The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain in 1579; during the 17th century, they became a leading seafaring and commercial power, with settlements and colonies around the world. After a 20-year French occupation, a Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed in 1815. In 1830, Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I, but suffered German invasion and occupation in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding member of NATO and the EEC (now the EU) and participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999. In October 2010, the former Netherlands Antilles was dissolved and the three smallest islands - Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba - became special municipalities in the Netherlands administrative structure. The larger islands of Sint Maarten and Curacao joined the Netherlands and Aruba as constituent countries forming the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy.
Source: CIA World Factbook
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Displaying 76 - 80 of 95Act No. 312 of 2001 to amend the Fertilizing Substances Act in relation with the sharpening of norms of the system of mineral charges and the introduction of the system of animal manure agreements.
In order to comply with Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning protection of water waters against pollution of nitrate from agricultural sources the norms regarding the use of nitrates are sharpened and charges increased by the present Act. Furthermore, rules are introduced so as to place further limits on the production of manure and to make the granting of production capacity dependent upon the capacity to use the manure on the producers' lands or to place that manure on the markets.
Decree No. 334 of 2000 containing environment protection rules for equipment and installations used in construction and wood processing enterprises.
This Decree prescribes rules relative to the prevention and reduction of pollution relating to economic activities in the sphere of construction and the processing of wood. The provisions of this Decree deal with all kinds of pollution such as discharge of water, pollution of the soil and groundwater, etc. It is based on the principle that enterprises working in these sectors are for themselves responsible for control of their activities and the control mechanism is now concentrated on report by those enterprises instead of control through the granting of permits.
Act No. 312 to amend the Fertilizing Substances Act in relation with sharpening of norms of the system regulating mineral charges and the introduction of system fertilizer sale-purchase agreements.
This amendment of the principal Act again sharpens criteria of regulating mineral charges in order to better protect water against pollution by nitrates, raises mineral charges, and prescribes rules for the size of production of manure on farms. The maximum allowed quantity of manure production depends now on the possibility and capacity of producers to use such manure on their own land or to place upon the market through so-called fertilizer sale-purchase agreements. Another criteria for production is the "fertilizer storage capacity".
Act No. 539 to amend the Fertilizing Substances Act in relation with sharpening of norms of the system regulating mineral charges.
This amendment of the principal Act is introduced so as to answer to requirements of Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources. It aims at sharpening criteria for the use of fertilizers containing nitrates and thus prevents use without a precise purpose of such fertilizers. The new section 6A concerns the making of rules regarding the minimum storage space for the storage of manure.
Decree No. 599 of 2000 containing rules relative to implementation of a system of poultry rights based on the Fertilising Substances Act.
This Decree provides for the implementation of a system of so-called "poultry rights" as proposed in the Act fertilizing Substances. A "poultry right" is basically a right to hold poultry and to produce manure from poultry. The introduction of these rights for various sectors of livestock farming aims at the control of pollution caused by manure.