ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES 
DE LA COMMISSION 
 
 
 
COLLECTION RELIEE DES 
DOCUMENTS "COM" 
 
 
 
 
COM (84) 532 
 
 
 
Vol. 1984/0 211 
  
 
Disclaimer  
Conformém ent au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983 
concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique 
européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983, 
p. 1), tel que modifié par le règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003 
(JO L 243 du 27.9.2003, p. 1), ce dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas échéant, les documents 
classifiés présents dans ce dossier ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit 
règlem ent. 
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 
concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Economic 
Community and the European Atomic Energy Communit y (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as 
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243, 
27.9.2003, p. 1), this file is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this 
file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation. 
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom  1. 
Februar 1983 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen 
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgem einschaft (ABI. L 43 vom  15.2.1983, 
S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. Septem ber 2003 
(ABI. L 243 vom 27.9.2003, S. 1), ist diese Datei der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit 
erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in dieser Datei in Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 5 
der genannten Verordnung freigegeben. 
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
C O M (8 4 )  5 3 2  final
Brussels, 2 8  S e p tem b e r 1 9 8 4
C O M M U N I C A T I O N  O F  T H E  C O M M I S S I O N  T O  T H E  C O U N C I L
regarding the com pletion o f the proposal for C o u n cil Directive 
C O M ( 8 4 )  2 2 6  final o f 6  Ju n e 1 9 8 4  a m e n d in g  Directive 78/611/E E C  
o n  the approxim ation o f the la w s  o f the M e m b e r  States concerning 
the lead content o f petrol.
C O M (8 4 )  5 3 2  final

-  2 -
1. Proposal for the completion of a proposal for a Directive on the 
lead and benzene content of petrol
1.1. Introduction
In its proposal to the Council for a Directive on the leàd and 
benzene content of petrol the Commission stated that by 30 September 1984 
it would finalise Article 6, dealing with the octane rating of the 
unleaded petrol to be placed on the market, and Annex 2, dealing with 
colouring agents for leaded petrol.
Since June the Commission has carried out the necessary consultations 
with all the interested parties and collected all the information needed to 
complete its proposal.
The approach which the Commission has followed in drafting this 
proposal has been based primarily on the following considerations
Ci) The introduction of unleaded petrol in the Community will necessitate 
major adjustments to the motor and oil industries' production 
techniques. For these adjustments to be effected under favourable 
conditions and at minimum cost the grade (octane rating) of such 
petrol must be determined on com m on bases.
(ii) Given the differing structure of the markets, mandatory introduction 
of two unleaded petrols, regular and premium, is not called for in 
all countries. The Commission plans to specify only the quality of 
the "premium grade", which is the most widely used in the Community 
at present.
(iii)  T h e"p rem i u n f'g rad e should m e e t the following requirements :
. a  vehicle should be able to travel anywhere in the Community without
having to undergo technical modifications or re-tuning.
1  C O M (84)226 final

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the grade adopted should be in line with the current state of 
both refinery and engine technology.
(iv) T o  meet these requirements it will be sufficient to lay dow n for the 
"premium" petrol marketed in the Community minimum M O N  and R O N  octane 
numbers at the pump. Production techniques m ay subsequently develop 
without it being necessary to alter these m inim um  levels, since market 
forces will if necessary bring about improvements in the quality of 
the petrol marketed.
(v) A n  unleaded "p rem iu m " grade a b o v e the m in im u m  level will b e  possible if 
there is a  sufficient m arket for good-quality"regulari'  unleaded petrol. 
T h e size of this m arket will depend o n  the taxation of each grade,
o n  the characteristics of the vehicles sold a n d  o n  the extent to w h ich  
autom otive gasoil replaces "regular" petrol :  thus in G e rm a n y  there w ill 
in  all probability b e  tw o  grades of unleaded petrol, the p rem iu m  grade 
being ab o v e the legal m in im u m .
(vi) The European motor industry's particular approach demands that it 
produce high-performance engines in order to remain competitive. It is 
necessary therefore that the minimum octane rating should be as high as 
possible consonant with the overall economic and energy optimum.
1.2. Proposal
The Commission proposes, on the basis of these technical and economic 
considerations, that Article 6 and Annex 2  of the proposal for a Directive 
on the lead and benzene content of petrol in Doc. C O M  (84) 226 final be 
superseded by the texts in Annex I following.
Article 6.1. lays dow n for"premiuirf unleaded petrol a minimum motor octane 
number of 85.0 and research octane number of 95.0 at the pump.
Article 6.2. lays dow n that in addition to the mandatory supply of th is grade 
throughout the Community, there m ay also be placed on the market another petrol 
of "regular" quality.

-  A  -
Article 6.3. lays dow n that the other technical specifications 
of unleaded petrol must be in line with those of the European 
Standard instituted by the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN).
In Annex 2, the Commission proposes the addition of colouring agents 
to leaded petrol to ensure that it is not used by motorists in vehicles 
designed to run on unleaded petrol only :  improper use can thus be 
easily detected by the national authorities responsible.

Annex I
Am endm ent to the
proposal for a Council Directive on the 
approximation of the laws of the M em ber 
States on the lead and benzene content 
of petrol (C0M(84)226 final)
Article 6 and Annex 2  to read as follows :
Article 6
1. M em ber States shall take all the necessary steps to ensure the 
introduction and general availability on their territo ry  of an 
unleaded petrol having a minimum Motor Octane Number of 85.0
and a minimum Research Octane Number of 95.0 at the pum p ("premium").
2. M em ber States must allow to be placed on their markets another 
unleaded petrol having lower octane numbers than those provided 
for in 1  above ("regular").
3. The other technical specifications for unleaded petrol must conform
to European Standard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  instituted by the European Committee for
St
andardisation (CEN).
Annex 2
Colouring agents for marking leaded petrol
Pursuant to Article 11, premium grade leaded petrol shall be coloured 
red and regular grade yellow/orange.