No C 180/16 Official Journal of the European Communities 8. 7. 87 
Opinion on the Commission proposal amending Directive 85/210/EEC on the approximation 
of the laws of the Member States concerning the lead content of petrol (*) 
(87/C 180/07) 
On 17 March 1987 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, 
under Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on the 
abovementioned proposal. 
The Section for Industry, Commerce, Crafts and Services, which was responsible for preparing 
the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its Opinion on 6 May 1987, in the light of 
the report by Mr. Poeton. 
At its 246th plenary session (meeting of 13 May 1987) the Economic and Social Committee 
adopted the following Opinion by a large majority with two abstentions: 
The Committee welcomes the Commission's proposal 
subject to the following comments: 
1. The maximum permitted lead content of motor 
fuels was regulated for the first time at Community level 
in 1978 (Directive 78/611/EEC) in order to eliminate 
obstacles to trade which might have resulted from dif­
fering national legislations on this issue in the various 
Member States. In 1985 this Directive was amended by 
Directive 85/210/EEC in order to introduce unleaded 
petrols and gradually eliminate leaded fuels. The pre­
sent Commission proposal aims to give Member States 
the right to forbid the distribution of leaded regular 
petrol on their national market. The Committee would 
point out, however, that everything must be done to 
ensure that this proposal is a success. For a mere change 
from leaded regular to leaded premium might not by 
itself result in a reduction of lead in the environment 
in line with the stated objectives of the proposal. 
2. In its Opinion (2) on Directive 85/210/EEC the 
Committee suggested that the scheme for introducing 
unleaded petrols be rationalized and accelerated in line 
with economic and technological possibilities. There­
fore, the Committee can only congratulate the Com­
mission on this new initiative which is fully in line with 
this Opinion. 
3. The Committee is aware that, strictly speaking, 
national bans on the sale of leaded regular petrol rep­
resent an obstacle to trade. Despite this, the Committee 
believes that the present proposal is justified above all 
by the protection of the environment and of public 
health, and for its beneficial effect in terms of an 
accelerated introduction of unleaded petrol in the Com­
munity, not least because of the rather theoretical natu­
re of such trade restrictions. In fact, regular petrol is 
only in significant demand in a few Member States 
(Federal Republic of Germany, Denmark, Greece, 
Netherlands) and in some of these States (Denmark, 
Netherlands) leaded regular fuel has virtually disap-
(J) OJ No C 90, 4. 4. 1987, p. 3. 
(2) OJ No C 25, 28. 1. 1985, p. 46. peared from the market as a consequence of differentiat­
ed taxation. 
4. The Committee, however, invites the Council to 
call on Member States to proceed with this elimination 
of leaded regular petrol from their national market in 
close consultation with the interested parties, and in 
particular the mineral-oil industry, in order to permit 
coordination between this urgent measure and indus­
trial planning. 
5. The Committee is of the opinion that the national 
restrictions on the sale of regular leaded petrol inherent 
in the present proposal could raise problems with regard 
to the achievement of an internal market by 1993. 
However, it is to be expected that by 1993, market 
forces and the restrictions applied in the meantime will 
most likely have completely eliminated demand for 
leaded regular petrol. 
6. The Committee is pleased to note that the Com^ 
mission has studied the implications of its proposal for 
small and medium-sized enterprises. It agrees with the 
Commission, that the proposal will in fact be beneficial 
for the petrol distribution sector, because it gives the 
possibility to reduce the number of pumps and tank 
systems from four to three (premium leaded, premium 
unleaded, regular unleaded) in countries where there is 
demand for regular petrol. 
7. The Committee also agrees with the Com­
mission's assurance that some motorists will be faced 
with a slight increase in costs, which however in the 
Committee's opinion is justifiable as a direct conse­
quence of the move towards a significant reduction in 
the pollution of the atmosphere. An important percent­
age of cars which use regular petrol are able to run on 
unleaded petrol, which — in some countries at least 
— is cheaper than leaded regular petrol due to tax 
incentives. The Committee in this context wishes to 
recall that it in 1984 agreed with the idea of Arti­
cle 13(2) of Directive 85/120/EEC stipulating that 
Member States should grant a favourable tax treatment 
to unleaded petrols. 
8. Moreover, the Committee is of the opinion that 
measures should be taken by the Community, the 
national governments and the industries concerned to 
8.7.87 COfficial]ournal of the European Communities ^oC18uB17 
ensure an appropriate level of information of motorists 
on the ability of their vehicles to use unleaded petrols. 
The effects of banning the use of leaded regular petrol 
in small petrol-driven appliances should also be brought 
to the notice of the consumer by means of suitable 
information. 
^ In this center the Committee repeats its proposal 
that unleaded petrol should becomeeffectively available 
throughout the Community earlier than in!989 as is 
mandatory under the terms of roirective8^210BEEC^ Inparticularbecauseasteadily increasing number of 
cars which require unleaded petrol (those equipped 
with catalytic covertors^are already being sold in the 
Community. But also because the Commission has sub 
mitted aproposalconcerningtheapplicationof new 
EEC emission standards for cars over 2t^0 cc by 
ICOctober 1988 which imply the use of catalytic con 
vertorsasofthisdate. 
10. ^inally^ theCommittee wishes toreiterate the 
desirability of a complete elimination of lead from 
petrol. 
Loone at Brussels^ 13 Aiay 1987. 
Opinion on the proposal foraCouncil Decision on the provisional application between the 
Community and Switzerland of Sections II and III of the Agreement on the international 
carriage of passengers by road by means of occasional coach and bus services (ASOR) 
(87^C180^8) 
On 14 April 1987^ theCouncildecided to consult the EconomicandSocial Committees 
under Article7^ of theTreaty establishing theEuropeanEconomicCommunity^ on the 
abovementioned proposal. 
The section forlransport and Communications^whichwas responsible for preparing the 
Committee^sworlo on the subjects adopted its Opinion on8Aiay!987^in the light of the 
report by Air Bleser. 
At its 246th plenary session (meeting of 13 Mayl987) the Committee adopted the following 
Opinion byamajorityvote^with one abstentions 
L The Economic and Social Committee approves 
the Commissions proposal to accept Switzerland^ 
request tobringforwardthe date on whichtheproD 
visions of Sections 11 and 111 of the ASOR are to apply 
to Switzerland. 
2, Lhe Committee agrees with the Commission that 
there are good grounds for bringing forward this date by four months. Above all^ the implementation of the 
provisions onlAugust^ i.e. in the middle of the tourist 
season^would cause practical and economic problems. 
3. rlowever^ the Committee cannot accept the new 
date proposed^viz.l April 1987^andsuggestsl]une 
1987 instead so that the Council can consult the Com 
mittee and the European Parliament before taking its 
decision. 
Done at Brussels^ 13 May 1987. 
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