. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/N/ESP/21
29 November 2002
(02-6598)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:  Spanish
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   SPAIN
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):           
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Science and Technology;  Secretariat of State for Science
and Technology;  Directorate of Technology Policy;  Sub-Directorate for Quality and
Industrial Safety
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and web-site
addresses, if available) of  agency. or authority designated to handle comments
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:           
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):   All material and
equipment forming part of low-voltage electrical installations.
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:
- Draft Royal Decree Approving the Electrotechnical Regulations Relating to
Low-Voltage
- Pages:  394
- Language:  Spanish
6. Description of content:   The draft decree covers interior, privately owned, low-voltage
electrical installations for various uses (domestic, collective, commercial, sporting,
agricultural, provisional and temporary industrial, sanitary uses, etc.), as well as low-voltage
public lighting and distribution lines.
It consists of two main sections:  the Regulations establish the basic principles of a
mainly administrative nature and of a general nature;  the 51 supplementary technical
directions expand on the provisions contained in the Regulations and specify the technical
criteria applicable to the various uses.
In addition, a Ministerial Order sets out the standards to be applied under the second
transitional provision of the Royal Decree.
Minimum safety rules are laid down, as well as the procedure for the design,
production and registration of the installations and instructions for their correct
maintenance, with the adoption of a supplementary control system through the use of initial
and periodic inspections in the most relevant cases.G/TBT/N/ESP/21
Page 2
6. Description of content: (cont'd)
With regard to electrical material and equipment the draft text specifically states
that they must meet the requirements laid down in the applicable European Union
directives.  In the absence of such directives Spanish standards or other standards accepted
in any Member State of the European Union or of the European Economic Area or eventhird countries with which an agreement exists will apply, provided that they provide an
equivalent level of safety.
The references to standards to be established are a means of facilitating the
technical updating of the Regulations.  However, it must be understood that such a reference
is solely intended to assist those who are responsible for the design and construction of the
installations, in a similar fashion to the use of the term "harmonized standards that ensure
conformity" of the new directives.  Anybody wishing to fulfil the minimum conditions byother means may do so, as long as the means used can be justified.
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
The draft text has both a legal and technical justification, since the current
regulations date from 1973, and although they have been amended on various occasions
since then, difficulties in their application make a new and more detailed text necessary.
8. Relevant documents:   Law 21/1992 on Industry.
9. Proposed date of adoption:
Proposed date of entry into force: }
10. Final date for comments:           
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [  X ] or address, telephone and fax
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses, if available of the other body:
E-mail:  jps1@mcyt.es