. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/NLD/70 
11 April 2011  
 (11-1802) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Notifying Member:  THE NETHERLANDS
 
If applicable, name of local government involved:    
2. Agency responsible:   Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO;  ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Ornamental plant Lucky Bamboo ( Dracaena sanderiana ). 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:    
5. Title of the notified document:  Decree of *** laying down the rules for the product 
requirements for Lucky Bamboo plants (L ucky Bamboo (Commodities Act) Decree) 
Language(s):  English, French and Spanish  Number of pages:  9 
 http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2011/sps/NLD/11_1006_00_e.pdf  
 http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2011/sps/NLD/11_1006_00_f.pdf  
 http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2011/sps/NLD/11_1006_00_s.pdf  
6. Description of content:  The Asian tiger mosquito ( Aedes albopictus ) can transmit various 
diseases that are hazardous to humans, includi ng dengue fever, Chikungunya fever, and 
Japanese encephalitis. Articles 3 and 4 of the notified draft decree contain technical 
requirements.  The draft decree requires that Lucky Bamboo plants (hereinafter referred to 
as "the plants") shall only enter the territo ry of the Netherlands free of Asian tiger 
mosquitoes.  The plants have to be transporte d in sealed containers.  These containers must 
be opened in a secluded area.  The plants sha ll not leave the room unless they have been 
adequately treated with both an appropriate bi ocide to make the plants free of Asian tiger 
mosquito larvae, and an appropriate biocide to  make the plants free of adult Asian tiger 
mosquitoes.  
The draft decree is replacing the Tempor ary Lucky Bamboo Product Requirements under 
the Food and Drugs Act, which has been notified under number G/SPS/N/NLD/69 (24 December 2008).  
7. Objective and rationale:  [ ] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, 
[X] protect humans from animal/plant pest or  disease, [ ] protect territory from other 
damage from pests.    G/SPS/N/NLD/70 
Page 2  
 
   
8. Is there a relevant international stan dard?  If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex standard 
or related text)   
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)    
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)    
[X] None Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?   
 [ ] Yes   [ ] No 
 If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:    
9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available:      
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) :  As soon as possible 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :  As soon as possible 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  [X] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) :    
[  ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments:  [X] Sixty days  from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) :   10 June 2011 
Agency or authority designated to handl e comments:  [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
Ministry of Finance  
Tax and Customs Administration Central Licensing Office for Import and Export Section EC/WTO Notifications 9700 RD  Groningen 
The Netherlands 
Tel:  +(31 88) 151 0911/0913 E-mail:  cdiu.notificaties@belastingdienst.nl 
13. Texts available from:  [ ] National Notification  Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point.  
Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:    
Ministry of Finance  
Tax and Customs Administration  
Central Licensing Office for Import and Export 
Section EC/WTO Notifications  9700 RD  Groningen The Netherlands Tel:  +(31 88) 151 0911/0913 E-mail:  cdiu.notificaties@belastingdienst.n