WORLD TRADE G/TBT/Notif.97.338/Add.1
31July1997
ORGANIZATION(97-3228)
Original: English Committee onTechnical Barriers toTrade
NOTIFICATION
Addendum
ThefollowingcommunicationbyNetherlandsisbeingcirculatedinaccordancewithArticle10.6.
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Thefollowing information should beattached tonotification G/TBT/Notif.97.338.
ANNEX
The1997 Blood andUrine Tests Regulation
Pursuant tothe1994Road Traffic Act,driving avehicle following alcohol consumption such
thatthealcohol content oftheblood isshown "inatest"tobehigher thanonehalfmicrogram ofalcohol
permillilitre ofblood isprohibited. ThisActalsoprovides thatdrivers ofvehicles whoaresuspected
ofhaving consumed alcohol mustcooperate inablood and/or urinetest.Theprocedure andthetechnical
specifications ofthetestmethod andtheappliances tobeusedfortesting arelaiddown inthepresent
Regulation andtheappurtenant Circular oftheForensic Science Laboratory. Thisinorder togive
effect totheprovisions oftheAlcohol Tests Decree (alsotobere-enacted afternotification). Thepresent
Regulation contains theprocedure which must becomplied withwhen carrying outablood and/or
urine testforalcohol, aswellasanumber oftechnical instructions, andstates, furthermore, thecases
inwhich technical requirements maybeimposed bytheForensic Science Laboratory. The1997Blood
andUrine Tests Regulation, together withtheCircular, provide thebasis foracareful investigation
toascertain thealcohol content oftheblood and/or theurine ofasuspected driver ofamotor vehicle,
inorder tobeabletoestablish possible offences inanobjective andcareful manner, andwithmaximum
assurances forthesuspect. Further, theinvestigating bodies arealsofurnished withanassurance, to
witthattheappliances usedareofsuchsoundness andreliability thattheinformation collected with
theaidofsuchappliances canbeusedasevidence.
Having regard tothenature ofthematter under consideration itis,forreasons ofsafety, of
urgent necessity thatthepresent Regulation andtheappurtenant Circular bere-enacted andbecome
operative immediately Immediate enactment andcoming intoeffect isonlypossible where urgent
problems ofsafety, health, environmental protection ornational security arise orthreaten toarise,
mentioned inparagraph 10ofArticle 2oftheAgreement onTechnical Barriers toTrade. The
circumstances atpresent obtaining justify apleaofimmediate enactment. Forcitizens uncertainty exists
regarding theapplicability ofthepresent Blood andUrine Tests Regulation, afterthedecision ofthe
./.G/TBT/Notif.97.338/Add.1
Page2
ECCourt ofJustice incaseC-194/94 (ECR 1996, p.I-2201) inwhich theCourt considered thelegal
consequences ofthenot-notifying oftechnical requirements. Theunclearness regarding thequestion
towhatextent evidence canbefurnished fortheconsumption ofalcohol intraffic, hascreated anacute
problem inrespect oftheinvestigations inconnection withthecriminal offence ofdriving under the
influence ofalcohol, aswellasanacute problem inrespect ofpending andfuture criminal cases.
Thisleads toserious andunforeseeable situations relating topublic health andsafety. Indeed: driving
under theinfluence ofalcohol cancause lifethreatening situations. Toobviate theenormous risks
attaching tothissituation oflegaluncertainty, itisofurgent necessity thatthe1997 Blood andUrine
TestsRegulationandtheappurtenantCircularoftheForensicScienceLaboratorybeenactedimmediately.