G/TBT/N/FRA/177  
27 September 2017  
(17-5131) 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 de l'aviation civile  (Directorate -General for Civil Aviation)  
Direction de la sécurité de l'aviation civile (Directorate for Civil Aviation Security)  
50 rue Henry Farman  
75720 PARIS Cedex 15  
philippe.aurade@aviation -civile.gouv.fr  
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) : Civilian 
unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) of a weight exceeding 800g  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document : Décret relatif à 
l'obligation pour les aéronefs civils circulant sans personn e à bord d'être équipés d'un 
dispositif de signalement sonore (Decree on the obligation for civilian unmanned aerial 
vehicles to be equipped with an audible warning device) (5 pages, in French)  
6. Description of content : This draft decree  therefore aims to supplement, in order to 
guarantee public safety and State security, French legislation concerning UAVs, i.e. the 
Order of 1 7 December 2 015 relating to the design of civilian UAVs, the conditions for their 
use and the skills required by those using them,  and the Order of 1 7 December 2 015 on 
the use of airspace by UAVs, as amended on 3 0 March 2 017. 
The aim of the requirements in this draft decree is to ensure that, if control of a drone is 
lost, an audible warning shall alert third parties on the ground th at it is about to crash.  
However, only drones registered in France pursuant to Article L6111 -1 of the Transport 
Code after 1 July 2 018 shall be required to comply with the obligation to have an audible 
warning.  G/TBT/N/FRA/177  
- 2 - 
  7. Objective and rationale, 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 improving safety measures when using civilian drones . 
This proposed law was a response to a Government report to Parliament, which was 
entitled " L'essor des drones aériens civils en France : enjeux et réponses possibles de 
l'État" ("The rise in civilian drones in France : Issues and possible responses by the State"), 
published in October 2 015. 
The law was finally adopted by the French Parliament and enacted on 2 4 October 2 016 
(Law No 2016 -1428) . It imposes new obligations on pilots, owners or manufacturers of 
civilian unmanne d aerial vehicles (UAVs) . These are intended to prevent incidents posing a 
risk to State security, and make pilots accountable.  
The aim of the draft decree is to implement the obligation stipulating that unmanned 
civilian aircraft exceeding a threshold lai d down by way of a decree must be equipped with 
an audible warning.  
This draft decree describes in detail the conditions under which the audible warning shall 
be sounded, as well as the authorised exemptions.  Finally, it provides for the penalties to 
be ap plied in the event that the drone has not been equipped with said warning, and 
applicability overseas.  
The weight threshold from which this obligation shall apply is laid down by way of a decree 
at 800 g.  
8. Relevant documents : Law 2016 -1428 of 2 4 Octobe r 2016 introduced Article L6214 -5 into 
the Transport Code .  
The notified text is enacted under this Article.  
9. Proposed date of adoption : 31 December 2 017 
Proposed date of entry into force : 1 July 2 018  
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:  
See point 2.  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2017/TBT/FRA/17_4310_00_f.pdf