsold. Immediate enactment andcoming intoeffect isonlypossible
where urgent problems mentioned inparagraph 10ofArticle 2oftheAgreement onTechnical Barriers
toTrade exist. Only where urgent problems ofsafety, health, environmental protection ornational
security arise orthreaten toarise Members mayomitthesteps enumerated inparagraph 9.The
circumstances atpresent obtaining justify apleaofimmediate enactment. Especially forcitizens
uncertainty exists regarding theapplicability ofthepresent Weapons andAmmunition Regulation, after
thedecision oftheECCourt ofJustice incaseC-194/94 (ECR 1996, p.I-2201) inwhich theCourt
considered thelegal consequences ofthenot-notifying oftechnical requirements. It'snotclear to
whatextent thenational provisions formanufacturing, possession anduseofweapons andammunition
canbeapplied, andtherefore towhatextent thegovernment effectively cantakeaction against people
whoactinconflict withtheprovisions regarding weapons andammunition. Theriskattaching to
theexistence ofthisuncertainty areenormous, having regard totheconcomitant dangers inconnection
withpublichealthandsafety.Thereforeitisabsolutelyessentialthatthe1997WeaponsandAmmunition
Regulation isenacted andbecomes operative immediately.