27. 2. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 56/9 
Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 70/220/EEC on the approximation of the 
laws of Member States relating to measures to be taken against air pollution by gases from the 
engines of motor vehicles 
(European emission standard for cars below 1,4 litres) 
COM(87) 706 final 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 15 February 1988) 
(88/C 56/08) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 100A 
thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
In cooperation with the European Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas it is important to adopt measures with the aim 
of progressively establishing the internal market over a 
period expiring on 31 December 1992; whereas the 
internal market shall comprise an area without internal 
frontiers in which the free movement of goods, persons, 
services and capital is ensured; 
Whereas the first programme of action of the European 
Communities on the protection of the environment, 
approved by the Council on 22 November 1973, called 
for account to be taken of the latest scientific advances 
in combating atmospheric pollution caused by gases 
emitted from motor vehicles and for Directives adopted 
previously to be amended accordingly; whereas the third 
programme of action provides for additional efforts to be 
made to reduce considerably the present level of 
emissions of pollutants from motor vehicles (*); 
Whereas Directive 70/220/EEC (') lays down the limit 
values for carbon monoxide and unburnt hydrocarbon 
emissions from such engines; whereas these limit values 
were first reduced by Directive 74/290/EEC (2) and 
supplemented, in accordance with Directive 
77/102/EEC (3), by limit values for permissible emissions 
of nitrogen oxides; whereas the limit values for these 
three pollutants were successively reduced by Directives 
78/665/EEC (4), 83/351/EEC (5) and 8./.. ./EEC (6); 
(*) If the Resolution concerning the fourth programme of 
action on the protection on the environment is adopted 
before the adoption of this Directive. 
(*) OJ No L 76, 6. 4. 1970, p. 1. 
(2) OJ No L 159, 15. 6. 1974, p. 61. 
(3) OJ No L 32, 3. 2. 1977, p. 32. 
(4) OJ No L 223, 14. 8. 1978, p. 48. 
C) OJ No L 197, 20. 7. 1983, p. 1. 
C) OJ No L Whereas Directive 8./. . ./EEC has laid down for the 
vehicles with an engine capacity of less than 1,4 litres 
transitional limit values which reflected the current 
technical and economic conditions of European manu­
facturers in this section of the market and had stipulated 
that the European standards to be applied at the latest in 
1992/93 should be fixed in 1987; 
Whereas the work undertaken by the Commission on 
that subject has shown that the European Community 
has available, or is currently perfecting, technologies 
which allow a further reduction of the limit values 
concerned; 
Whereas the limit values of the present Directive are 
allowing compliance by industry at a reasonable cost and 
using different technical means, they also allow to 
achieve ultimately and in conjunction with the limit 
values for the vehicle categories above 1,4 litres an effect 
on the environment equivalent to that of the emission 
standards in force in the United States of America, 
whereas these limit values are altogether based on the 
present test procedure laid down in Directive 
70/220/EEC and need to be reconsidered when this 
procedure will be completed by a test representing 
driving conditions outside built-up areas. 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: 
Article 1 
Directive 70/220/EEC, as last amended by Directive 
. ./. . .EEC is hereby amended as follows: 
ANNEX I 
item 5.2.1.1.4 the last line of the table shall read: 
'C < 1,400 30 8 —'. 
ANNEX I 
item 7.1.1.1 the last line of the table shall read: 
'C < 1,400 36 10 —'. 
No C 56/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 27. 2. 88 
Article 2 
1. From 1 April 198 .. . no Member State may, on 
grounds relating to air pollution by emissions from an 
engine having a capacity of less than 1 400 cm3: 
— refuse to grant EEC type-approval, to issue the 
document referred to in the last indent of Article 
10(1) of Council Directive 70/156/EEC, as last 
amended by Directive 87/358/EEC ('), or to grant 
national type-approval for a type of motor vehicle, 
— prohibit the entry into service of motor vehicles, 
where emissions from this type of motor vehicle or from 
such vehicles meet the requirements of Directive 
70/220/EEC as last amended by this Directive. 
2. From 1 October 1992 in respect of types of vehicle 
equipped with an engine having a capacity of less than 
1 400 cm3, Member States: 
— may no longer issue the document provided for in 
the last indent of Article 10 (1) of Directive 
70/156/EEC in respect of a type of motor vehicle, — may refuse national type-approval for a type of 
motor vehicle, 
whose emission levels do not meet the requirements set 
out in the Annexes to Directive 70/220/EEC, as last 
amended by this Directive. 
3. From 1 October 1993 in respect of vehicles 
equipped with an engine having a capacity of less than 
1 400 cm3; Member States may prohibit the entry into 
service of such vehicles whose emission levels do not 
meet the requirements set out in the Annexes to 
Directive 70/220/EEC, as last amended by this 
Directive. 
Article 3 
Member States shall bring into force laws, regulations 
and administrative provisions necessary in order to 
comply with this Directive not later than 1 April 198... 
They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof. 
Article 4 
This Directive is addressed to the Member States. 
0) OJ L 192 of 11. 7. 1987, p. 51.