WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/NLD/69 
24 December 2008  
 (08-6316) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
 
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 number(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: 
[   ] All trading partners, or 
[ X ] Specific regions or countries:  China  
5. Title of the notified document:  Temporary Commodities Act product requirements for 
Lucky Bamboo 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2008/sps/NLD/08_4082_00_e.pdf  
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2008/sps/NLD/08_4082_00_f.pdf  
http://members.wto.org/crnattach ments/2008/sps/NLD/08_4082_00_s.pdf   
Language:  English, French and Spanish  Number of pages:  6   
6. Description of content:  The tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) can carry and transfer 
various illnesses which are dangerous to human s, including dengue fever, Chikungunya 
and Japanese encephalitis.  Articles 3 and 4 of  the draft regulation contain a technical 
requirement.  The draft regulation decrees that only Lucky Bamboo plants (hereafter: the plants) free of tiger mosquitoes and in clo sed containers can be imported from third 
countries into Dutch territory.  These containers  may only be opened within an enclosed 
space.  For safety reasons the plants must be treated with suitable biocide in this enclosed 
space.  The plants may leave th is enclosed space no earlier than  three weeks after the start 
of this treatment.  After approval the regulati on shall enter into force as soon as possible.  
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/69 
Page 2  
 
  8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  Tiger mosquitoes are 
regularly found among the Lucky Bamboo plants imported from third countries into the Netherlands.  With regard to th e protection of public health th at is unacceptable.  The tiger 
mosquito can carry and transfer various illnesses  which are dangerous to humans, including 
dengue fever, Chikungunya and Japanese encepha litis.  The Dutch Government wants to 
prevent absolutely the introduction of the tiger  mosquito by means of the import from third 
countries of Lucky Bamboo. 
Previously a covenant was drawn up with th e importers of the plants, in which it was 
agreed that they would take the utmost care to import Lucky Bamboo free of tiger mosquitoes, larvae and eggs.  It is now apparent  that this covenant does not work and that 
new additional requirements are needed.  Moni toring by the Plant Protection Service has 
shown that since June 2008 the tiger mosquito has been found at all the importers.  At the 
request of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, and in consequence of the continuing 
interception, the RIVM has issued a new sci entific advice and suggested new measures.  
Among other things these new measures require th e transportation of the plants in closed 
containers, and the treatment of the plants with  a suitable biocide during a period of at least 
three weeks prior to their being traded furthe r.  The RIVM also advises that these measures 
be imposed on the importers so that the import of the tiger mosquito can be maintained in 
reality. 
After receiving the advice less restrictive measures have been sought with an equally 
protective effect for public health, sadly without result.  Because of the continuing 
interception of tiger mosquitoes, and in order to  prevent serious harm to public health, it is 
necessary to lay down the draft regulation as quickly as possible. 
9. Is there a relevant international standard ?  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 N°)     
[ X ] None Does this proposed regulation conform to  the revelant international standard? 
 [   ] Yes   [ X ] No 
 If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:    
10. Other relevant documents and langua ge(s) in which these are available:       
11. Date of entry into force (dd/mm/yy)/period of application (as applicable):   As soon as 
possible 
[   ] Trading Facility measure  
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [   ] National Notification 
Authority, [ X ] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and E-mail address (if 
available) of other body:     G/SPS/N/NLD/69 
 Page 3 
 
 
  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 50) 523 2133/2135 Fax:  +(31 50) 523 2159 E-mail: enquiry.point@tiscali-business.nl   enquiry.point2@tiscali-business.nl  
 
From 1 January  2009:  Cdiu.notificaties@belastingdienst.nl