WORLD TRADE G/TBT/Notif.97.335/Add.1
31July1997
ORGANIZATION(97-3225)
Original: English Committee onTechnical Barriers toTrade
NOTIFICATION
Addendum
ThefollowingcommunicationbyNetherlandsisbeingcirculatedinaccordancewithArticle10.6.
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Thefollowing information should beattached tonotification G/TBT/Notif.97.335.
ANNEX
The1997 KLPD [National Police Services] Measuring Instruments Calibration Regulation
TheRegional Police Forces Management Decree provides inageneral sense thattheMinister
ofHome Affairs andtheMinister ofJustice arerequired tolaydown rules regarding theequipment
oftheregional police forces. These equipment requirements areembodied inthePolice Measuring
Instruments Regulation (alsotobere-enacted afternotification]. Inthelatter Regulation itisprovided
thatfortheuseofspecified measuring instruments, interaliaspeed check meters, acertificate of
examination musthavebeenissued bytheNetherlands Measuring Institute [Nederlands Meetinstituut]
(NMI), evidencing thatthese measuring instruments satisfy therequirements stated intheannex to
thePolice Measuring Instruments Regulation.
Consequently, ifthepolice wishtocarryoutspeed checks, within theframework oftheirduties,
withtheaidofaspeed check meter, theymust beinpossession ofacertificate issued bytheNMI
evidencing thatthemeter satisfies theapplicable technical requirements. Thepresent KLPD [National
Police Services] Measuring Instruments Calibration Regulation declares the1997 Police Measuring
Instruments Regulation applicable totheKLPD [National Police Services] which come under thecontrol
andresponsibility oftheMinister ofJustice. The1997Police Measuring Instruments Regulation lays
down requirements forspecified measuring instruments forusebytheregional police forces inrespect
ofwhich thecontrol structure differs fromthatoftheKLPD [National Police Services]. Thepurpose
ofthepresent Regulation istherefore toextend theapplicability oftherequirements relating tothe
measuring instruments forusebytheRegional Police Forces tothemeasuring instruments foruseby
theKLPD [National Police Services]. Therefore, thepresent Regulation maybedeemed tocontain
technical requirements within themeaning oftheAgreement onTechnical Barriers toTrade.
./.G/TBT/Notif.97.335/Add.1
Page2
Having regard tothenature ofthematter under consideration itis,forreasons ofsafety, of
urgent necessity thatthepresent provisions oftheRegulation bere-enacted andbecome operative
immediately. Immediate enactment andcoming intoeffect isonlypossible where urgent problems
ofsafety, health, environmental protection ornational security ariseorthreaten toarise, mentioned
inparagraph 10ofArticle 2oftheAgreement onTechnical Barriers toTrade. Thecircumstances at
present obtaining justify apleaofimmediate enactment. Forcitizens uncertainty exists regarding the
applicability ofthepresent KLPD Measuring Instruments Calibration Regulation, afterthedecision
oftheECCourt ofJustice incaseC-194/94 (ECR 1996, p.I-2201) inwhich theCourt considered
thelegalconsequences ofthenot-notifying oftechnical requirements. Theunclearness regarding the
question towhatextent evidence canbefurnished forexceeding thespeedlimits, hascreated anacute
problem inrespect oftheinvestigations inconnection withthecriminal offence ofdriving toofast,
aswellasanacute problem inrespect ofpending andfuture criminal cases. Thisleads toserious and
unforeseeable situations relating topublic health andsafety. Indeed: speeding -anddefective vehicles -
cancause lifethreatening situations ontheroads. Toobviate theenormous risks attaching tothis
situation oflegaluncertainty asdescribed above, itisofurgent necessity thatthe1997present KLPD
Measuring Instruments Calibration Regulation beenacted immediately.