Message 001
Communication from the Commission - TRIS/(2024) 1856
Directive (EU) 2015/1535
Notification: 2024/0391/NL
Notification of a draft text from a Member State
Notification – Notification – Notifzierung – Нотификация – Oznámení – Notifikation – Γνωστοποίηση – Notificación – Teavitamine – Ilmoitus – Obavijest – Bejelentés – Notifica – Pranešimas – Paziņojums – Notifika – Kennisgeving – Zawiadomienie – Notificação – Notificare – Oznámenie – Obvestilo – Anmälan – Fógra a thabhairt
Does not open the delays - N'ouvre pas de délai - Kein Fristbeginn - Не се предвижда период на прекъсване - Nezahajuje prodlení - Fristerne indledes ikke - Καμμία έναρξη προθεσμίας - No abre el plazo - Viivituste perioodi ei avata - Määräaika ei ala tästä - Ne otvara razdoblje kašnjenja - Nem nyitja meg a késéseket - Non fa decorrere la mora - Atidėjimai nepradedami - Atlikšanas laikposms nesākas - Ma jiftaħx il-perijodi ta’ dewmien - Geen termijnbegin - Nie otwiera opóźnień - Não inicia o prazo - Nu deschide perioadele de stagnare - Nezačína oneskorenia - Ne uvaja zamud - Inleder ingen frist - Ní osclaíonn sé na moilleanna
MSG: 20241856.EN
1. MSG 001 IND 2024 0391 NL EN 10-07-2024 NL NOTIF
2. Netherlands
3A. Ministerie van Financiën, Dienst Douane Noord, CDIU.
3B. Ministerie van Justitie en Veiligheid
4. 2024/0391/NL - X00M - GOODS AND MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCTS
5. Criminalisation of sex paraphernalia with the appearance of a child.
6. These are objects, with an external appearance of a child or of a body part of a child, intended to perform sexual acts with.
7.
8. A new penal provision is added to the Criminal Code [Wetboek van Strafrecht], namely Article 253a, which criminalises: the distribution, offering, public display, manufacture, import, transit, export, acquisition or possession of an object intended to perform sexual acts with and which has an external appearance of a child or a body part of a child who has not reached the age of 16 years. This offence is punishable by a statutory maximum penalty of 4 years of imprisonment or a fifth-category fine (EUR 103 000). If committing the offence becomes a profession or habit, the statutory maximum penalty is 7 years of imprisonment or a fifth-category fine.
Article 253a of the Criminal Code is a technical regulation because it bans the import, marketing, use, possession, etc. of a product that meets the definition in the provision, such as a child sex doll or a child sex robot. This total ban also makes it possible to exclude from the Dutch market such products which have been lawfully placed on the market in another Member State. The Mutual Recognition of Goods Regulation applies in this case.
The addition of Article 253a to the Criminal Code is part of the Online Child Pornographic Material (Administrative Law Approach) Act [Wet bestuursrechtelijke aanpak online kinderpornografisch materiaal], which establishes an Authority which is responsible for making online child pornography material inaccessible. The remainder of that Act does not contain any notifiable regulations. Article 253a shall not enter into force until the notification procedure is completed.
9. The products banned by Article 253a, such as child sex dolls and child sex robots, are physical replicas of a child or body part of a child and, by their nature, are intended to perform sexual acts with. Such products are already banned in other European countries such as Germany and Denmark. In addition, in countries such as Austria, Norway and the United Kingdom, acts involving child sex dolls are banned through interpretation of legislation already existing.
Also banning these products in the Netherlands is in the public interest, and necessary in the fight against child sexual abuse. The compelling reason for a ban is that this involves objects which, by their nature, promote sex with children and encourage experimentation with them. The objects can also be used to produce virtual child pornography. In doing so, these objects promote the sexualisation of children and contribute to a subculture that perceives sex with children – and thus child sexual abuse – as normal and acceptable. Other measures, such as information and education, or special (customs) levies or permits, shall not be sufficient to prevent a market for the objects in the Netherlands. A ban is the most effective measure, as it provides a basis for action against the import, export and further circulation of the banned products.
The proposed ban is proportionate as it is limited to sex paraphernalia that is meant to pass for a child or a body part of a child. All other types of sex paraphernalia are not affected by the criminalisation. It is also the least restrictive measure, since the age limit of 16 years laid down reflects the fact that it must be an object that is clearly a representation of a child. The ban is further non-discriminatory. It applies to all sex paraphernalia that is meant to pass for a child or a body part of a child, regardless of where the product is made. The ban is also appropriate to prevent conduct that undermines the interest of protecting children from sexual abuse.
10. Numbers or titles of basic texts: There are no basic texts
11. No
12.
13. No
14. No
15. No
16.
TBT aspects: No
SPS aspects: No
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European Commission
Contact point Directive (EU) 2015/1535
email: grow-dir2015-1535-central@ec.europa.eu
