6. 7. 84 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 178/5 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Proposal for a Council Directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member States 
concerning the lead and benzene content of petrol 
COM(84) 226 final 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 6 June 1984) 
(84/C 178/05) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN 
COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community, and in particular 
Article 100 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Par­
liament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas the protection and improvement of public 
health and of the environment currently and in the 
future constitute a major preoccupation common to 
all industrialized countries; whereas the effects on 
public health and the environment of pollution caused 
by substances emitted in the exhaust gas of vehicles 
must be regarded as serious, owing to the continuous 
increase in the volume of motor traffic; 
Whereas following the introduction of Council 
Directive 70/220/EEC on the approximation of the 
laws of the Member States relating to measures to 
be taken against air pollution by gases from 
spark-ignition engines of motor vehicles ('), as last 
amended by Directive 83/351/EEC (2), which was 
designed to curb air pollution caused by the emission 
of carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons and 
nitrogen oxides from motor vehicles, Council 
Directive 78/611/EEC on the approximation of the 
laws of the Member States relating to the lead 
content of petrol (3) has fixed a maximum and a 
minimum value for the permitted lead compound 
content of petrol; 
Whereas the third action programme on the 
environment (") provides for further efforts to reduce 
(») OJNoL76,6. 4. 1970, p. 1. 
O OJNoL 197,20. 7. 1983, p. 1. 
O OJ No L 197, 22. 7. 1978, p. 19. 
(4) OJNoC46, 17. 2. 1983, p. 1. considerably the present levels of exhaust pollution 
and that the availability of unleaded petrol is a pre­
requisite for the efficient functioning of certain 
antipollution devices; 
Whereas existent or future disparities in the national 
laws of the Member States concerning the 
composition of petrol and, in particular, the rules 
governing the limitations on the lead content and on 
the benzene content of motor vehicle petrol may 
directly affect the proper functioning of the common 
market; 
Whereas refining technology allows for a lowering of 
the maximum permitted lead content to 0,15 g Pb/1 
without adverse effects on the quality of petrol; 
whereas specific difficulties pertaining to the structure 
of the refining industry and to the demand pattern 
for leaded petrols in a Member State may require that 
the Commission grants a waiver for a limited period 
of time; 
Whereas lowering and ultimately eliminating the use 
of lead in petrol will improve the health protection of 
the population, particularly in areas with dense 
traffic; whereas the early introduction of unleaded 
petrol is also necessary to permit the application of 
certain antipollution technology for reducing 
drastically polluting emissions from motor vehicles, in 
particular NOx and unburned hydrocarbons; 
Whereas during a transitional period leaded petrol 
must still be available on Member States' markets, 
together with unleaded petrol, in order to satisfy, 
under realistic economic and technical conditions, the 
requirements of an important fraction of the existing 
vehicle fleet; 
Whereas, owing to the importance of preventive 
measures against adverse effects on public health and 
the environment, Member States should be enabled to 
No C 178/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 6.7.84 
introduce unleaded petrol onto their markets at an 
earlier date than required by the Community as a 
whole; 
Whereas the protection of public health also requires 
a limitation on the benzene content of petrol; 
Whereas provisions are required for the quality of 
unleaded petrol in terms of minimum research and 
motor octane ratings in order to ensure a satisfactory 
operation throughout the Community of motor 
vehicles designed for being fuelled with such petrol; 
Whereas lead is only one of the constituent 
compounds in the composition of petrol; whereas the 
reduction of elimination of lead must not have the 
effect of aggravating the air pollution by other sub­
stances which might be emitted as a consequence of 
modifications in this composition; 
Whereas the limitation of the lead content as well as 
the introduction of unleaded petrol at any date must 
in no way affect the free circulation or marketing of 
petrol within the Community; 
Whereas a regular check at the final distribution level 
of the lead and benzene content is required for the 
protection of human health and to ensure that the 
consumers receive the appropriate type of petrol; 
Whereas any misfuelling must be prevented by legal 
and technical means e.g. by colouring of leaded 
petrol; whereas the consumer must be protected from 
running his vehicle with petrol for which it is not 
designed; 
Whereas a substantial fraction of the existing motor 
vehicle fleet could run on unleaded petrol provided 
the quality requirements are matched and therefore 
adequate incentives compatible with the provisions of 
the Treaty may be needed to promote the largest 
possible use of such petrol, in particular that unleaded 
petrol should be made available, as far as possible, at 
a lower retail price level than the leaded one; 
Whereas further examinations of some aspects of the 
measures taken to reduce the content of lead or other 
polluting substitutes in the atmosphere should be 
continued at Community level; whereas Member 
States should, on request, provide the Commission 
with relevant information; 
Whereas to avoid a legal gap concerning the 
maximum lead content of petrol, Article 2 of 
Directive 78/611/EEC must remain in force until the new provisions for the lead content become 
mandatory, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: 
Article 1 
For the purpose of this Directive 
— 'petrol' means any fuel intended for the operation 
of internal combustion spark-ignited engines used 
for the propulsion of vehicles, 
— 'unleaded petrol' means any petrol the contami­
nation of which by lead compounds, calculated in 
terms of lead, shall not exceed 0,010 g Pb/1. 
Article 2 
From 1 July 1989, the maximum permitted lead 
compound content of petrol placed upon the 
Community's internal market, calculated in terms of 
lead, shall be 0,15 g Pb/1. 
Article 3 
Taking into account specific difficulties due to the 
structure of the refining industry and the demand 
pattern for leaded petrols, the Commission, on the 
basis of a duly justified request of a Member State, 
may waive for a limited period of time the application 
of Article 2 with a maximum permitted lead content 
of 0,40 g Pb/1. 
Article 4 
1. Member States shall take all necessary measures 
to ensure that both leaded as well as unleaded petrol 
are marketed throughout their territory from 1 July 
1989 onwards. 
2. Member States may require that unleaded petrol 
is made available upon their markets as from 
1 January 1986. 
3. From 1 January 1986 Member States shall not 
prohibit the marketing of unleaded petrol on their 
territory. 
Article 5 
From 1 July 1989 the content of benzene in leaded 
and unleaded petrols shall not exceed 5,0 % by 
volume. Where Article 4 (2) is invoked, this benzene 
limitation shall apply for unleaded petrol from the 
earlier date. 
6.7.84 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 178/7 
Article 6 
1. Unleaded petrols put upon the market shall have 
— an octane rating of . . .('regular' grade), 
— an octane rating of . . . ('premium' grade) (x). 
2. Member States shall ensure the simultaneous 
introduction, the general availability and an equitable 
distribution of both grades throughout their 
territories. 
Article 7 
Member States shall take all appropriate steps to 
ensure that neither the reduction of the lead content 
nor the introduction of unleaded petrol cause a 
significant increase in the emission of other 
pollutants. 
Article 8 
Member States shall not prevent or restrict the free 
circulation and marketing of petrol which is in 
conformity with the requirements of the present 
Directive. Nevertheless, this shall not apply to petrol 
placed on the market of a Member State by virtue of 
a waiver granted under the provisions of Article 3. 
Article 9 
1. Member States shall take appropriate steps to 
ensure that the requirements concerning the 
maximum content of lead and benzene in petrol as 
well as the quality of petrol are checked regularly at 
the final distribution level. 
2. Where a Member State establishes that petrol 
fails to comply with the requirements of Articles 1, 2, 
5, 6 and 11 it shall take without undue delay the 
necessary measures to ensure that these requirements 
are fulfilled. 
Article 10 
1. The lead content of petrol shall be established in 
accordance with the procedures set out in Annex 1.1. 
2. The benzene content of leaded and unleaded 
petrol shall be established in accordance with the 
procedure set out in Annex 1 II. 
3. The theoretical octane ratings (RON and 
MON) of unleaded petrol shall be determined in 
accordance with the procedure set out in Annex. 
1 .III. 
(') The exact values will be proposed by the Commission on 
30 September 1984. The other technical specifications for 
unleaded petrol (referred to in this Directive) will be 
proposed by the Commission at the same date. They will 
correspond to a European Standard to be established by 
CEN (Comite Europeen de Normalisation). Article 11 
Member States shall take the necessary measures to 
ensure that any leaded petrol put on the market shall 
be properly marked by the addition of colouring 
agents as specified in Annex 2. 
Article 12 
Member States shall take appropriate measures to 
ensure that the use of leaded petrol is prohibited in 
motor vehicles designed to run on unleaded petrol(2). 
Article 13 
1. Member States are invited to promote the widest 
possible use of unleaded petrol by all existing vehicles 
capable of running on such fuel, in particular for the 
application of Article 4, paragraph 2 and, to this end, 
to take all appropriate measures compatible with the 
provisions of the Treaty. 
2. For this purpose they are invited to give 
incentives such that unleaded petrol is marketed, as 
far as possible, at a retail price level lower than that 
of leaded petrol. 
Article 14 
1. Member States shall supply the Commission, as 
early as possible, with information on: 
— the date of introduction of unleaded petrol onto 
the market according to Article 4, paragraph 2; 
— the measures envisaged pursuant to Article 13. 
2. At the Commission's request, Member States 
shall supply information on: 
(a) the annual quantities of leaded and unleaded 
petrol made available for the Community's 
internal market and on the number of stations 
offering leaded and/or unleaded petrol; 
(b) the results of quality checks carried out in 
accordance with Article 9, paragraph 1; 
(c) the effects of the operation of this Directive, and 
in particular, 
(2) The Commission envisages mandating the CEN (Comite 
Europeen de Normalisation) to establish as soon as 
possible a European standard for the technical means to 
prevent, at the distribution level, misfuelling of motor 
vehicles designed for unleaded petrol. 
No C 178/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 6. 7. 84 
— on Article 7 thereof; 
— on the development of the concentrations of 
lead and polluting substitutes in the 
atmosphere; 
— on energy policy and especially on the reper­
cussions on the refinery and distribution 
sector. 
Article 15 
1. Member States shall adopt and publish the laws, 
regulations and administrative provisions necessary to 
comply with this Directive before 1 July 1985 and 
shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof. 2. The Member States shall ensure that they 
communicate to the Commission the texts of the 
provisions of national law which they adopt in the 
field governed by the Directive. 
Article 16 
Directive 78/611/EEC (') will cease to be effective 
from 1 July 1985 onwards, except for the provisions 
of its Article 2 which shall remain in force until 
30 June 1989. 
Article 17 
This Directive is addressed to the Member States. 
O OJ No L 197, 22. 7. 1978, p. 19. 
ANNEX 1 
For the methods, the versions in the various languages published by BSI and ASTM respectively 
shall be authentic, as shall other language versions which the Commission certifies as conforming to 
them. 
I. Reference method for lead content of petrol 
A. Leaded petrol 
For the measurement of the lead content of petrol the reference method shall be that laid 
down in ASTM 3341 (edition approved . . .). 
B. Unleaded petrol 
For the measurement of trace lead content of petrol the reference method shall be that laid 
down in ASTM D 3237 (edition approved 31 August 1979) using atomic absorption 
spectrometry. 
II. Reference method for benzene content of petrol 
For the measurement of the benzene content of petrol the reference method shall be that laid 
down in ASTM D 2267 (edition approved . . .) using gas chromatographic determination with 
polar column and internal standard. 
III. Reference methods for the determination of octane ratings 
The theoretical octane ratings (Research Octane Number and Motor Octane Number) shall be 
determined by the ASTM methods 2699/70 and 2700/70 respectively. 
IV. Interpretation of results 
The results of individual measurements shall be interpreted on the basis of the method described 
in BS 4306: 1981, published by the British Standard Institution. 
ANNEX 2 
Colouring agents (') admitted for the marking of leaded petrol 
The following substances shall be used for giving a colour to all leaded petrol as required 
under the provisions of Article 11: 
(') The Commission will provide the list of substances by 30 September 1984.