NETHERLANDS: ARTICLES OF PRECIOUS METALS The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6. G/TBT/Notif. 96.6. 1. Member to Agreement notifying: Netherlands. If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2). 2. Agency responsible: Ministry of Economic Affairs. 3. Notified under Article 2.9.2. 4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): Articles of precious metals. 5. Title and number of pages of the notified document: Order Containing Stipulation of Contents on the Basis of which Hallmarks are Issued Pursuant to the Convention of the Control and Marking of Articles of Precious Metals (available in English, 3 pages). 6. Description of content: The draft Order specifies contents of 950/000 for platinum, 750/000, 585/000 and 375/000 for gold, 925/000, 830/000 and 800/000 for silver as being the contents on the basis of which hallmarks may be issued in the Netherlands pursuant to the Convention of the Control and Marking of Articles of Precious Metals. It is intended that the Order shall enter into force when the Netherlands accedes to the Convention. For the sake of completeness it is noted that an amendment of the convention (13 March 1992) still remains to be approved by the Dutch Parliament. 7. Objective and rationale: As early as 1993 provision was made in Dutch legislation for the possible accession of the Netherlands to the Convention of the Control and Marking of Articles of Precious Metals. The consequences of the judgement in the Houtwipper case of 15 September 1994 (case c-293/93), European Court Reports 1994, I-4249) have been the primary consideration behind the decision to accede to the Convention at this time. As this relates to a voluntary system it was decided to indicate all the contents specified in the Convention. 8. Relevant documents: Hallmarks Act. 9. Proposed date of adoption and entry into force: 31 March 1996. 10. Final date for comments: 23 February 1996. (039)

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