CELEX: 51973PC2050
Language: en
Date: 1973-12-05
Title: PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DIRECTIVE concerning the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the composition of petrol. - Problem of the lead content of petrol - (submitted to the Council by the Commission)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (73) 2050
Vol. 1973/0368
 ---pagebreak--- Disclaimer
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 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OB TUS EUE.QFEAN COMMÏMIÏTES
                                                          COM(73) 2050 final
                                                          Brussels , 5 December 1973
                        PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
        concerning the approximation of "the laws of the Member States
                     , relating to the composition of petrol .
                - Problem of the lead content of petrol -
                                                          /
                 (submitted to the Council by the Commission)
          )
   (
  COKC73) 2050 final
 ---pagebreak---          The differences between the laws , regulations or administrative measures
         in the EEC Member States on the limitation of the lead content of pe­
          trol for motor vehicles threatens to create obstacles to the free move­
         ment both of fuels and motor vehicles within the Community#                      The fol­
         lowing table summarizes the regulations already in force or in the
          course of preparation in certain countries .
                         Lead Content   ( g/l) . . . -
                                 – ___ ^ 6/, J3ate xnto for ce             R é m a r k s
    Country                       future
                     precent
Belgium                0.8 ^                  already applies    recommended limit
France ,               0.6 ^                  already applies     limit laid down by regulat .
                                   0,55       1.1 .- 1974         proposed regulation
                                   0.^5       1.1.1976            proposed regulation
Italy                  O.b^f                  already applies     lirait laid down by régulât .
                       OA                                      s content vhich can bo relaxed,
                       O.Sk
                                                               jor     which c?.n be relieved
                                                                  recommended limit
                                                                                                       j
Netherlands                                 j already applies
We st Germany          o.ko                 i already applies  I limit laid down by régulât ,
                                   0.15       1 .1 . 1976      i     11        11   , m '  11     11
United                 0.8k                   already applies     rscommended lirait
Kingdom                            0.6 ^      1 . 1 . 1 973    j proposed recommendations
                                   0.55       1.1.1 97u ■      I proposed recommendations
                               i
                                   0.^5       1 . 1 . 1 976    ] proposed recommendations
Switzerland            0.57)prin„                                                 limit laid down
                       0
                                              already applies
                                                                                  by regulation
U.S. A.                a 10    i    -       • already applies      Re-covr -.ended Unit
                               !
                               )
                                   0.53 ( :'D 1.1.1975
                                            1
                                                                 proposed reconr.endntion li-
                                                                                                  nits
                               | oAp(-À 1.1 . 1976                      11            1;       ïi
                                   O.JfO(*J 1.T.1977                    IT            11       fi
                               ,   0.33 (-: ; 1 .1 . 1978               fl            11       11
          These differing regulations not only cause the user trouble when tra­
          velling in the Member States , but, also increase his expenses , since the
          oil and motor industries are obliged specially to produce and export
          products which comply with the different regulations of individual coun­
          tries .    This problem is particularly acute in the motor industries ,
          where profitability depends on large production runs .
      ("' ) £'.*v:imm pomisnlbls v?,lu-3 for tho -\rithiootic na -.n cf tlu lead
            J:' rofinory ovor r, thres ninthly period *
 ---pagebreak---  It would be regrettable if the new market of 260 million consumers created
 by the accession of Great Britain , Ireland and Denmark were once again to
 be partitioned , this time because of the technical regulations in force
in this field .     = :
 Actions undertaken by the , Commission up to the present time
 As soon as the Commission was informed , at the beginning of 197*1 , of the
 steps taken or planned by certain Member States to reduce the lead con­
 tent of petrol , it set up a- working party to study the problems posed
.by air pollution caused by motor vehicles .    This working party came to­
 gether in .March 1971 * It quickly became apparent that it would be ne­
 cessary to study the technical and health aspects of the problem sepa- ■
 rately .
The meetings of the Technical Aspects Study Group have been principally
 devoted' to a study of the implications ' for automobile construction of the
 requirement to use fuels which , as a result of a reduced lead content ,
 would have different properties from the fuels now in use . In the course
 of this work the motor manufacturers concerned -have been consulted , par­
 ticularly about the progress of research on devices for retaining the
 lead particles in the exhaust systems ; these are known as lead traps .
 The meetings of the Health Aspects Committee have been principally devoted
 to studying the effects of lead on the human body and to harmonization
 of the methods used for determining lead in the atmosphere and in the
 human body . This committee organized a seminar on lead metabolism , with
 the aim of pinpointing those factors which are necessary for an evalua­
 tion of the relative importance of the various lead sources in the total
 amount of lead found in the human body .^ An international symposium was
 also held in October 1972 on the initiative of the Committee . The aim of
 this symposium was to assess the state of all the research being carried
 out into the effects on man of the lead present in the environment .
 In addition , the Commission organized two meetings to examine with re­
 presentatives of the oil and motor industries the technical and economic
 repercussions of a reduction in the lead content of the petrol on the
 market .
 The work of these working parties v/as aided by studies prepared for the
 Commission under contract by competent bodies and experts .
 ---pagebreak---                                        - 3 -
3' Effec ts of lead on the performance of engines
   The engines of European vehicles nowadays have a high output and specific
   power made possible by high compression ratios and high engine speeds . As
   a result they require fuels of impressingly high quality.. In the present
   state of the oil industry , it has been possible to improve this quality
   only by the addition of antiknock agents to the fuels intended for spark-
   ignition engines ,            ,                       . .    .
   At present , the quality of such fuels , in terms of the research octane
   number ( RON ) is between 98 and 100 for premium and between 90 and 92 for re­
   gular .  It is estimated that without additives , the RON for clear petrol
   would be 90/91 for premium and 85 for regular .
   The additives most frequently used to increase the antiknock qualities of
   petrol are lead tetraethyl and lead tetramethyl , as they have hitherto
   been considered the cheapest and' most 'technically satisfactory .
   In most engines the use of petrol with insufficient antiknock causes spon­
   taneous combustion . Pressure variation in the cylinder causes the abnor­
   mal running noise called " pinking".    When this noise is produced , the en­
   gine is being overtr^ated and overloaded , and prolonged operation under
   these conditions, prpduces premature wear .
 ■ The only way- to adapt the engines of vehicles now on the roads to burn
   a petrol of a quality lower, than that for' which they were designed is by
   modifying the ignition advance , and this can be done only within very narrcr
   limits set by overheating .
   The engines of future generations of cars , could be designed to allow for
   the possibly inferior characteristics of the new fuels , by having for
   example , a lower compression ratio than that of present engines . Here
   again , however , there would have to be an increase in consumption ( which
   might be as much as 10 % according to certain estimates ) with possibly
   reduced levels of performance owing-to the reduction in engine output .
   This increased consumption would naturally lead to an increased volume
   of exhaust gas , and thus , in absolute terms , to • an, increase in the emission
   of pollutants . The increase would be even greater if a manufacturer Jvere
   to increase the cylinder capacity of his engines to compensate for the
   possible loss of performance mentioned above .
 ---pagebreak---                                          - k -
      Furthermore , the lead deposited in the cylinders lubricates the valves
      and their seats#        Present engine design tc-Jces this protective effect
      into account and the lead cfoft'tent in petrol cannot be reduced below a
      certain level without prejudicing the smooth running of these engines .
k . : Emissions of lead in exhaust' gases
      During combustion the organic lead compounds are broken down by heat and
      pressure in the cylinder , and act as catalytic inhibitors . At the end
      of the combustion cycle , the lead forms mineral compounds with other ele­
      ments present in the exhaust gases , • These compounds' are generally emitted
    • in the form of * ead halides which , at lower temperatures , form complexes
      with ammonium halides .
      The size and the mass of the emitted particles depsnd on the operating
      conditions of the engine , its age and the state of the exhaust system .
      In a new exhaust system , the particles are deposited up to a certain level
      of saturation , and especially at low. temperatures and gas velocities such
      as occur in town operation .
      Part of these deposits may subsequently be expelled at higher tempera­
      tures and gas velocities .               ' '  .
      The particles which pass directly into the air from the combustion chamber
      have a diameter of less than 5 microns , the majority less than 0.5 mi­
      crons . On the other hand the diameter of particles initially deposited
      in the exhaust syst.em and later expelled by mechanical or thermal effects
      is generally greater than 5 microns .
      It is generally estimated that during the life of a car , between 70 %
      and 80 % of the lead in the petrol consumed is released in the exhaust ,
      and approximately half the particles are less than 5 microns in diameter .
      However , these values vary widely .
5 . Le ad in the atmosphere
      The lead emissions from motor vehicles constitute a large part of the
      total quantity of this element in the atmosphere , in particular in the
      atmosphere of our big cities . A survey recently carried out by a
 ---pagebreak---                                  - 5 -
committee of experts for the Commission and published in the report
EUR 4882 , gave the following results for the lead concentration in the
atmosphere in the European Community . .
These values are the result of continuous monitoring ( 24 hours per day )
between 1 April 1971 and 31 March 1972 .
           Place                         value in micrograms         per   ■ :
_B
 . Rural areas                           monthly average        <      0.5   :
                                         daily maxima           <-     1
   Secondary cities_                     monthly average        ^      1
 l-residential areas                  : daily maximum        ' <.      2
 î-Heavy traffic points                  not determined -
 • - residential areas  ■              . monthly average . .... <      2
                                         daily maximum          <      8
                                   . : monthly average             .   6.5
 . - heavy traffic points
                                         daily maximum ...      ^     10 .
Effects on the human body of lead pollution in the air ; .
Lead particles less than 5 microns in size can penetrate into the lungs .
It is estimated that 25-\?0 % of these particles . are deposited in the
bronchia and the alveoles ; the maximum rate of deposition is thought
to occur with particles 0.5 - 1 micron in size . Almost all the particles
thus deposited are absorbed and pass very quickly into the blood .
However , the inhaled lead constitutes only part - 10-40 % according to
the experts - of the total lead in the human body . .Considerable quan­
tities are also ingested with food and drink - in Europe 200-500 micro­
grams daily .
Correlations between the lead concentration in the atmosphere and lead
poisoning , or other biological indicators of lead poisoning , have not
as yet been established with any certainty , but very active research xa
in progress .                                       .  .,
 ---pagebreak--- The toxic effects of lead on man have "been known for a long time , satur-
nism "being one of the first industrial diseases to "be recognized . But
the clinical effects of saturnism "become apparent only when massive
quantities of lead are ingested and/or inhaled . With much lcwer expo­
sures certain subclinical signs may appear , such as the partial
inhibition of certain enzymes concerned in the synthesis of haemoglobin .
These subclinical signs have been observed in certain groups of workers
who are exprbsed over long periods to the atmosphere of - streets where
the lead concentration is at its highest ( policemen ,, roadworkers ,
road-sweepers ), but no conclusions can be known as to the effect on
the health of the people in question .
In the population as a whole , including sensitive groups such as
children , an accumulation of lead , principally in the bones , is noted
over the years ;    however , it has not as yet been possible to demonstrate
the harmful effects on health of the accumulations usually encountered .
Meanwhile . the evolution '.of the problem cact * /b® . followed So. th.:Vb
additional: mc^sut'ea' . o~„n' b'> tak'in - '.rs -' soon as the necessity arises .
Effects on the oil indu stry of a reduction in t he lead content of petrol
The reduction of the lead content of petrols has marked effects on
their properties and , depending on the degree of reduction itself , would
necessitate appreciable production changes , not only technical and
structural but also financial and economic .
Ho new additive capable of satisfactorily replacing lead is at present
in sight ;   furthermore , restrictions on the use of new base materials
such as methanol , ethanol and the ethers are quite severe , and they are
too expensive .
The remaining solutions entail modifications to the refining system. It
is technically possible to produce a high RON fuel using processing plant
the technology of which is already very well understood . In particular ,
higher standards of catalytic reforming are possible . This lvould permit
an increase in the antiknock quality of the clear fuel but would
increase the percentage of aromatics and reduce the output of the process .
 ---pagebreak---                                               -7-
      Although the addition of light isomers in the formulation of petrols
      permits an appreciable improvement of their Delta R ( 100 °C) ( l ), their
     use would he governed "by the volatility limits established for fuels .
     Alklation linked with the presence of catalytic cracking units can only-
     play a limited role in view of the probable evolution of the structure
      of petroleum products consumption in Europe .
     A detailed study was carried out by the Commission's departments in
     collaboration with experts from the petroleum and automobile sectors .
     The aim was to examine the effects on the Community oil market of the
     reduction of lead in petrol . The technical , industrial , financial and
     economic aspects of the problem are dealt with in G; special report .,
     tfts coaclueions can bei ©uatisd up aarfoilo¥s : n :. ZCIIQ -;,-* :
     Any reduction of lead levels in fuels would increase production costs ,
     reduce flexibility in refinery production, and also necessitate
     considerable investment . Thus any programme to reduce lead levels
     should , as far as possible , have to be carried out in stages . It is
     important to note that if one assumes a gradual reduction of lead levels
     in petrol , a threshold will be met at 0.45-0 -40 gr/l . Above this value ,
     the modifications which would have to          be made in the refining process
     would be technically and economically          feasible . But , once this
     threshold was crossed , any difficulty         encountered , whether technical or
     economic , would be on a larger scale ,        and large and costly changes
     would have to be made in the refining          process .           •       •
8 . The Jhfffefefscfrg axr&daotioAiaa Inal'Jn '" /.frerrt .- nt petpolroih. that Etorfh.r'iiiylity' s
     c ruflsrada 1 o supp'i y? ly
     The effects of any such reduction on the supply . of crude oil to the •
     European oil industry are an important factor at a time' when the danger
     of a shortage of primary energy is being discussed seriously and when
( 1 ) Delta R ( l°° C ) -        difference between the research octane number of
                                 a fuel and that of its fraction distilled at 100°C .
                                 Criterion for the antiknock quality of a fuel at low
                                 engine speed .
 ---pagebreak---                                         - 8 -
     some experts view the Community 's long-term crude oil supply situation
     with pessimism . Additional crude oil requirements may result for two
     reasons   :
     a) the reduction of the output of refining installations , if the octane
         level of petrols has to be maintained in spite of the reduction of
         their lead content . Little data is available at present , but ini­
         tial estimates suggest an additional requirement of about 1 - k %
         for a reduction to 0*A- gr/1 , and 3 - 8 % for a reduction for ell
         types of petrol to approximately 0.15 gr/l «
     b ) the increase in engine consumption , for the reasons set out in
         section 3 ; this might sometimes be as much as 10 % ,
     In view of the vast quantity of crude oil necessary to produce the
     petrol consumed in the Community ( approximately 63 million metric
     tons in 1971 ), very careful thought should be given to the question
     of just how far these additional requirements could be accepted . In'
     all the Member States , any further increase in the consumption of crude
     oil represents an increase in imports , and this       a signifi­
     cant influence on trade balances .
9 . Régulations in the United States
     In February 1972 , the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA) made public
   ' for the first time its intention of establishing , -under the Clean Air
     Act , regulations aiming at the marketing of a new lead-free type of
     petrol , and the phased reduction of the lead content in other qualities
     of petrol over the period 1 January 197^ - 1 January 1977 .
 ---pagebreak---                                  - 9-
In this announcement , interested circles were invited , in accordance
with United States practice , to comment on this proposal in public
hearings or in writing .
As a result of the large number of submissions received , the EPA pu­
blished in January 1973 regulations requiring that as from 1 July 197^
at least one quality of 'lead-free petrol with a RON of 91 should be
available to users , and amending its proposal for the phased reduction
of the lead content in the other petrol qualities , by assigning dates
for entry into force one year later than originally planned ; these
dates are set out in the table in section . 1 .   "    ■ . ■        • '
The argument of the EPA in requiring a lead-free petrol was that it
was expecting the generalized use of catalytic devices in order to
satisfy the limits for carbon monoxide , unburnt hydrocarbons and
nitrogen oxides which it was intending to impose for 1975 and that
these devices would not tclerate lead .     ,
Subsequently , a certain change in the attitude of the EPA to the other
Vehicle emissions has been noticeable . Following a public hearing
in March 1973 of the automobile industry which had called for a one
year postponement of the regulations planned for 1975 } the EPA mo­
dified its requirements by introducing provisional standards for 1975 *
These provisional standards , which are iii general less severe than
those originally proposed , make a distinction between the State of
California , considered to be especially threatened , and the rest of
the country . The EPA assumes that in order to comply with these new
standards all vehicles sold in California would have to be fitted
with catalytic afterburner devices , but that most the models sold
elsewhere would be able to do without them . In this way the EPA
believas that for the moment it can satisfy the demands of environ­
mental protection while avoiding, insurmountable economic problems .
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 10 -
     The suggestion by the EPA that the US Congress should reconsider
     its decision about the reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions is
     very important . The most recent estimate of the danger to public
     health of these pollutants shows that their 90 % reduction by 1976
     is no longer justifiable . It was precisely this reduction which
     posed the greatest technological problems , owing to the need to
     use catalytic devices which could not tolerate the presence of
     lead in fuels .
10 . Community action considered
     Although the preceding chapters show that atmospheric pollution
     by lead does not present any immediate threat to public health ,
     even in large towns , Community action to limit the lead content
     of petrol is advisable for the following reasons :
     - since rules designed to reduce the lead content of petrol are
        being prepared in several countries , and " are even in force in
        some , and since the discrepancies between these laws are liable
        to create technical barriers to trade , action should be taken
        immediately to harmonize these divergent rules .
     - since the number of cars is continually increasing , there is an
        increase in the consumption of petrol and therefore in the total
      . volume of lead emitted . Under these circumstances , in order to
        keep air pollution caused by lead down to its present level , the
        lead content of petrol should be reduced in the same proportion ,
        as other methods of reducing lead emissions cculd not be imposed
        by law so quickly . Lead traps , for example , are sufficiently
        perfected to guarantee at least a 70 % reduction in emissions
        of lead particles throughout their working life , A more detailed
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 11 -
   study has yet to be made by the industry concerned of the task
   of producing a sufficient quantity for installation in all
   new cars from . a specific date .
Community measures designed to reduce the lead in fuels should
however observe certain economic imperatives , as . the European
Parliament indicated in its Resolution of 6 July - 1972 .     They
should also ensure that this reduction , especially if imposed
relatively quickly , does not cause the oil industry to modify
the composition of petrols , in order to maintain the required
quality , in such a way as to increase the emissions of other
pollutants to a level harmful to public health .      .
For these reasons , the Commission proposes this Directive which ,
as . an initial stage , provides for a reduction of the lead content
of all qualities of petrol to O.^f gr/1.    This reduction still
represents a considerable step forward for the Community as a whole ,
having regard to the laws at present in force in certain Member
States .   The proposed limits are also in line with the above-men-
tioned Resolution of the European Parliament .
The Commission also considered it appropriate tofix , as a guide ,
a limiting value fcr regular-quality petrol , mainly as a pointer
lor tils loa.'*sj> torn policy in< tho oil     -in docidia# '
petrol "blonds . ' .                                .                t.
 ---pagebreak--- In view o^. the present regulations on this matter in the Member States ,
the Commission considers that it should not provide intermediate
stages for reaching the final values stipulated in this Directive .   It
intends thereby to all ow Member States to take the measures most
appropriate to their individual situation for complying with the values
and time-limits laid down in the Directive .
If, at a future date , amendments to Directive 220 of 20 March 1970
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States on the limitation
of the emission of unburnt carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons from
sparlc ignition engines were to result in limits which necessitated the
use of oatalytic after-burner devices or introduced limits on the
emission of oxides of nitrogen, lirhich also require this kind of device ,
and if these devices could function with only a lead-free petrol
or one with a very low lead content , the Commission would take the
measures required to' adapt this Directive according to the procedures
laid down .
The limits now proposed represent a first important and realistic step
in the present circumstances under the Commission's action programme
for solving the entire problem of air pollution from motor vehicles .
The Commission would certainly propose effective measures if the studies
and research at present being conducted into both the health and '
technical aspects in collaboration with Member States showed that the
present levels of lead constituted a threat to public health .   If such
a situation were to arise in a few years , without necessitating any
significant reduction in the emission of other pollutants , the Commission
could consider using the lead traps referred to above , which would
by this time have reached the industrial production stage .
 ---pagebreak---                                     -13-
The Commission considers that within a few years and at the latest
before the end of 1979 i"t will have available enough basic data
of a scientific , technical and economic nature to propose an overall
solution to the problem of lead in petrol .
To this end it will examine the following aspects in collaboration
with Member States and interested bodies and with the aid of
surveys in progress , or planned , which have been initiated with
other organisations , and it will make a biennial report to the
Council on :
-  the effect of this directive in the first instance on air ,
   pollution , on motor design and chiefly on vehicles already
   in circulation as well as on petrol production in order
   that any special difficulties which could arise in simple
   refineries can be identified ,
-  progress attained in the development of systems for the .
   lowering of gaseous emission from motor vehicles , of techniques
   of propulsion and of methods of production of low pollution
   fuels ,                        .
-  the evaluation of concentration of different pollutants
   in the atmosphere of European cities and the effect on
   public health .  The Commission shall consider chiefly lead
   concentration in the atmosphere with the hielp of mea,suring
   stations which have been set up as part of the above
   mentioned scheme .
 ---pagebreak---                               - 14 -
THE COUNCIL 0? 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 Parliament ;
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee ;
Whereas the national laws concerning the composition of petrol , and in
particular , the rules governing the limitation of the lead content in
motor vehicle petrol , vary from one Member State to another ; whereas
such disparities create barriers to intra-Comrnunity trade ; whereas
such disparities consequently have direct repercussions on the proper
functioning of the common market ;
Whereas the protection and improvement of public health currently con­
stitutes a major preoccupation common to all industrialized countries
and pollution caused by products emitted in the exhaust gas of vehicles
has reached an alarming level owing to the continuous increase in the
density of motor traffic ; whereas , following the introduction of
measures in the Council Directive of 20 March 1970 designed to curb
air pollution caused by the emission of carbon monoxide and unburned
hydrocarbons from motor vehicles , it is now necessary to tackle the
problem of lead particle emissions by such vehicles , the lead in
question deriving from plumbiferous petrol additives acting as an
anti-knock ;
Whereas , despite the fact that in the present state of scientific
knowledge there is no evidence to prove that existing concentrations
of lead in the atmosphere constitute a danger to public health , it
is nevertheless necessary to ensure that these concentrations do not
increase as a result of the growing density of traffic and , accor­
dingly , to take precautionary measures for the purpose of limiting
the lead content in petrols ;
 ---pagebreak---                                 - 15 -
Whereas restrictions limiting the lead content in petrol to about
 O.^f g/l are already "in force or in preparation in certain Member
 States , whilst in others the tolerated- content is even higher than
 the figure quoted ; whereas it is necessary accordingly that this Di­
 rective be confined to laying down definitive values , without any
 stipulations regarding the intermediate stages leading up to their
 adoption , thus leaving the Member States themselves free to introduce
 the measures envisaged or to take any other such measures as may be
most appropriate in a domestic context in order to conform with the
definitive values within the time limit set by the Directive ; whereas
 these measures may be introduced by the Member States prior to the
 expiry of the time limit ;
Whereas the financial , economic , industrial and qualitative effects
of a reduction to O.kO g/l of the level of lead in petrols have de­
monstrated that such a reduction is possible within a relatively
short period without any undue, repercussions on the Community petro­
leum market or its structure ;
Whereas it is also advisable that an upper guideline value be fixed
in respect of regular petrol , pending the outcome of studies current­
ly being undertaken with a view to formulating a more detailed defi­
nition of the composition of petrols which will need to be available
over the longer term ;                  :i ... .
V/hereas the design of an engine and the composition of the petrol
which it consumes are directly interdependent ; whereas the lead con-,
tent must be limited in such a way as to ensure that the petrol of­
fered on the Community market should , without any undue increase in
the production cost , possess the anti-knock qualities necessary to
meet the octane requirements of engines in current use ; whereas ,
pending the outcome of studies' currently being undertaken at European
level with the aim of defining more satisfactory criteria , it is
sufficient to refer to existing criteria , i.e. , the . "research o.ctane "
rating and the " engine octane'",, rating , when defining these anti-knock
qualities ;
 ---pagebreak--- Whereas these types of petrol will nevertheless still need to be availa­
ble until such time as they are no longer required to meet the needs
of existing motor vehicles ( i.e. , until the gradual and complete
phasing-out of these vehicles ), whereupon new motor vehicles will come
onto the market employing a different type of fuel with lower antir
knock qualities ;
Whereas lead is only one of the constituent elements in the composition
of petrol ; whereas the reduction of this element must not have the
effect of aggravating the air pollution which would be one of the main
consequences ' of any modification in composition ;
Whereas the advance of knowledge regarding the protection of human health ,
on the one hand , and the development of techniques of propulsion and
the reduction of engine pollution emission , on the other , might neces­
sitate amendments to the provisions of this Directive , notably if such
modifications led to the use of systems which were based on a catalytic
process and whose operational requirements were such that they called
for lead-free petrols or petrols having lower lead levels than those
currently provided fox*;
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE i '
                                 Article 1
For the purpose of this Directive s
a) "petrol " means :
     any fuel intended for the operation of internal combustion spark-
     ignited engines used for the propulsion of vehicles ;
b ) ""premium petrol " means :   :
     any petrol with a "research octane " rating of not less than 98 and
     a "motor octane " rating of not less than 87 ;
c ) " regular petrol " means :
     any petrol with a " research octane ", rating of npt' less than 90 .
 ---pagebreak---                                    - 17 -
                                   Article 2
 1.    As from 1 January 1975 , petrol shall be placed on the Community
       internal market only where its lead compound content , calculated
       as lead, does not exceed 0.40 g/l .
2.    As from 1 January 1973 , regular petrol shall be placed on the
       Community internal market only where its lead contents does
      not exceed 0.15 g/l . The provisions of paragraph 1 shall
      continue to apply in the case of premium petrol .
3.    As from 1 January 1973 , intermediate grade petrol betx/een premium
      and regular quantities shall be placed on the Community internal
      market only where its lead compound content , calculated in terms
      of lead , does not exoeed the concentration of an equivalent
      blending of those two qualities .
4.    As, from the date of adoption of the present directive , the
      Commission, wishing to continue its efforts to curb air
      pollution caused by motor vehicles ^ will report biennially
      to the Council on :
      a)      the effects of implementation of this directive :
      b)      the evolution of systems for the lowering of omissions
              other than lead content in exhaust gases ( l ), of
              techniques of propulsion of vehicles , and of methods
              of production of low pollution fuels ;
      c)      the evolution of concentration of different pollutants ,
              particularly of lead content in atmosphere of European
              cities and their effect on public health .
      In addition , depending on data gathered during the progress
      of these surveys , the Commission will formulate , as soon as •
      possible , all necessary proposals .                   ..
      At the latest before 1 January I98O the Commission will
      present proposals for an overall solution of the problem of
      load content in petrol .                                        -
( l ) Council Directive no 220/70 of 20 March 1970 .
 ---pagebreak---                                    - lS-
                                 Article 3
The reduction of the lead content in pursuance of Article 2 shall not
be such as to load to any modification in the composition of the petrol
which is likely to increse significantly the quantities of other pollutants
currently emitted in the exhaust gas .     At the very least , the composition
of the petrol shall be such as to conform with the limits stipulated
 in Directive n° 220/70 of 20 March 1970 .,
To this end , the Member States shall take all steps necessary to ensure
that measurements are made in respect of pollutants emitted in the
exhaust gas .   The data thus obtained shall be communicated to the
Commission .
                                 Article 4 .
1.    Member States shall not prohibit , restrict or prevent the marketing
      and use of a petrol on the grounds of its lead content :
           as from 1 January 1976 , There the petrol in question conforms
           with the provisions of Article 2 ( 1 ) of this Directive ;
           as from 1 January        , where the petrol in question conforms
           with the provisions of Article 2 ( 2 ) and ( 3 ) of this Directive .
2.    By way of derogation from the first subparagraph of the preceding
     paragraph Iter ber States shall , prior to 1 January 1978 »^c
     empowered to apply the provisions of Article 2 ( 2 ) and ( 3 ).
                                 Article 5
Octane ratings and the lead content in petrol shall be measured m
accordance with the control procedures set out in Annex I.
                                 Article 6
Where a Member State establishes , on the basis of an analysis performed
in accordance with the control procedures described in Article % that
a petrol fails to conform with the requirements of Article 2 , it shall
thereupon take such measures as are necessary to ensure that these
requirements are fulfilled .
                                 Article 7
1.   Member States shall introduce the provisions laid dovm by law ,
     regulation or administrative action which are necessary to comply
     with this Directive within six months from the time of notification
     of the Directive and shall forthwith inform - the . Commission
     accordingly .
 ---pagebreak--- 2 . Upon notification of this Directive , Member States shall also in­
    form the Commission , allowing sufficient time for the latter to
    make its own observations , of any subsequent draft provisions of
    an essential nature laid down by law , regulation or administrative
    action , which they propose to adopt in the field governed by the
    Directive .
                               Article 8
This Directive is addressed to the Member States .
                                  Done at
                                                  For the Council
                                                   The President
 ---pagebreak---                                   ANNEX I
                             REFERENCE METHODS
The " research octane " rating is determined in accordance with ASTM
( American Society for Testing and Materials ) standard D 2722-7$ in
a CFR ( Cooperative Fuel Research Committee ) test engine . The results
of individual measurements shall be interpreted on the basis of the
method described in BS standard ^040 ( 1971 ) « published by the Eritish
Standards Institution .
The " engine octane " rating is determined in accordance with ASTM stan­
dard D 27£>-7T in the CFR engine .    The results of individual measure­
ments shall be interpreted on the basis of the method described in BS
standard kOkO ( 1971 ) t published by the British Standards Institution ,
The lead content in the petrol shall be measured in accordance with the
control procedure laid down in European Standard proposal Pr EN 13 of
6 December 1972 ("Method for measuring the lead content in petrols ")
of the European Standardization Committee ( ESC ).   The results of in­
dividual measurements shall be interpreted on the basis of the method
described in BS standard bOkO ( 1971 ) » published by the British Standards
Institution .
The petrol samples used for the purpose p£ these measurement ? sfteil^. be
taken from ordinary filling stations .