. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/NLD/64 
13 February 2007 
 (07-0619) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  THE NETHERLANDS
 
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  The Minister for Public Health, Welfare and Sport, acting in 
agreement with the Minister for Ag riculture, Nature and Food Quality 
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):   Herbal preparations (HS 2106).  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  All 
countries. 
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  Regulation by the 
Minister for Public Health, Welfare and Sports , acting in agreement with the Minister for 
Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, am ending the Commodities Act Decree on herbal 
preparations (6 pages). 
6. Description of content:  For the sake of protecting pub lic health, the Commodities Act 
Decree on herbal preparations regulates the trade in herbal preparations.  Section II of the 
Annex lists the harmful plants and fungi of which no trace may be found in herbal 
preparations.  In this Decree, " Pausinystalia yohimbe " or " Corynanthe yohimbe " is added to 
that section of the Annex.  In addition, the tr ade in herbal preparations containing yohimbe 
alkaloids or derivatives thereof is prohibited. 
7. Objective and rationale: [ X ] food safety,  [   ] animal health,  [   ] plant protection, 
[   ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [   ] protect territory from other damage from pests   
The most commonly used plant containing yohimbe alkaloids, including yohimbine, is the 
African tree Pausinystalia yohimbe , also known as Corynanthe yohimbe .  However, other 
plants containing these active ingredients may also be used in the production of herbal preparations.  On the basis of the above, it has been decided to prohibit the presence of 
yohimbe alkaloids or derivatives and salts ther eof in herbal preparations, and to add 
"Pausinystalia yohimbe " or " Corynanthe yohimbe " to Section II of the Annex to the 
Commodities Act Decree on herbal preparations.  This is provided for in Article I of this 
Decree.  G/SPS/N/NLD/64 
Page 2  
 
  8. International standard, guideline or recommendation: 
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission,  [   ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [   ] International Plant Protection Convention,  [ X ] None 
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:   
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:   
* Decree of ...... amending the Commodities Act Decree on herbal preparations regarding 
yohimbe/ yohimbine, the Commodities Act Decree on the addition of micro-nutrients to 
foodstuffs and the Commodities Act Decree on administrative penalties (Available in 
English, French and Spanish). 
* Risk assessment on yohimbe/yohimbine of 5 February 2004, ref. 040103/04 SIR MPI/ph. 
10. Proposed date of adoption:  As soon as possible after WTO notification procedure. 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  As soon as possible after WTO notification procedure. 
12. Final date for comments:  Sixty (60) days after the date of notification. 
Agency or authority designated to handle co mments:  [ X ] EC notification authority, 
[   ] National enquiry point, or address,  fax number and E-mail address (if available) 
of other body:   
13. Texts available from:  [   ] National notification authority, [   ] National enquiry point, 
or 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:  +31/050 523 2133/2134/2135 
Telefax:  +31/050 523 2159 E-mail/Internet:  enquiry.point@tiscali-business.nl
 and 
enquiry.point2@tiscali-business.nl