. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/N/NLD/5
2 February 2001
(01-0522)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   THE NETHERLANDS
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):           
2. Agency responsible:   Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports
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:   National Enquiry
Point – EC WTO TBT Enquiry Point
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 applicable, otherwise national tariff heading.
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):   Poultry meat in which
Salmonella and/or Campylobacter is present in 25 grams.
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Decree Amending the
Commodities Act Decree on the Preparation and Processing of Foodstuffs (draft version of
20 October 2000).
6. Description of content:   The draft lays down regulations to protect public health.  The draft
relates to the display in shops, the offering for sale, sale or supply of poultry meat in which
Salmonella or Campylobacter are present in 25 grams.  The draft stipulates that infectedpoultry meat of this type be displayed in shops in packaging with prescribed wording and
that it be offered for sale, sold or supplied to the consumer in this packaging.
The prescribed wording on the packaging reads: "Warning. This product contains harmful
bacteria. Please ensure that these bacteria do not come into contact with your food via the
packaging, your hands or kitchen utensils. Cook the meat thoroughly to destroy any
bacteria."
The draft does not therefore relate to:
(a). Trading in uncontaminated poultry meat (in which Salmonella and Campylobacter
are not present in 25 grams);
(b) Bringing infected poultry meat into Dutch territory from another Member State of
the European Union or from a third country.G/TBT/N/NLD/5
Page 2
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
In 1997 the Dutch government and the Dutch business community concerned resolved to
reduce the incidence of infection of poultry meat with Campylobacter and Salmonella.  The
goal that was set (by the end of 1999 no more than 10% of flocks to be infected withSalmonella, and no more than 15% of flocks infected with Campylobacter) has not yet beenrealised.  It must be stated that the incidence of infection of poultry meat with
Campylobacter and also Salmonella remains unacceptably high, while reducing it is
currently not really possible or is taking too long.  Given that certain variants of thesebacteria can give rise to extremely serious illnesses, more detailed measures need to be
taken to protect public health.  The draft decree serves to do this.
8. Relevant documents:   Commodities Act Decree on the Preparation and Processing of
Foodstuffs.
9. Proposed date of adoption:
Proposed date of entry into force: }15 May 2001
10. Final date for comments:   26 April 2001
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: