FAOLEX Database

Netherlands (Kingdom of the) - Country Profiles

Constitution of The Netherlands.
Date of text: 1815

Policies

National Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan Netherlands 2025-2030.
Date of text: 25 March 2025
Climate Plan 2025-2035.
Date of text: 01 March 2025
Dutch Action Plan for the reduction of Antimicrobial Resistance 2024-2030.
Date of text: 15 April 2024
National Climate Adaptation Implementation Programme.
Date of text: 01 November 2023
National Delta Programme 2024.
Date of text: 19 September 2023

Legislation

Agricultural and rural development

Act containing a general regulation relative to the quality of Agricultural Products (Agricultural Quality Act).
Date of text: 08 April 1971 (05 February 2020)
Soil Production Act, 1939.
Date of text: 24 June 1939 (12 May 2018)
Decree No. 155 of 2002 to establish a Main Branch Organization for Agricultural Wholesale Trade.
Date of text: 04 March 2002

Climate change

Climate Act
Date of text: 02 July 2019 (10 July 2023)
Temporary Climate Fund Act.
Date of text: 20 December 2023
Regulation no. IenM/BSK-2012/239553 of 2012 concerning Emissions Rights Trading Scheme.
Date of text: 05 December 2012 (02 April 2025)
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

Plant Health Act.
Date of text: 05 February 2020 (20 January 2021)
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 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 text: 27 November 1986 (02 November 2022)
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 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 text: 04 November 2005 (24 October 2023)

Disaster risk management

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

Environment

Environment and Planning Act.
Date of text: 23 March 2016 (11 February 2026)
Act containing provisions concerning general matters of environmental hygiene (Environment Management Act).
Date of text: 13 June 1979 (17 July 2024)
Decree of 3 July 2018 containing rules on activities in the physical living environment.
Date of text: 03 July 2018 (21 January 2026)
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 text: 25 October 2021 (13 October 2022)

Fisheries and aquaculture

Act containing new rules relating to fisheries (Fisheries Act 1963).
Date of 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 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 text: 13 April 2000 (21 July 2010)
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
Act No. 291 of 1994 to amend the Act to implement the Fisheries Treaty 1967 (amendment conditions granting of nationality and registration of fishing crafts).
Date of text: 25 March 1994

Food and nutrition

Emergency Food Supply Act.
Date of text: 12 December 1962 (01 January 2015)
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 (05 April 2023)
Emergencies Coordination Act.
Date of text: 03 April 1996 (01 January 2018)
Decree No. BWBR0005758 of 10 December 1992, on the Preparation and Treatment of Foodstuffs under the Commodities Act.
Date of text: 10 December 1992 (14 June 2024)
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 text: 20 November 2006 (19 March 2012)

Forestry

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
Decree containing rules relative to the duty to replant forests pursuant to article 3 of the Forestry Act.
Date of text: 20 June 1962 (23 July 2010)
Decree No. 251 of 2003 establishing the Product Branch Organization for enterprises in the forestry sector (Branch Organization Forestry).
Date of text: 24 June 2003
Decree No. 355 of 2008 to amend the Decree establishing the Product Branch Organization for enterprises in the forestry sector in relation with the extension of the working sphere in the field of nature management and conservation.
Date of text: 09 September 2008

Land and soil

Cadastre Act.
Date of text: 03 May 1989 (18 July 2010)
Act containing rules relative to protection of the soil (Soil Protection Act).
Date of text: 03 July 1986 (25 October 2021)
Act containing rules regarding the basic registration of the subsurface (Act Basic Registration Subsurface).
Date of text: 30 September 2015 (06 November 2024)
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
Act for the carrying into effect of Titel 7.5 (Lease) of the Civil Code concerning the composition and work procedures of the Land Tribunals and the Central Land Tribunal (Executive Act Land Tribunals).
Date of text: 21 May 2007 (19 March 2012)

Livestock

Animals Act.
Date of text: 19 May 2011 (10 October 2024)
Decree of 5 June 2014, containing rules regarding animal keepers (Animal Keepers Decree).
Date of text: 05 June 2014 (10 December 2025)
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 containing the authorization to establish an Experimental Centre for Pigs.
Date of text: 27 June 1984 (21 July 2010)

Mineral resources and energy

Mining Act.
Date of text: 31 October 2002 (17 April 2024)
Energy Act.
Date of text: 11 December 2024
Act implementing the EU Renewable Energy Directive for guarantees of origin.
Date of text: 01 June 2022
Prohibition of Coal in Electricity Production Act.
Date of text: 11 December 2019 (07 July 2021)
Act of 24 June 2015 containing rules regarding offshore wind energy (Offshore Wind Energy Act).
Date of text: 24 June 2015 (08 July 2020)

Sea

Act of 24 June 2015 containing rules regarding offshore wind energy (Offshore Wind Energy Act).
Date of text: 24 June 2015 (08 July 2020)
Delta Act on Water Safety and Freshwater Supply.
Date of 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 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 text: 28 April 2005 (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 rules relative to management and use of water resources (Water Act).
Date of text: 29 January 2009 (10 February 2025)
Act of 6 June 1991, containing rules regarding the water boards.
Date of text: 06 June 1991 (10 February 2025)
Act containing rules relative to supervision of water supply companies and the organization of public water supply (Water Supply Act).
Date of text: 06 April 1957 (18 July 2010)
Act containing general rules on water resources management (Water Resources Management Act 1900).
Date of text: 10 November 1900 (19 July 2010)
Decree no. BWBR0026872 containing rules with regard to the management and use of water systems (Water Decree).
Date of text: 30 November 2009 (05 December 2022)

Wild species and ecosystems

Environment and Planning Act.
Date of text: 23 March 2016 (11 February 2026)
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 text: 26 September 2002 (20 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
Decree No. 337 of 2002 concerning arrangements for the Fauna Fund.
Date of text: 25 June 2002

Miscellaneous

Public Procurement Act 2012.
Date of text: 01 November 2012 (11 June 2025)
Framework Act on EZK and LNV subsidies.
Date of text: 28 February 1996 (05 December 2018)
Civil Code of the Netherlands.
Date of text: 1838 (1992)
Whistleblowers Centre Act, 2016.
Date of text: 14 April 2016
Act regulating subsidies from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Date of text: 28 February 1996 (11 June 2025)

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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