Document ID: 31985L0536

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COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 5 December 1985
on crude-oil savings through the use of substitute fuel components in petrol
(85/536/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 235 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),
Whereas, pursuant to Article 2 of the Treaty, the Community has as its task to promote throughout the Community a harmonious development of economic activities, a continuous and balanced expansion and an increase in stability;
Whereas, in the present energy situation, a reduction in the Community's dependence upon imported crude oil will contribute effectively to the attainment of these objectives;
Whereas the reduction and elimination of lead in petrol may be partly offset by the use of substitute fuel components in petrol and whereas such components may also help to reduce over-consumption of crude oil necessary in refining to produce lead-free petrol;
Whereas petrol used for the propulsion of vehicles powered by internal combustion spark-ignited engines is an important sector of oil consumption in the Community;
Whereas the use of crude oil to manufacture petrol for vehicles propelled by internal combustion spark-ignited engines can be reduced through blending hydrocarbon petrol with substitute fuel components;
Whereas the increasingly complex refining process and the creation of petro-chemical products require that such products be intended, as far as possible, for a proper use and whereas it is desirable to establish rules to that effect;
Whereas these substitute fuel components can be produced from raw materials other than crude oil both inside and outside the Community, thereby broadening the raw materials base for the production of fuels for use in internal combustion spark-ignited engines;
Whereas the distribution and use of petrol blended with substitute fuel components as defined by this Directive require no, or only minor, modifications to existing petrol distribution systems and no modification to existing vehicles propelled by internal combustion spark-ignited engines designed to operate on petrol;
Whereas the distribution and combustion of blends as defined by this Directive carries no safety, health or environmental risks significantly different from those of petrol currently sold for motor vehicles in the Community;
Whereas the objective of saving crude oil makes it desirable that no obstacles be placed in the way of the manufacture, distribution, sale and use of suitable blends for the propulsion of vehicles powered by internal combustion spark-ignited engines;
Whereas cross-border traffic requires that motorists be offered suitable fuels for their motor vehicles everywhere in the Community and that potential users be able to
distinguish between fuels covered by this Directive and others which can be used only in specifically designed or adapted vehicles;
Whereas scientific and technical developments may make it appropriate to modify the Annex to this Directive; whereas a procedure should be set up so that such modifications may be made;
Whereas the Treaty has not provided the necessary powers other than those of Article 235,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
Member States shall not prevent, restrict or discourage, on the grounds of oxygenate content, the production, marketing and free movement of blended petrol containing organic oxygenate compounds which comply with the Annex and which do not exceed the limits stipulated in column A of Section II of that Annex. Such blended fuels must be usable in complete safety and with similar performance to petrol used in vehicles propelled by internal combustion spark-ignited engines currently in use or being offered for sale without requiring any modification to such vehicles.
Article 2
For the purposes of this Directive, 'petrol' means any mixture consisting essentially of liquid hydrocarbons suitable for the operation of internal combustion spark-ignited engines.
Article 3
Pumps for the sale of motor fuels to the general public which dispense motor fuels containing organic oxygenate compounds in proportions higher than the limits set in column B of Section II of the Annex shall be very clearly marked accordingly to take account in particular of variations in the calorific value of such fuels.
Article 4
The Annex may be amended in accordance with the procedure laid down in Articles 5 and 6.
Article 5
1. A Committee on the Adaptation of the Annex to Scientific and Technical Progress, hereinafter referred to as the 'Committee', shall be established.
2. The Committee shall also be empowered to examine substitute fuel components not covered by this Directive but without having recourse to the pocedure set out in Article 6.
3. The Committee shall consist of representatives of the Member States, with a Commission representative as chairman. It shall be convened by the chairman, either on his own initiative or at the request of the representative of a Member State.
4. The Committee shall adopt its own rules of procedure.
Article 6
1. Where the procedure laid down in this Article is to be followed, the Chairman shall refer the matter to the Committee, either on his own initiative or at the request of the representative of a Member State.
2. The representative of the Commission shall submit to the Committee a draft of the measures to be adopted. 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. The opinion shall be delivered by a majority of 45 votes, the votes of the Member States being weighted as provided for in Article 148 (2) of the Treaty. The chairman shall not vote.
3. (a) The Commission shall adopt the intended measures when they are in accordance with the Committee's opinion;
(b) Where the intended measures are not in accordance with the opinion of the Committee, or in the absence of any opinion, the Commission shall forthwith submit to the Council a proposal relating to the measures to be taken. The Council shall act on a qualified majority.
If, on the expiry of three months from the date on which the matter was referred to it, the Council has not adopted any measures, the Commission shall adopt the proposed measures and apply them immediately.
Article 7
1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions, including those referring to the test and measuring methods in the context of the Annex, necessary to comply with this Directive by 1 January 1988. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.
2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the texts of the provisions of national law which they adopt in the field governed by this Directive.
Article 8
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 5 December 1985.

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