G/TBT/N/FRA/178  
27 September 2017  
(17-5132) 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 : Order on the 
audible warning of civilian unmanned aerial vehicles (3 pages, i n French)  
6. Description of content : This draft order 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 on the design of civilian UAVs, the conditi ons 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. 
It lays down the features of the audible warning device stipulated in Article L6214 -5 of the 
Trans port Code which shall be installed on UAVs registered from 1 July 2 018. 
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 . 
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 . 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 in 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 
(Law No 2016 -1428) . It imposes new obligations on pilots , owners or manufacturers of G/TBT/N/FRA/178  
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  civilian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) . These are intended to prevent incidents posing a 
risk to State security, and make pilots accountable.  
The aim of the draft Order is to lay down the features (frequency, noise level, sig nal form) 
of audible warning devices which civilian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) weighing more 
than a threshold laid down by way of a Decree must be fitted with pursuant to 
Article  L6214 -5 of the Transport Code.  
The weight threshold from which this obli gation shall apply is laid down by way of a decree 
at 800 g.  
8. Relevant documents : Law 2016 -1428 of 2 4 October 2 016 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/T BT/FRA/17_4311_00_f.pdf