WORLD TRADE G/TBT/Notif.97.342/Add.1
31July1997
ORGANIZATION(97-3232)
Original: English Committee onTechnical Barriers toTrade
NOTIFICATION
Addendum
ThefollowingcommunicationbyNetherlandsisbeingcirculatedinaccordancewithArticle10.6.
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Thefollowing information should beattached tonotification G/TBT/Notif.97.342.
ANNEX
The1997 Weapons andAmmunition Act
Thepurpose ofthe1997 Weapons andAmmunition Actis,forreasons of(public) safety, to
control legalpossession ofweapons andtocombat illegal possession ofweapons. Tothateffect the
Actcontains theprohibition tocarry, haveinpossession, transport, cause tobebrought in,carried
out,orbeintransit, ortomanufacture, repair ormodify weapons andammunition. Inaddition the
Actprovides foranumber ofpossibilities forexception under which theseprohibitions arenotapplicable
tocertain categories ofweapons andammunition under certain conditions. These areexemptions,
dispensations, licences, recognitions, andpermits. Thegrounds forexemption aredescribed inthe
Actorpursuant totheActintheWeapons andAmmunition Regulation (alsotobenotified indraft
form). Foreligibility inrespect ofoneofthepossibilities forexception, which havethecharacter
ofalicence, thefiling ofanapplication isalways obligatory. Incertain cases, clearly defined inthe
Act,thelicence mayberefused. Further, theexemptions, dispensations, licences, recognitions and
permits maybegranted subject torestrictions; specific conditions maybeattached thereto. TheMinister
ofJustice setsfurther requirements inthisrespect. TheMinister doesthisintheActandintheWeapons
andAmmunition Regulations. TheActtherefore, forreasons ofsafety, contains stringent ruleswith
anexhaustive anddetailed bodyofprohibitions, licences andfurther requirements, which areintended
toprevent products which bytheirnature areadanger (tolife), suchasweapons andammunition,
fromfinding theirway,unchecked, intotheDutch legalsystem andfrombeing abletocirculate there
without hindrance.
Having regard tothenature ofthematter under consideration itisforreasons ofsafety ofurgent
necessity thattheActbeenacted andbecome operative immediately. Immediate enactment andcoming
intoeffect isonlypossible where urgent problems ofsafety, health, environmental protection ornational
security arise orthreaten toarise, mentioned inparagraph 10ofArticle 2oftheAgreement on
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Technical Barriers toTrade. Intheopinion oftheDutch Government thecircumstances atpresent
obtaining justify apleaofimmediate enactment. Especially forcitizens uncertainty exists regarding
theapplicability ofthepresent Weapons andAmmunition Act,afterthedecision oftheECCourt of
Justice incaseC-194/94 (ECR 1996, p.I-2201) inwhich theCourt considered thelegalconsequences
ofthenot-notifying oftechnical requirements. Itisnotcleartowhatextent thenational provisions
formanufacturing, possession anduseofweapons andammunition canbeapplied, andtherefore to
what extent thegovernment effectively cantakeaction against people whoactinconflict withthe
provisions regarding weapons andammunition. Theriskattaching totheexistence ofthisuncertainty
areenormous, having regard totheconcomitant dangers inconnection withpublic health andsafety.
Therefore itisabsolutely essential thatthe1997Weapons andAmmunition Actisenacted andbecomes
operative immediately.