Proposal for a Council Directive relating to the availability of consumer information on fuel economy in respect of the marketing of new passenger cars
Date: 1998-09-03
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: access to information, energy saving, motor car, non-polluting vehicle, pollution control measures

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Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

3.10.98

II

(Preparatory  Acts)

COMMISSION

Proposal  for  a  Council  Directive  relating  to  the  availability  of  consumer  information  on  fuel
economy  in  respect  of  the  marketing  of  new  passenger  cars

(98/C  305/02)

(Text  with  EEA  relevance)

COM(1998)  489  final  -  98/0272(SYN)

(Submitted  by  the  Commission  on  3  September  1998)

THE  COUNCIL  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  UNION,

the  United  Nations  Framework  Convention  on
Climate  Change;

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European
Community  and  in  particular  Article  130s(1)  thereof,

Having  regard  to  the  proposal  from  the  Commission,

Having  regard  to  the  opinion  of  the  Economic  and
Social  Committee,

Acting  in  accordance  with  the  procedure  laid  down  in
Article  189c  of  the  Treaty 
in  cooperation  with  the
European  Parliament,

(1)(cid:217)Whereas  Article  130r  of 
and 

the  Treaty  requires
prudent 
natural
resources;  whereas  the  rational  use  of  energy  is  one
of  the  principal  means  by  which  this  objective  can
be  achieved  and  environmental  pollution  reduced;

utilisation  of 

rational 

(2)(cid:217)Whereas 

the  Community 

that
greenhouse  gas  concentrations  in  the  atmosphere
should  be  stabilised  at  such  a  level  that  would
prevent  dangerous  anthropogenic  interference  with
the  climate  system;

recognises 

(3)(cid:217)Whereas  the  Community  is  committed,  within  the
United  Nations  Framework  Convention  on  Climate
Change,  to  stabilising  emissions  of  carbon  dioxide
(CO2)  at  1990  levels  by  2000;

(4)(cid:217)Whereas  the  Community  has  accepted  a  target  to
reduce  its  emissions  of  a  basket  of  greenhouse  gases
by  8(cid:216)%  during  the  period  2008  to  2012  relative  to
1990  levels  as  part  of  the  Protocol  agreed  at  the
December  1997  Kyoto  Conference  of  the  Parties  to

(5)(cid:217)Whereas  a  Community  strategy  to  reduce  CO2
emissions  from  passenger  cars  and  improve  fuel
economy  has  been  proposed  by  the  Commission(cid:216)(˛)
and  was  endorsed  by  the  Council  in  its  conclusions
of  25  June  1996;

(6)(cid:217)Whereas 

in 

the
information  plays  a  key  role 
operation  of  market  forces  and  the  provision  of
accurate,  relevant  and  comparable  information  on
the  specific  fuel  consumption  of  passenger  cars  may
influence  consumer  choice  in  favour  of  those  cars
which  use  less  fuel  and  thereby  emit  less  CO2,  thus
prompting  manufacturers  to  take  steps  to  reduce
the  fuel  consumption  of  the  cars  that  they  manu(cid:220)
facture;

(7)(cid:217)Whereas  it  is  necessary,  therefore,  to  develop  a  fuel
economy  label  for  all  new  passenger  cars  displayed
at  the  point  of  sale;

is  a  key  element 

(8)(cid:217)Whereas,  in  accordance  with  the  principles  of  subsi(cid:220)
diarity  and  proportionality  as  set  out  in  Article  3b
of  the  Treaty,  the  objectives  of  this  Directive,
in  the  abovementioned
which 
Community 
sufficiently
achieved  by  the  Member  States  and  can  therefore
be  better  achieved  by  the  Community;  whereas  this
Directive  confines  itself  to  the  minimum  required  in
order  to  achieve  those  objectives  and  does  not  go
beyond  what  is  necessary  for  that  purpose;

strategy, 

cannot 

be 

(˛)(cid:217)COM(95)  689  final.

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(9)(cid:217)Whereas  a  fuel  economy 

fuel  consumption  and 

label  should  contain
information  on 
specific
emissions  of  CO2  (cid:216)that  have  been  determined  in
accordance  with  the  harmonised  standards  and
in  Council  Directive
methods 
80/1268/EEC  of  16  December  1980  on 
the
approximation  of  the  laws  of  the  Member  States
relating 
consumption  of  motor
last  amended  by  Commission
vehicles(cid:216)(˛),  as 
Directive  93/116/EC(cid:216)(ˇ);

down 

fuel 

laid 

the 

to 

new  passenger  car  means  any  passenger  car  which  has  not
previously  been  sold  to  a  person  who  bought  it  for  a
purpose  other  than  that  of  selling  or  supplying  it;

Certificate  of  Conformity  means  the  document  provided
for  in  Article  6  of  Directive  70/156/EEC  which  must
accompany  each  new  passenger  car  and  which 
is
required  before  a  passenger  car  can  be  sold,  registered  or
allowed  entry  into  service;

(10)(cid:217)Whereas  it  is  necessary  that  supplementary  stan(cid:220)
dardised  information  on  the  fuel  consumption  of  all
versions  on  the  new  car  market  is  available  in  a
suitable  form  both  at  the  point  of  sale  and  from  a
designated  body  in  each  Member  State;  whereas
such  information  may  be  useful  to  consumers  who
formulate  their  purchase  decision  before  entering
the  showroom  or  who  choose  not  to  use  the
services  of  a  dealer  or  visit  a  showroom  when
purchasing  a  passenger  car;

dealer  means  a  person  or  commercial  enterprise  whose
business  involves  the  selling  or  leasing  of  new  passenger
cars.  It  does  not  include  those  people  or  organisations
involved  solely  in  the  provision  of  finance  to  consumers
in  order  that  they  may  purchase  a  vehicle;

point  of  sale  means  a  location,  such  as  a  car  showroom  or
forecourt,  where  passenger  cars  are  displayed  and
offered  for  sale  or  lease  to  potential  customers;

(11)(cid:217)Whereas  it  is  important  that  potential  customers  are
made  aware,  at  the  point  of  sale,  of  the  most  fuel
efficient  cars  available  through  a  given  dealer;

official  fuel  consumption  means  the  fuel  consumption
measured  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  Directive
80/1268/EEC;

(12)(cid:217)Whereas  all  promotional 

literature,  prepared  by
manufacturers  and  dealers  and  used 
the
marketing  of  new  passenger  cars,  should  contain
the  relevant  fuel  consumption  data  for  the  vehicles
to  which  it  pertains,

in 

HAS  ADOPTED  THIS  DIRECTIVE:

Article  1

this  Directive 

The  purpose  of 
information  relating 
to 
passenger  cars  offered 
Community  is  made  available  to  consumers.

that
fuel  economy  of  new
the
lease 
sale  or 

to  ensure 

the 
for 

in 

is 

Article  2

For  the  purposes  of  this  Directive:

in  Annex 
that 

passenger  car  means  a  motor  vehicle  of  category  M1,
to  Council  Directive
1 
as  defined 
70/156/EEC(cid:216)(—), 
the  carriage  of
is  used 
passengers  and  that  has  no  more  than  eight  seats  in
addition  to  the  driver’s  seat.  It  does  not  include  vehicles
of  Council  Directive
under 
falling 
92/61/EEC(cid:216)((cid:209));

scope 

the 

for 

(˛)(cid:217)OJ  L  375,  31.12.1980,  p.  36.
(ˇ)(cid:217)OJ  L  329,  30.12.1993,  p.  39.
(—)(cid:217)OJ  L  42,  23.2.1970,  p.  1.
((cid:209))(cid:217)OJ  L  225,  10.8.1992,  p.  72.

official  specific  emissions  of  CO2  (cid:216)means  the  specific  CO2
emissions  determined  in  accordance  with  the  provisions
of  Directive  80/1268/EEC;

fuel  economy  label  means  a  label  which  contains  certain
items  of  consumer  information  regarding  the  official  fuel
consumption  and  the  official  specific  emissions  of  CO2 (cid:216)of
the  car  to  which  it  is  attached;

fuel  economy  guide  means  a  compilation  of  the  official
fuel  consumption  data  and  official  specific  emissions  of
CO2 (cid:216)for  each  new  passenger  car  available  on  the  new  car
market  in  the  Member  State,  listed  by  make,  variant  and
version;

promotional  literature  means  all  printed  matter  used  by
manufacturers  and  new  car  dealers  in  the  marketing,
advertising  and  promotion  of  their  vehicles  to  the  general
public.  It  includes,  as  a  minimum,  technical  manuals,
brochures,  advertisements  in  newspapers,  magazines  and
trade  press  and  posters;

make  means  the  trade  name  of  the  person  or  body
responsible  to  a  type(cid:220)approval  authority  for  all  aspects  of
the  vehicle  type  and 
is  that  which  appears  on  the
Certificate  of  Conformity;

variants  means  those  cars  which  belong  to  the  same  type,
as  defined  in  Annex  II  B  to  Directive  70/156/EEC,  but
which  differ  from  one  another  in  certain  permissible
respects;

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versions  means  those  cars  which  belong  to  the  same
to  Directive
variant,  as  defined 
in  Annex 
70/156/EEC,  but  which  differ  from  one  another 
in
certain  permissible  respects;

II  B 

average  fuel  price  means  a  single  reference  price  of  petrol
or  diesel  fuel  which  is  representative  of  the  prevailing
market  for  those  fuels  in  each  Member  State.

Article  3

the  vehicles  to  which  it  refers  in  accordance  with  the
requirements  of  Annex  IV.

Article  8

The  Member  States  shall  ensure  that  the  presence  of
other  marks,  symbols  or 
inscriptions  relating  to  fuel
consumption  which  do  not  comply  with  the  requirements
of  this  Directive  is  prohibited  if  their  display  might  cause
confusion  to  potential  consumers  of  new  passenger  cars.

The  Member  States  shall  determine,  for  the  purposes  of
this  Directive,  average  fuel  prices  for  both  petrol  and
diesel  fuel  on  1  January  each  year  and  ensure  that  this
information  is  freely  available,  in  particular,  to  those
persons  or  organisations  involved  in  the  implementation
of  the  provisions  of  this  Directive.

Article  9

The  Member  States  shall  notify  the  Commission  of  the
competent  body  or  bodies  responsible  for  the  implemen(cid:220)
tation  and  functioning  of  the  consumer 
information
scheme  described  in  this  Directive.

Article  4

is 

The  Member  States  shall  ensure  that  a  fuel  economy
in  accordance  with  the  requirements
label,  which 
described  in  Annex  I,  is  attached  in  a  clearly  visible
manner  to  the  windshield  of  all  new  passenger  cars  at  the
point  of  sale.

However,  ist  shall  not  be  necessary  to  attach  a  label  to
those  passenger  cars 
fuel
consumption  and  official  specific  CO2 (cid:216)emissions  data  do
not  appear  in  the  Certificate  of  Conformity.

the  official 

for  which 

Article  10

Any  amendments  which  are  necessary  in  order  to  adapt
the  Annexes  to  this  Directive  to  take  account  of  progress
shall  be  adopted  by  the  Commission  in  accordance  with
the  procedure  set  out  in  Article  11  and  following  consul(cid:220)
tation  with  consumer  organisations  and  other  interested
parties.

In  order  to  assist  this  adaptation  process,  five  years  after
this  Directive  has  entered  into  force  each  Member  State
shall  transmit  to  the  Commission  a  report  on  the  effec(cid:220)
tiveness  of  the  provisions  of  this  Directive.

Article  5

Article  11

The  Member  States  shall  ensure  that  a  fuel  economy
guide 
in
accordance  with  the  requirements  of  Annex  II.

least  on  an  annual  basis 

is  produced  at 

The  guide  shall  be  compact,  portable  and  be  available
free  of  charge  to  consumers  on  request  both  at  the  point
of  sale  and  also  from  a  designated  body  within  each
Member  State.  The  Member  State  shall  also  ensure  that
the  guide  is  available  through  electronic  means,  such  as
the  Internet,  and  that  this  form  of  the  guide  is  kept
up(cid:220)to(cid:220)date  with  changes  in  the  range  of  new  passenger
car  versions  available  for  purchase  in  the  Member  State.

Article  6

that  every  dealer
The  Member  States  shall  ensure 
displays,  for  each  make  available  for  purchase  at  the
point  of  sale,  a  list  of  the  official  fuel  consumption  data
and  the  official  specific  CO2  (cid:216)emissions  data  of  all  new
passenger  cars  available  for  purchase  at  the  point  of  sale,
by  way  of  a  poster.  This  data  shall  be  displayed  in  a
prominent  position  and  in  accordance  with  the  format  in
Annex  III.

Article  7

The  Commission  shall  be  assisted  by  the  Committee
established  in  accordance  with  Article  10  of  Council
Directive  92/75/EEC(cid:216)(˛).

The  representative  of  the  Commission  shall  submit  to  the
Committee  a  draft  of  the  measures  to  be  taken.  The
Committee  shall  deliver  its  opinion  on  the  draft  within  a
time  limit,  which  the  chairman  may  lay  down  according
to  the  urgency  of  the  matter,  if  necessary  by  taking  a
vote.

in
The  opinion  shall  be  recorded 
addition,  each  Member  State  shall  have  the  right  to  ask
to  have  its  position  recorded  in  the  minutes.

the  minutes; 

in 

The  Commission  shall  take  the  utmost  account  of  the
opinion  delivered  by  the  Committee.  It  shall  inform  the
Committee  of  the  manner  in  which  its  opinion  has  been
taken  into  account.

Article  12

1.(cid:218)(cid:217)The  Member  States  shall  bring 
into  force  the
provisions  necessary  to  comply  with  this  Directive  by
31  December  1999,  at  the  latest.  They  shall  forthwith
inform  the  Commission  thereof.

The  Member  States  shall  ensure  that  all  promotional
literature  contains  the  official  fuel  consumption  data  of

(˛)(cid:217)OJ  L  297,  13.10.1992,  p.  16.

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When  Member  States  adopt  the  measures  referred  to  in
the  first  subparagraph,  they  shall  contain  a  reference  to
this  Directive  or  shall  be  accompanied  by  such  a
reference  on  the  occasion  of  their  official  publication.

proportionate  and  dissuasive.  The  Member  States  shall
notify  those  provisions  to  the  Commission  by  the  date
specified  in  Article  12  at  the  latest  and  shall  notify  it
without  delay  of  any  subsequent  amendment  affecting
them.

2.(cid:218)(cid:217)Member 
the
shall 
Commission  the  main  provisions  of  domestic  law  which
they  adopt  in  the  field  governed  by  this  Directive.

communicate 

States 

to 

Article  13

The  Member  States  shall  lay  down  the  rules  on  penalties
applicable  to  infringements  of  the  national  provisions
adopted  pursuant  to  this  Directive  and  shall  take  all
measures  necessary  to  ensure  that  they  are  implemented.
effective,
The 

for  must 

provided 

penalties 

be 

Article  14

This  Directive  shall  enter  into  force  on  the  20th  day
following  its  publication  in  the  Official  Journal  of  the
European  Communities.

Article  15

This  Directive  is  addressed  to  the  Member  States.

ANNEX  I

DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  FUEL  ECONOMY  LABEL

The  Member  States  shall  ensure,  as  a  minimum,  that  all  fuel  economy  labels  in  their  territory:

1.(cid:217)comply  to  a  standardised  format  in  order  to  allow  greater  recognition  by  consumers;

2.(cid:217)are  of  a  size  of  297(cid:216)mm(cid:141)210(cid:216)mm  (A4);

3.(cid:217)contain  the  make,  variant,  version,  and  fuel  type  of  the  passenger  car  to  which  they  are  attached;

4.(cid:217)contain  the  numerical  value  of  the  official  fuel  consumption  and  the  official  specific  emissions  of  CO2.
The  value  of  the  official  fuel  consumption  shall  be  expressed  in  either  litres  per  100  kilometres
(l/100  km),  miles  per  gallon  (mpg),  kilometres  per  litre  (km/l),  or  an  appropriate  combination  of  these
and  be  quoted  to  one  decimal  place.  The  official  specific  emissions  of  CO2  (cid:216)are  to  be  quoted  to  the
nearest  whole  number  in  grams  per  kilometre  (g/km);

5.(cid:217)contain  an  estimate  of  the  fuel  costs  associated  with  driving  a  distance  of  10(cid:216)000  kilometres  or  6(cid:216)000
miles  for  the  particular  vehicle  and  fuel  type  in  question.  The  calculation  of  fuel  cost  shall  use  the
average  fuel  price  set  annually  in  each  Member  State.  The  fuel  cost  estimate  shall  be  accompanied  by  a
suitable  text  explaining  the  underlying  assumptions  and  the  fuel  price  used  in  the  calculation.  The  text
explaining  the  underlying  assumptions  shall  include  a  reference  to  the  driving  conditions  simulated  by
the  test  cycle  which  appears  in  Directive  80/1268/EEC,  an  explanation  of  how  the  average  fuel  price
was  calculated  and  an  explanation  that  the  cost  figure  is  given  for  10(cid:216)000  kilometres  (6(cid:216)000  miles)  so
that  consumers  can  easily  calculate  their  annual  fuel  cost  for  a  particular  vehicle;

6.(cid:217)contain  the  following  text  regarding  the  availability  of  the  fuel  economy  guide:

"A  fuel  economy  guide  which  contains  fuel  consumption  data  for  all  new  cars  is  available  from  the
dealer  free  of  charge’;

7.(cid:217)contain  the  following  text:

"In  addition  to  the  fuel  efficiency  of  a  car,  driving  behaviour  as  well  as  other  non(cid:220)technical  factors  play
a  role  in  determining  a  car’s  fuel  economy  and  CO2  (cid:216)emissions.  CO2  (cid:216)is  the  main  greenhouse  gas
responsible  for  global  warming’.

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ANNEX  II

DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  FUEL  ECONOMY  GUIDE

The  Member  States  shall  ensure  that  the  fuel  economy  guide  contains,  as  a  minimum,  the  following
information:

1.(cid:217)the  numerical  value  of  the  official  fuel  consumption  and  the  official  specific  emissions  of  CO2.  The
value  of  the  official  fuel  consumption  shall  be  expressed  in  either  litres  per  100  kilometres  (l/100  km),
miles  per  gallon  (mpg),  kilometres  per  litre  (km/l)  or  an  appropriate  combination  of  these  and  be
quoted  to  one  decimal  place.  The  official  specific  emissions  of  CO2  (cid:216)are  to  be  quoted  to  the  nearest
whole  number  in  grams  per  kilometre  (g/km);

2.(cid:217)a  prominent  listing  of  the  10  most  fuel(cid:220)efficient  new  car  versions  ranked  in  order  of  increasing  specific
emissions  of  CO2 (cid:216)for  each  fuel  type  (petrol  and  diesel).  The  listing  must  contain  the  make,  variant  and
version,  the  official  specific  emissions  of  CO2,  the  official  fuel  consumption  and  the  fuel  cost  associated
with  10(cid:216)000  km  or  6(cid:216)000  miles  for  the  particular  vehicle  in  question;

3.(cid:217)the  official  specific  emissions  of  CO2  (cid:216)are  to  be  quoted  to  the  nearest  whole  number  in  grams  per
kilometre  (g/km).  The  fuel  consumption  shall  be  expressed 
litres  per  100  kilometres
(l/100  km),  miles  per  gallon  (mpg),  kilometres  per  litre  (km/l)  or  an  appropriate  combination  of  these.
All  fuel  consumption  data  must  be  quoted  to  one  decimal  place.  The  calculation  of  fuel  cost  shall  use
the  average  fuel  price  set  annually  in  each  Member  State.  The  fuel  cost  estimate  shall  be  accompanied  by
a  suitable  text  explaining  the  underlying  assumptions  and  the  fuel  price  used  in  the  calculation.  The  text
explaining  the  underlying  assumptions  shall  include  a  reference  to  the  driving  conditions  simulated  by
the  test  cycle  which  appears  in  Directive  80/1268/EEC,  an  explanation  of  how  the  average  fuel  price
was  calculated  and  an  explanation  that  the  cost  figure  is  given  for  10(cid:216)000  kilometres  (6(cid:216)000  miles)  so
that  consumers  can  easily  calculate  their  annual  fuel  cost  for  a  particular  vehicle;

in  either 

Fuel  type

Ranking

Make

Variant

Version CO2 (cid:216)emissions

Fuel
consumption

Fuel  cost
of  driving
10(cid:216)000  km

Petrol

Diesel

1

2

-

10

1

2

-

10

4.(cid:217)contain  advice  to  motorists  on  the  many  non(cid:220)technical  measures  that  can  be  taken  to  improve  the  fuel
consumption  of  their  vehicle,  for  example,  eliminating  aggressive  driving,  travelling  at  lower  speeds,
anticipating  braking,  correctly  inflating  tyres,  reducing  periods  of  idling,  not  carrying  excessive  weight,
etc.;

5.(cid:217)contain  an  explanation  of  the  effects  of  greenhouse  gas  emissions,  potential  climate  change  and  the
relevance  of  motor  cars  as  well  as  a  reference  to  the  different  fuel  options  available  to  the  consumer  and
their  environmental  implications  based  on  the  latest  scientific  evidence  and  legislative  requirements.

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DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  POSTER  TO  BE  DISPLAYED  AT  THE  POINT  OF  SALE

ANNEX  III

The  Member  States  shall  ensure  that  dealers  display  a  poster  containing  a  list  of  all  the  new  car  versions
available  for  purchase  at  the  point  of  sale  and  ranked  according  to  their  official  fuel  consumption.  Where  a
dealer  has  more  than  one  make  for  sale,  they  shall  provide  a  separate  poster  for  each  make.  The  poster(s)
shall,  as  a  minimum,  meet  the  following  requirements:

1.(cid:217)be  a  minimum  size  of  70  cm(cid:216)(cid:141)(cid:216)50  cm;

2.(cid:217)the  information  in  the  poster  should  be  easy  to  read;

3.(cid:217)new  car  versions  must  be  grouped  and  listed  separately  according  to  fuel  type  (petrol  or  diesel).  For
each  car  in  the  list  the  make,  variant,  version,  official  CO2 (cid:216)emissions,  official  fuel  consumption  and  fuel
cost  associated  with  10(cid:216)000  kilometres  or  6(cid:216)000  miles  shall  be  included  for  the  particular  vehicle  in
question.  Within  each  fuel  type,  versions  are  to  be  ranked  in  order  or  increasing  CO2 (cid:216)emissions,  with
the  most  fuel(cid:220)efficient  vehicle  being  placed  at  the  top  of  the  list;

4.(cid:217)the  official  specific  emissions  of  CO2  (cid:216)are  to  be  quoted  to  the  nearest  whole  number  in  grams  per
kilometre  (g/km).  Fuel  consumption  is  to  be  expressed  in  either  litres  per  100  kilometres  (l/100  km),  in
miles  per  gallon  (mpg),  kilometres  per  litre  (km/l)  or  an  appropriate  combination  of  these.  The  calcu(cid:220)
lation  of  fuel  cost  shall  use  the  average  fuel  price  set  annually  in  each  Member  State.  The  fuel  cost
estimate  shall  be  accompanied  by  a  suitable  text  explaining  the  underlying  assumptions  and  the  fuel
price  used  in  the  calculation.  The  text  explaining  the  underlying  assumptions  should  include  a  reference
to  the  driving  conditions  simulated  by  the  test  cycle  which  appears  in  Directive  80/1268/EEC,  an  expla(cid:220)
nation  of  how  the  average  fuel  price  was  calculated  and  an  explanation  that  the  cost  figure  is  given  for
10(cid:216)000  kilometres  (6(cid:216)000  miles)  so  that  consumers  can  easily  calculate  their  annual  fuel  cost  for  a
particular  vehicle.

All  fuel  consumption  data  shall  be  quoted  to  one  decimal  place.  A  suggested  format  is  shown  below;

Fuel  type

Ranking

Make

Variant

Version CO2 (cid:216)emissions

Fuel
consumption

Fuel  cost
of  driving
10(cid:216)000  km

Petrol

Diesel

1

2

-

10

1

2

-

10

5.(cid:217)the  poster  should  contain  the  following  text  regarding  the  availability  of  the  fuel  economy  guide,  "A  fuel
economy  guide  which  contains  fuel  consumption  data  for  all  new  cars  is  available  from  the  dealer  free
of  charge’;

6.(cid:217)contain  the  following  text,  "In  addition  to  the  fuel  efficiency  of  a  car,  driving  behaviour  as  well  as  other
non(cid:220)technical  factors  play  a  role  in  determining  a  car’s  fuel  economy  and  CO2 (cid:216)emissions.  CO2 (cid:216)is  the
main  greenhouse  gas  responsible  for  global  warming’.

C  305/8

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

3.10.98

ANNEX  IV

THE  PROVISION  OF  FUEL  CONSUMPTION  DATA  IN  PROMOTIONAL  LITERATURE

The  Member  States  shall  ensure  that  all  promotional  literature  contains  the  official  fuel  consumption  data
of  the  vehicles  to  which  it  refers.  This  information  should,  as  a  minimum,  meet  the  following  requirements:

1.(cid:217)it  should  be  easy  to  read  and  no  less  prominent  than  the  main  part  of  the  information  provided  in  the

promotional  literature;

2.(cid:217)it  should  be  easy  to  understand  even  on  superficial  contact;

3.(cid:217)official  fuel  consumption  data  should  be  provided  for  all  different  car  versions  to  which  the  promotional
material  covers.  If  more  than  one  version  is  specified  then  either  the  official  fuel  consumption  data  for
all  versions  can  be  included  or  the  range  between  the  worst  and  best  fuel  consumption  can  be  stated.
Fuel  consumption  is  to  be  expressed  in  either  litres  per  100  kilometres  (l/100  km),  in  miles  per  gallon
(mpg),  kilometres  per  litre  (km/l)  or  an  appropriate  combination  of  these.  All  numerical  data  should  be
quoted  to  one  decimal  place.

If  the  promotional  literature  only  contains  reference  to  the  brand  name  of  the  make,  and  not  to  any
particular  version  or  vehicle,  then  fuel  consumption  data  need  not  be  provided.

Amended  proposal  for  a  Council  Directive  amending  Directives  66/400/EEC,  66/401/EEC,
66/402/EEC,  66/403/EEC,  69/208/EEC,  70/457/EEC  and  70/458/EEC  on  the  marketing  of
beet  seed,  fodder  plant  seed,  cereal  seed,  seed  potatoes,  seed  of  oil  and  fibre  plants  and  vegetable
seed  and  on  the  common  catalogue  of  varieties  of  agricultural  plant  species

(98/C  305/03)

COM(1998)  499  final  -  97/0217(CNS)

(Submitted  by  the  Commission  pursuant  to  Article  189a(2)  of  the  EC  Treaty  on  7  August  1998)

July  1997 

In  response  to  the  opinion  delivered  by  the  European
Parliament  at  its  plenary  session  of  11  to  15  May  1998
on  the  proposal  for  a  Council  Directive  submitted  on
25 
amending  Directives  66/400/EEC,
66/401/EEC,  66/402/EEC,  66/403/EEC,  69/208/EEC,
70/457/EEC  and  70/458/EEC  on  the  marketing  of  beet
seed,  fodder  plant  seed,  cereal  seed,  seed  potatoes,  seed
of  oil  and  fibre  plants  and  vegetable  seed  and  on  the
common  catalogue  of  varieties  of  agricultural  plant
species,  and  in  accordance  with  Article  189a(2)  of  the
EC  Treaty  the  Commission  has  decided  to  amend  the
aforementioned  proposal  as  follows:

1.(cid:217)Article  1(2)  is  replaced  by  the  following:

"2.(cid:218)(cid:217)The 
Article  2(2):

following  paragraphs  are  added  after

(i)(cid:217)the  inspectors,  shall:

(a)(cid:217)have  the  necessary  technical  qualifications,

(b) derive  no  private  gain  in  connection  with  the

carrying  out  of  the  inspections,

(c) have  been  officially  licensed  and  sworn  in  by
the

certification  authority  of 

seed 

the 
Member  State  concerned,

(d) carry  out  inspections  under  official  super(cid:220)
vision  in  accordance  with  the  rules  applicable
to  official  inspections;

""3.(cid:218)(cid:217)When  the  examination  under  official  super(cid:220)
vision  referred  to  in  paragraph  1(C)(d)(ii)  is  carried
out,  the  following  requirements  shall  be  complied
with:

(ii)(cid:217)the  seed  crop  to  be  inspected  shall  be  grown
from  seed  which  has  undergone  official  post
control,  the  results  of  which  have  been  satis(cid:220)
factory;