FAOLEX Database

Netherlands (Kingdom of the) - Country Profiles

Constitution of The Netherlands.
Date of text: 1815

Policies

National Water Programme 2022-2027.
Date of text: 18 March 2022
Marine Strategy for the Dutch part of the North Sea 2022-2027 (part 3). MSFD programme of measures.
Date of text: 01 March 2022
North Sea Programme 2022 – 2027.
Date of text: 01 March 2022
River Basin Management Plan for the Rhine, Meuse, Scheldt and Eems 2022 – 2027.
Date of text: 01 March 2022
Marine Strategy (part 2). Update of the MSFD monitoring program 2020-2026.
Date of text: 01 June 2020

Legislation

Agricultural and rural development

Act regulating subsidies from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Date of original text: 17 December 1997 (19 March 2012)
Decree No. 155 of 2002 to establish a Main Branch Organization for Agricultural Wholesale Trade.
Date of text: 04 March 2002

Climate change

Act no. BWBR0042394 of 2 July 2019, containing a framework for developing policy aimed at the irreversible and step-by-step reduction of Dutch greenhouse gas emissions in order to limit global warming and climate change (Climate Act).
Date of text: 02 July 2019
Regulation of the State Secretary of Economic Affairs of 8 December 2014, no. WJZ/14011574, on cost equalisation for reduction of CO2 emissions from greenhouse horticulture (Regulation for cost equalisation for reduction of CO emissions from greenhouse horticulture)
Date of text: 08 December 2014
Decision no. MBL 97563207 concerning the Steering Group for the National Research Program Global Air Pollution and Climate Change.
Date of text: 31 October 1997

Cultivated plants

Act containing new rules relative to admission of varieties, the placing on the market of plant reproduction material and the granting of plant breeders' rights (Seeds and Planting Material Act 2005).
Date of original text: 19 February 2005 (17 April 2019)
Act containing rules relative to the trade in and the disposal of fertilizing substances (Fertilizing Substances Act).
Date of original text: 27 November 1986 (02 November 2022)
Act containing new rules for the prevention and fighting of organisms that damage cultivation (Plant Diseases Act).
Date of original text: 05 April 1951 (03 March 2021)
Act No. 125 containing rules relative to the admission, placing on the market and use of plant protection products and biocide products (Act Plant Protection Products and Biocide Products).
Date of original text: 17 February 2007 (02 November 2022)
Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality no. TRCJZ/2005/3295 of 2005, containing rules for the implementation of the Fertilisers Act (Implementation Regulations of the Fertilisers Act).
Date of original text: 04 November 2005 (24 October 2023)

Disaster risk management

Emergency Food Supply Act.
Date of original text: 12 December 1962 (01 January 2015)
Emergencies Coordination Act.
Date of original text: 03 April 1996 (01 January 2018)
Emergency Employment Act.
Date of text: 23 April 1971

Environment

Environment and Planning Act.
Date of original text: 23 March 2016 (16 October 2023)
Act containing provisions concerning general matters of environmental hygiene (Environment Management Act).
Date of original text: 13 June 1979 (05 April 2023)
Act containing rules relative to prevention and limitation of air pollution (Air Pollution Act).
Date of original text: 26 November 1970 (01 July 2020)
Collective Environmental Act, 2023.
Date of text: 16 October 2023
Act No. BWBR0045754/2021, containing rules on the accessibility of information of public interest (Open Government Act).
Date of original text: 25 October 2021 (13 October 2022)

Fisheries

Act containing new rules relating to fisheries (Fisheries Act 1963).
Date of original text: 30 May 1963 (01 January 2015)
Regulation of the State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation consolidating and simplifying various sea fishing rules (Implementation Regulation for Sea Fishing).
Date of original text: 14 July 2011 (01 March 2023)
Act containing rules relative to production and inspection of equipment of sea-going vessels (Vessel Equipment Act).
Date of original text: 13 April 2000 (21 July 2010)
Act regulating subsidies from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Date of original text: 17 December 1997 (19 March 2012)
Act No. 24 of 1994 to amend the Fisheries Act 1963 with respect to new rules for the granting of fishing permits and contributions for the improvement of inland fisheries.
Date of text: 15 December 1994

Food and nutrition

Emergency Food Supply Act.
Date of original text: 12 December 1962 (01 January 2015)
Decree No. BWBR0005758 of 10 December 1992, on the Preparation and Treatment of Foodstuffs under the Commodities Act.
Date of original text: 10 December 1992 (24 November 2022)
Emergencies Coordination Act.
Date of original text: 03 April 1996 (01 January 2018)
Act No. 247 of 2006 concerning rules relative to responsibilities of competent authorities for purposes of enforcement of legislation regarding consumer protection (Act Enforcement Consumer Protection).
Date of original text: 20 November 2006 (19 March 2012)
Act No. 247 of 2006 concerning independent risk analysis by the Authority for Food and Consumer Goods (Act Independent Risk Analysis Authority for Food and Consumer Goods).
Date of original text: 26 April 2006 (19 March 2012)

Forestry

Nature Conservation Act (2015).
Date of original text: 16 December 2015 (01 January 2020)
Act regulating subsidies from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Date of original text: 17 December 1997 (19 March 2012)
Act containing rules relative to agricultural production in case of war, threat of war and other exceptional circumstances (Agricultural Production Act).
Date of original text: 24 June 1939 (15 March 2012)
Decree No. 382 of 2003 concerning admission of source planting material for the production of forestry seed and nursery stock destined for to be placed on the market.
Date of text: 18 September 2003
Decree No. 334 of 2000 containing environment protection rules for equipment and installations used in construction and wood processing enterprises.
Date of text: 22 July 2000

Land and soil

Cadastre Act.
Date of original text: 03 May 1989 (18 July 2010)
Act containing rules relative to protection of the soil (Soil Protection Act).
Date of original text: 03 July 1986 (19 July 2010)
Act No. 566 of 2006 containing new rules regarding spatial planning (Spatial Planning Act).
Date of original text: 20 October 2006 (01 July 2020)
Act containing rules regarding the basic registration of the subsurface (Act Basic Registration Subsurface).
Date of text: 30 September 2015
Act No. 180 of 2008 amending various other Acts in relation with entry into force of the Town and Country Planning Act and regarding transitional law (Introductory Act Town and Country Planning Act).
Date of text: 22 May 2008

Livestock

Animals Act.
Date of original text: 19 May 2011 (14 July 2021)
Decree of 5 June 2014, containing rules regarding animal keepers (Animal Keepers Decree).
Date of original text: 05 June 2014 (15 September 2023)
Veterinary medicines regulation 2022.
Date of text: 28 January 2022
Act No. 224 of 2007 containing amendments to legislation regarding animal by-products that are not intended for human consumption.
Date of text: 11 May 2007
Act No. 566 containing rules relative nuisance from odour emanating from facilities were livestock are kept.
Date of original text: 05 October 2006 (20 July 2010)

Sea

Delta Act on Water Safety and Freshwater Supply.
Date of original text: 01 December 2011 (12 February 2020)
Act No. 109 of 2008 amending the Marine Pollution Act and some other Acts in relation with the implementation of the Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972.
Date of text: 13 March 2008
Act of the Kingdom No. 98 of 2008 relative to the functions and powers as well as the administration of the coast guard for Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles (Act of the Kingdom Coast Guard Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles).
Date of original text: 25 February 2008 (18 October 2010)
Act of the Kingdom No. 387 of 2005 relative to the establishment of a contiguous zone for the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Act of the State establishing the Contiguous Zone).
Date of original text: 28 April 2005 (18 July 2010)
Act relative to implementation of Regulation (EC) No. 725/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council on enhancing ship and port facility security and measures of international organizations relative to security of ports (Port Security Act).
Date of original text: 06 July 2004 (18 July 2010)

Social protection

Act on the introduction of a duty of care in relation to distribution of goods and services prevention of Child Labour originating from child labour (Act on the Duty of Care in relation to Child Labour).
Date of text: 24 October 2019

Water

Act containing new provisions in relation with the production and distribution of drinking water and the organization of public drinking water supply (Drinking Water Act, 2009).
Date of text: 18 July 2009
Act containing rules relative to management and use of water resources (Water Act).
Date of original text: 29 January 2009 (10 May 2023)
Act to make provision for Water Boards (Waterschapswet).
Date of original text: 02 September 1991 (18 July 2010)
Act containing rules relative to supervision of water supply companies and the organization of public water supply (Water Supply Act).
Date of original text: 06 April 1957 (18 July 2010)
Act containing general rules on water resources management (Water Resources Management Act 1900).
Date of original text: 10 November 1900 (19 July 2010)

Wild species and ecosystems

Nature Conservation Act (2015).
Date of original text: 16 December 2015 (01 January 2020)
Act No. BWBR0037150 containing rules for the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol (Nagoya Protocol Implementation Act).
Date of text: 30 September 2015
Act No. 554 of 2002 relative to the establishment of Wadden Council (Wadden Council Act).
Date of original text: 26 September 2002 (20 July 2010)
Act containing rules relative to protection of the Antarctic environment so as to implement the Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty on Environmental Protection (Antarctic Protection Act).
Date of original text: 05 March 1998 (19 July 2010)
Regulation of the State Secretary of Economic Affairs, no. WJZ/15145152, containing implementing provisions of the Nagoya Protocol Implementation Act (Regulation for the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol Implementation Act).
Date of text: 31 March 2016

Miscellaneous

Act relative to mining and related activities (Mining Act).
Date of original text: 31 October 2002 (19 March 2012)
Whistleblowers Centre Act, 2016.
Date of text: 14 April 2016
Act containing rules concerning the transportation and distribution of natural gas.
Date of original text: 20 July 2000 (19 March 2012)
Act establishing a permanent advisory authority for energy policy (General Energy Advisory Council Act 1997).
Date of original text: 25 September 1997 (20 July 2010)
Caribbean Netherlands: Act relative to mining in Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba.
Date of original text: 0000 (19 March 2012)

International Agreements

Mémorandum d'entente de coopération entre le Gouvernement de la République algérienne démocratique et populaire et le Gouvernement du Royaume des Pays-Bas dans le domaine de la protection des végétaux et de la quarantaine végétale, signé à Alger le 26 septembre 2016.
Date of text: 26 September 2016
Agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Government of the French Republic on maritime delimitations in the Caribbean region (with annex).
Date of text: 06 April 2016
Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of Turkey and the Kingdom of Netherlands on collaboration in integrated rural development.
Date of text: 31 March 2015

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