WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/Notif.99.9
12 January 1999
(99-0072)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade
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.
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):  Tobacco products
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Bill Amending the
Tobacco Act
6. Description of content:  This bill aims to tighten-up the Tobacco Act by, inter alia,
introducing an age limit for the sale of tobacco products and banning the sale of packets
containing less than 19 cigarettes ("kiddy packs").  Furthermore, more establishments where
the smoking ban applies shall be brought under the scope of the law and sanctions(administrative fines) shall be introduced.
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable:  The
amendment of the Tobacco Act is necessary in order to take measures in order to discourage
young people from smoking.  In order to do this, it is necessary to increase the threshold for
the purchase of cigarettes.  The amendment also aims to better protect non-smokers against
pollution and the harmful effects of tobacco smoke.  Patients with chronic, obstructive lung
diseases are particularly at risk.
8. Relevant documents:  Tobacco Act
9. Proposed date of adoption:  2 March 1999
Proposed date of entry into force:  5 March 1999
10. Final date for comments:  1 March 1999
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [X] or address, e-mail and telefax number of
the other body: