BELGIUM: DRAFT ROYAL ORDER CONCERNING THE PROHIBITION OF TRADE IN FOODSTUFFS MIXED WITH OBJECTS The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6. G/TBT/Notif.97.68 dated 5 March 1997. 1. Member to Agreement notifying: BELGIUM. If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2). 2. Agency responsible: Ministry of Public Health C.A.E. -- Esplanade Boulevard Pacheco 19, Bte 5 1010 Brussels Agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification can be indicated if different from above. 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): All kinds of objects entering into contact with foodstuffs. 5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Draft Royal Order Concerning The Prohibition of Trade in Foodstuffs Mixed With Objects. 6. Description of content: Trade in foodstuffs mixed with objects in the same packaging is prohibited if such objects can move freely within the foodstuffs.7. Objective and rationale: To avoid, in future, accidents caused by the involuntary swallowing of objects (e.g., small toys) during consumption of such foodstuffs. Accidents of this type occurred twice in Belgium at the beginning of 1996. At the end of 1996 and the beginning of 1997, two other serious cases of choking due to the ingestion of "Flippo's" contained in crisps were recorded. First case: A five-year-old child (end of 1996); Second case: A disabled adult (24 January 1997); thanks to the immediate intervention of persons qualified to administer first aid, the two victims were saved. 8. Relevant documents: The law of 1997-01-24 was amended by the law of 1989-03-22 and the law of 1994-02-04. 9. Proposed date of adoption: 60 days; Proposed date of entry into force: 60 days. 10. Final date for comments: NA. 11. Text available from: National enquiry point. (0099)

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