WORLD TRADE G/TBT/Notif.97.336/Add.1
31July1997
ORGANIZATION(97-3226)
Original: English Committee onTechnical Barriers toTrade
NOTIFICATION
Addendum
ThefollowingcommunicationbyNetherlandsisbeingcirculatedinaccordancewithArticle10.6.
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Thefollowing information should beattached tonotification G/TBT/Notif.97.336.
ANNEX
The1997 Preliminary Breath TestRegulation
Pursuant tothe1994Road Traffic Act,driving avehicle following consumption ofanamount
ofalcohol suchthatthedriver isnolonger capable ofhaving proper control ofthevehicle, isprohibited.
TheActfurther provides thatdrivers must cooperate inaso-called preliminary breath test.This
preliminary testmaybecarried outbywayofaroutine check, inother words without there already
being asuspicion thatanoffence hasbeencommitted inrespect oftheprohibition aforesaid. Theresult
ofthepreliminary breath testmayconstitute areason forfurther testing (i.e.abreath analysis ora
blood test)todetermine theprecise alcohol content ofthebreath ortheblood oftheperson inquestion.
Pursuant totheAlcohol Tests Decree (alsotobere-enacted afternotification), forthepreliminary breath
testusemustbemade ofappliances designated bytheMinister ofJustice. TheMinister hasdescribed
these appliances inmore detail inthepresent 1997 Preliminary Breath TestRegulation, inwhich it
isprovided thattheappliance usedmustbeofatypedesignated bytheForensic Science Laboratory
oftheMinistry ofJustice. Thetypes ofbreath testtubes andbreath testing appliances theForensic
Science Laboratory intends todesignate, aresetoutintheForensic Science Laboratory Decree (enclosed
herewith). Consequently, thepresent Regulation, andtheType Designation bytheForensic Science
Laboratory, contain therequirements which appliances forthepreliminary breath testmust satisfy.
Together withtheAlcohol Tests Decree andthefurther rulesconcerning breath analysis andtheblood
test(the1997 Breath Analysis Regulation, the1997 Blood andUrine TestRegulation andthe1997
BreathAnalysingApplianceTypeRegulation,alltobere-enactedafternotification),the1997Preliminary
Breath TestRegulation formthebasisforacareful testofthealcohol content ofthebreath ortheblood
ofthedriver ofamotor vehicle, inorder tobeabletoestablish possible offences inanobjective and
careful manner, andwithmaximum assurances forthesuspect.
Having regard tothenature ofthematter under consideration itis,forreasons ofsafety, of
urgent necessity thatthepresent Regulation andtheappurtenant Type Designation bere-enacted and
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become operative immediately. Immediate enactment andcoming intoeffect isonlypossible where
urgent problems ofsafety, health, environmental protection ornational security ariseorthreaten to
arise, mentioned inparagraph 10ofArticle 2oftheAgreement onTechnical Barriers toTrade. The
circumstances atpresent obtaining justify apleaofimmediate enactment. Forcitizens uncertainty exists
regarding theapplicability ofthepresent Preliminary Breath TestRegulation, afterthedecision ofthe
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. This
leadstoserious andunforeseeable situations relating topublic health andsafety. Indeed: driving under
theinfluence ofalcohol cancause lifethreatening situations. Toobviate theenormous risksattaching
tothissituation oflegaluncertainty, itisofurgent necessity thatthe1997 Preliminary Breath Test
Regulation andtheappurtenant Forensic Science Laboratory TypeDesignation beenacted immediately.