G/TBT/N/FRA/186  
30 May 2018  
(18-3217) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  French  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.  
 
1. Notifying Member : FRANCE  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:  
Direction générale des entreprises , SEN/SDCEP (Directorate -General of Enterprises)  
Bureau de la réglementation des communications électroniques  (Office for the Regulation 
of Electronic Communications)  
67 rue Barbès, 92401  Ivry-sur-Seine Cedex  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, email and website 
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) : Unmanned 
civilian aircraft (drones)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document : Décret fixant les 
objectifs des dispositifs de signalement des aéronefs circulant sans personne à bord et les 
conditions d'exemption prévus à l'article L. 34 -9-2 du code des postes et des  
communications électroniques  (Decree laying down the objectives for signalling/warning 
devices on unmanned aircraft and the exemption conditions provided for in Article L . 34-9-
2 of the Postal and Electronic Communications Code) (7 pages, in French)  
6. Description of content : This text lays down requirements concerning the installation of 
electronic and optical signalling devices on unmanned aircraft weighing more than 800  g, 
as well as the conditions for exemption from these requirements . The electronic  or digital 
signalling device will allow the defence and security forces to identify airborne drones by 
way of an identification number and their time -stamped geographical position . The optical 
device will make it possible to distinguish drones from other aircraft during flight . Lastly, 
this text determines the exemptions and criminal penalties imposed in the event of non -
compliance with the requirements set forth in Article L. 34 -9-2 of the Postal and Electronic 
Communications Code.  
7. Objective and ratio nale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable : As a result of the increasing number of drones illegally flying over sensitive 
sites on French territory since autumn 2014, two parliamentarians submitted, in spring 
2016, a proposed law on im proving safety measures when using civilian drones . In 
particular, this draft followed the Government report to Parliament entitled " L'essor des 
drones aériens civils en France : enjeux et réponses possibles de l'État " ("The rise in civilian 
aerial drones i n France : challenges and possible responses from the State"), published in 
October 2 015. 
The law was finally adopted by the French Parliament and enacted on 2 4 October 2 016 G/TBT/N/FRA/186  
- 2 - 
  (Law No. 2016-1428).  
It introduced a provision into the Postal and Electronic Communications Code requiring 
owners or pilots of unmanned aircraft travelling over French territory of a weight equal to 
or greater than 800  g to equip the aircraft with an electronic or digital signalling device and 
an optical warning device.  
8. Relevan t documents : Law 2016 -1428 of 2 4 October 2 016  
9. Proposed date of adoption : July 2 018 
Proposed date of entry into force : The day following publication in the Official Journal 
(Journal officiel de la République française ).  
10. Final date for comments : 60 days from the date of notification.  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available, of other body:  
Direction générale des entreprises, SEN/SDCEP  
Bureau de la régle mentation des communications électroniques  
67 rue Barbès, 92401 Ivry -sur-Seine Cedex  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2018/TBT/FRA/18_2738_00_f.pdf