WORLD TRADE G/TBT/Notif.97.376
29July1997
ORGANIZATION
(97-3190)
Committee onTechnical Barriers toTrade
NOTIFICATION
Thefollowing notification isbeing circulated inaccordance withArticle 10.6.
1. Member toAgreement notifying: NETHERLANDS
Ifapplicable, name oflocalgovernment involved (Articles 3.2and7.2):
2. Agency responsible: Ministry ofJustice
Agency orauthority designated tohandle comments regarding thenotification canbe
indicated ifdifferent from above: National Enquiry Point
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [],2.10.1 [X],5.6.2 [],5.7.1 [],other:
4. Products covered (HSorCCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading.
ICSnumbers maybeprovided inaddition, where applicable):
DNA Analysing Appliances
5. Title, number ofpages andlanguage(s) ofthenotified document:
The1997 DNA Tests Regulation
6. Description ofcontent:
TheDNA Tests Draft Regulation laysdown thespecifications inrespect ofthe
appliances usedforthetaking andcollecting ofblood samples within thescope of
DNA testing inthecaseofserious criminal offences.
7. Objective andrationale:
TheDraft Regulation contains uniform conditions inrespect ofDNA testing forthe
furnishing ofevidence incriminal cases.
Seealsoannex.
8. Relevant documents:
9. Proposed dateofadoption: 4July1997
Proposed dateofentry intoforce: 9July1997
10. Final dateforcomments: -
11. Texts available from: National enquiry point [X]oraddress andtelefax number ofother
body:
./.G/TBT/Notif.97.376
Page2
ANNEX
The1997 DNA Tests Regulation
Pursuant totheDNA Tests Decree, onwhich thepresent Regulation isbased, theMinister
ofJustice isrequired toimpose further rules fortheperformance ofDNA testsandthematerial to
beusedinsuchtests. TheDecree provides interaliathatablood sample ofatleastoneandnomore
thantenmillilitres must betaken. TheMinister isrequired tolaydown specifications inrespect of
theappliances tobeusedforthetaking andcollecting ofblood samples. TheMinister isfurther required
toissuefurther instructions regarding theidentification, dispatch andstorage ofblood samples, samples
oforalmucosaandofhairroots,andfurtherinstructionswithregardtothecollection,storage,packaging
anddispatch oftracematerials. Thesaidimplementing requirements areembodied inthe(annexes to)
thepresent 1997 DNA TestRegulation. They involve thedetermination ofmodels andtechnical
requirements, inrespect ofwhich notification isnecessary.
Thepurpose ofthepresent provisions istoprovide quality assurances inrespect ofthe
performance ofDNA tests. Itisofgreat importance thatDNA testsareperformed withcare, using
accurate andreliable appliances. Thestrict assurances which must betaken intoaccount inthe
preparation, performance andconclusion ofaDNA testrelate tothefollowing. DNA testing ispossible
onlywhere thereisasuspicion ofserious indecency orviolent offences, suchasgrievous bodily harm
andmanslaughter. Thetestresults canprovide conclusive evidence thatcannot beobtained byother
means. DNA material, because ofitsunique individual character, canbeusedasahighly reliable source
ofevidence incriminal cases.
Having regard tothenature ofthematter under consideration itis,forreasons ofsafety, of
urgent necessity thatthepresent Regulation bere-enacted andbecome operative immediately. Immediate
enactmentandcomingintoeffectisonlypossiblewhereurgentproblemsofsafety,health,environmental
protection ornational security ariseorthreaten toarise, mentioned inparagraph 10ofArticle 2of
theAgreement onTechnical Barriers toTrade. Thecircumstances atpresent obtaining justify aplea
ofimmediate enactment. Forcitizens uncertainty exists regarding theapplicability ofthepresent DNA
Tests Regulation, afterthedecision oftheECCourt ofJustice incaseC-194/94 (ECR-1996, p.I-2201),
inwhich theCourt considered thelegalconsequences ofthenot-notifying oftechnical requirements.
Anacute problem hasriseninrespect ofthegathering andfurnishing ofevidence inpending andfuture
criminal cases inwhich thesuspicion ofserious crimes isbrought up.Theexistence oflegaluncertainty
concerning theapplicability of(partof)thenational rules inrespect ofDNA testing, leads toserious
andunforeseeable situations relating topublic health andsafety. Having regard totheserious ofthe
offences inwhich DNA testsareusedforthefurnishing ofevidence, acautious approach isrequired;
anyuncertainty concerning thereliability oftheevidence soobtained mustberuled out.Thisisafield
inwhich noriskscanbetaken; immediate enactment ofthe1997 DNA Tests Regulation istherefore
ofurgent necessity.