./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/Notif.00/304
24 July 2000
(00-3046)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   BELGIUM
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):   Belgium
2.Agency responsible:   Ministry of Communications and Infrastructure
Agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification shall be
indicated if different from above:
Department of Road Traffic and Infrastructure – Safety Service – D 1
Résidence Palace – Rue de la Loi 155
B – 1040 Brussels
Tel.:  +32 2 287 31 11
Fax:  +32 2 287 44 00
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [  X ], 2.10.1 [    ], 5.6.2 [    ], 5.7.1 [    ], other:           
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading.
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Anti-theft devices for
bicycles, bicycles
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Amendment to the
Royal Decree of 1 December 1975 on the General Traffic Police Regulations (Anti-TheftDevices for Bicycles) (8 pages, in French and Dutch)
6. Description of content:   As part of a federal action programme to prevent the theft of
bicycles, the Belgian authorities intend to make it mandatory to equip bicycles with an anti-
theft device, while at the same time taking in to account the habitual exemptions applicable
to mountain bikes and racing bikes.  Children's bicycles will be given partial exemption
(final text:  see Annex).
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
Before explaining the principal reasons, we wish to state clearly that this is not an
obligation on producers but on cyclists.  Retailers already sell the locks concerned, whichare proposed by several makes and many different manufacturers and they can be fixed on
bicycles either by bicycle repairers or by cyclists themselves.  A large number of bicycles
sold in Belgium already come equipped with an anti-theft device.
It is estimated that around 150,000 people a year are victims of bicycle theft inG/TBT/Notif.00/304
Page 2
7. Objective and rationale, including the  nature of urgent problems where applicable
(cont'd):
Belgium.  The negative impact on the feeling of security and the social cost is enormous.
The economic loss suffered by the bicycle indu stry should not be underestimated either.  As
a result of the high number of thefts, many people will decide to abandon bicycles as ameans of transport.  This will also have consequences for mobility.
A study of the victims of bicycle theft carried out by Test Achats (July-
August 1998) showed that in 30 per cent of the cases (i.e. 50,000 incidents) that occurred in
Belgium, the anti-theft device on the bicycle was not being used at the time of the theft.
This can be explained on the one hand by the fact that the bicycle did not have an anti-theft
device and on the other by the fact that, when a bicycle is left for a short time, the anti-theft
device is often not used because the majority of these devices require some action, whichtakes time.
In order to resolve this problem, the Government has decided to make it obligatory
to equip bicycles with a simple anti-theft device fixed on the frame, which blocks the rear
wheel.
The habitual exemptions applicable to mountain bikes and racing bikes will apply
and partial exemption will also be allowed for children's bikes.  Bicycles for older children
are in fact very popular among bicycle thieves.  From the age of six years, it is necessary to
learn to use an anti-theft device before leaving a bicycle unattended (even at school).
Promoting awareness of this question has played a decisive role.  Consequently, the
obligation applies to all bicycles ridden by cyclists older than six years.
In order to give producers, sellers and cyclists time to comply with these new
regulations, there will be a relatively long introductory period of around two years (period
between the enactment and the entry into force of the regulations).  Prior to this, the sector
was widely consulted.
Sixty per cent of bicycles are stolen in the course of use.  Bicycles with no anti-theft
device or whose anti-theft device is not properly fixed are the prime targets.  This measure
aims to reduce the number of bicycle thefts by 15 to 20 per cent (20,000 to 30,000 incidents
a year).
Obviously only the use of anti-theft devices in the form of a U-lock, padlock, or
disk lock is effective when a bicycle is left unattended for only a few minutes.  This
measure is part of the second federal action programme to prevent the theft of bicycles
implemented by the Permanent Secretariat for Prevention Policy of the Belgian Ministry ofthe Interior.  It is in no way an isolated m easure.  Encouraging cyclists to use anti-theft
devices when they leave their bicycles unattended (i.e. they should attach the frame to a
fixture when they leave the bicycle for any longer period) on an ongoing basis is an
essential part of enhancing policies on the parking of bicycles.
8. Relevant documents:           
9. Proposed date of adoption:
Proposed date of entry into force: } 60 days
10. Final date for comments:           
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [  X ] or address, e-mail and telefax
number of the other body:   CIBELNOR