WORLD TRADE G/TBT/Notif.97.337/Add.1
31July1997
ORGANIZATION(97-3227)
Original: English Committee onTechnical Barriers toTrade
NOTIFICATION
Addendum
ThefollowingcommunicationbyNetherlandsisbeingcirculatedinaccordancewithArticle10.6.
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Thefollowing information should beattached tonotification G/TBT/Notif.97.337.
ANNEX
The1997 Breath Analysing Appliance Type 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 ofJustice
must beusedtoperform abreath analysis. Appliance types aredesignated onlyiftheyhavebeen
approved onthebasisofaninspection carried outbyaninspection institute designated bytheMinister.
Furthermore, theMinister laysdown further rulesconcerning therequirements which theseappliances
mustsatisfy; hemayalsodothisforthepurposes ofensuring thattheanalysis isperformed correctly.
Theimplementing rulesarelaiddown inthe1997 Breath Analysis Regulation (alsotobere-enacted
afternotification) andinthepresent 1997 Breath Analysing Appliance Type Regulation.
Thepurpose oftheBreath Analysing Appliance Type Regulation istheimplementation of
(parts of)theAlcohol Tests Decree and(parts of)the1997 Breath Analysis Regulation. TheDecree
aforesaid provides thatfortheperforming ofabreath analysis usemustbemade ofabreath analysing
appliance ofatypedesignated bytheMinister ofJustice, andfurther thatappliance types aredesignated
onlyiftheyhavebeenapproved onthebasis ofaninspection carried outbyaninspection institute
designated bytheMinister. Pursuant tothe1997Breath Analysis Regulation abreath analysing appliance
mustbeofatypeapproved byaninspection carried outbyaninspection institute inconformity with
specified requirements. Theapproval mustbeevidenced byacertificate issued bytheinspection institute
stating thattheappliance typeinquestion when tested satisfied thespecified requirements. Toimplement
theabove, thepresent Regulation designates breath analysing appliances ofthetypeAlcotest 7110
MK111 NL.Thisappliance hasbeenapproved bytheNetherlands Measuring Institute [Nederlands
Meetinstituut IJkwezen] (NMI). Inthisconnection thetypedesignation isprovided withacertificate
./.G/TBT/Notif.97/337/Add.1
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ofapproval. The1997 Breath Analysing Appliance Type Regulation provides, incombination with
theAlcohol Tests Decree andthe1997 Breath Analysis Regulation, thebasis forthecareful testing
ofthebreath ofaperson suspected ofdriving under theinfluence ofalcohol. Inthepresent Regulation
itislaiddown whattypeofappliance must beusedfortheperforming ofabreath test.Only when
thedesignated typeisusedcanmaximum assurances begiven bothtothesuspect, consisting inan
objective andtherefore reliable test,andtotheinvestigating bodies, consisting inthecertainty that
theappliance usedisofsuchastandard thattheinformation collected withtheaidofsuchappliance
mayserve asevidence.
Having regard tothenature ofthematter under consideration itisintheopinion oftheDutch
Government, forreasons ofsafety, ofurgent necessity thatthepresent Regulation beenacted 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. The
circumstances atpresent obtaining justify apleaofimmediate enactment. Forcitizens uncertainty exists
regarding theapplicability ofthepresent Breath Analysing Appliance TypeRegulation, 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 fortheconsumption ofalcohol intraffic, hascreated
anacute problem inrespect oftheinvestigations inconnection withthecriminal offence ofdriving
under theinfluence ofalcohol, aswellasanacute problem inrespect ofpending andfuture criminal
cases. Thisleads toserious andunforeseeable situations relating topublic health andsafety. Indeed:
driving under theinfluence ofalcohol cancause lifethreatening situations. Toobviate theenormous
risks attaching tothissituation oflegal uncertainty, itisofurgent necessity thatthe1997 Breath
Analysing Appliance Type Regulation beenacted immediately.