WORLD TRADE G/TBT/Notif.97.340/Add.1
31July1997
ORGANIZATION(97-3230)
Original: English Committee onTechnical Barriers toTrade
NOTIFICATION
Addendum
ThefollowingcommunicationbyNetherlandsisbeingcirculatedinaccordancewithArticle10.6.
_______________
Thefollowing information should beattached tonotification G/TBT/Notif.97.340.
ANNEX
The1997 Breath Analysis Regulation
Pursuant tothe1994Road Traffic Act,driving avehicle following alcohol consumption such
thatthealcohol content ofthebreath isshown "inatest"tobehigher than220micrograms ofalcohol
perlitreofexhaled airisprohibited. ThisActalsoprovides thatdrivers ofvehicles whoarestopped
forabreath analysis mustcooperate insuchanalysis. Thedriver isobliged tobreathe airintoabreath
analysing appliance "intended forthetest". Suchatestwillbedeemed tohavebeencarried outonly
ifthebreath analysing appliance hasbeendesignated andapproved. Pursuant totheAlcohol Tests
Decree (alsotobere-enacted afternotification), anappliance ofatypedesignated bytheMinister of
Justice mustbeusedtoperform abreath analysis. Appliance types aredesignated onlyiftheyhave
beenapproved onthebasis ofaninspection carried outbyaninspection institute designated bythe
Minister. Furthermore, theMinister laysdown further rulesconcerning therequirements which these
appliances mustsatisfy; hemayalsodothisforthepurposes ofensuring thattheanalysis isperformed
correctly. Theimplementing rulesarelaiddown intheBreath Analysing Appliance Type Regulation
(also tobere-enacted afternotification) andinthepresent Breath Analysis Regulation. Thelatter
Regulation contains requirements which breath analysing appliances mustsatisfy. Abreath analysing
appliance mustbeofatypeapproved byaninspection carried outbyaninspection institute designated
forthispurpose, inconformity withtherequirements contained inAnnex 1tothisRegulation. The
approval mustbeevidenced byacertificate issued bytheinspection institute stating thattheappliance
inquestion when tested under theconditions asstated satisfied therequirements referred toinAnnex 1.
Inaddition thepresent Regulation contains requirements inrespect ofthegases tobeusedforthe
calibration check onbreath analysing appliances.
TheRegulation under consideration provides, incombination withtheAlcohol Tests Decree
andtheBreath Analysing Appliance Type Regulation, thebasis forthecareful testing ofthebreath
ofaperson suspected ofdriving under theinfluence ofalcohol. Since thepresent Regulation imposes
stringent requirements ontheappliances tobeused, maximum assurances aregiven bothtothesuspect,
./.G/TBT/Notif.97.340/Add.1
Page2
consisting inanobjective andtherefore reliable test,andtotheinvestigating bodies, consisting inthe
certainty thattheappliance usedisofsuchastandard thattheinformation collected withtheaidof
such appliance mayserve asevidence. Parts oftheRegulation aretoberegarded astechnical
requirements within themeaning oftheAgreement onTechnical Barriers toTrade. Having regard
tothenature ofthematter under consideration itis,forreasons ofsafety, ofurgent necessity thatthe
1997BreathAnalysisRegulationbere-enactedandbecomeoperativeimmediately.Immediateenactment
andcoming intoeffect isonlypossible where urgent problems ofsafety, health, environmental protection
ornational security ariseorthreaten toarise, mentioned inparagraph 10ofArticle 2oftheAgreement
onTechnical Barriers toTrade. Thecircumstances atpresent obtaining justify apleaofimmediate
enactment. Forcitizens uncertainty exists regarding theapplicability ofthepresent Breath Analysis
Regulation, afterthedecision oftheECCourt ofJustice incaseC-194/94 (ECR 1996, p.I-2201),
inwhich theCourt considered thelegalconsequences ofthenot-notifying oftechnical requirements.
Theunclearness regarding thequestion towhatextent evidence canbefurnished fortheconsumption
ofalcohol intraffic, hascreated anacute problem inrespect oftheinvestigations inconnection with
thecriminal offence ofdriving under theinfluence ofalcohol, aswellasanacute problem inrespect
ofpending andfuture criminal cases. Thisleads toserious andunforeseeable situations relating to
public health andsafety. Indeed: driving under theinfluence ofalcohol cancause lifethreatening
situations. Toobviate theenormous risksattaching tothissituation oflegaluncertainty, itisofurgent
necessity thatthe1997 Breath Analysis Regulation beenacted immediately