. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/Notif.99.320
2 July 1999
(99-2731)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   FRANCE
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):
2. Agency responsible:
Ministry of Industry
Direction Générale de l'Energie et des Matières PremièresDirection des Matières Premières et des Hydrocarbures
97-99, rue de Grenelle
75353 Paris 07 SP
Agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification shall be
indicated if different from above:
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [  X ], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [  ], 5.7.1 [  ], other:
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading.
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):   Fuel for vehicles to
replace leaded petrol
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Order on
Specifications for Premium Fuel (3 pages)
6. Description of content:   Specifications for Premium Fuel
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
Consumption of leaded fuel is now around 4.5 MT/year.  In accordance with
Article 3.1 of Directive 98/70/EC, leaded pe trol is prohibited as from 1 January 2000.
Because of the number of automobiles whose engine valves need protection, estimated to be
at least 1.1 million vehicles built before 1987 on 1 January 2000, as well as the needs of
some two-wheeled vehicles, outboard motors and garden machines, it is necessary toreplace leaded fuel by a fuel containing a potassium additive with valve anti-detonating
properties.  This Order lists the specifications for the fuel called "premium fuel".
8. Relevant documents:   Directive 98/34/EC of 22 June 1998;  Directive 98/70/EC of
13 October 1998;  Decree No. 62-1297 of 7 November 1962;  Decree No. 84-74 of
26 January 1984;  Order of 1 March 1976;  Order of 24 January 1994;  Order of
26 May 1999.
9. Proposed date of adoption:  October 1999
Proposed date of entry into force:  15 November 1999G/TBT/Notif.99.320
Page 2
10. Final date for comments:   3 months
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [  X ] or address, e-mail and telefax
number of the other body:   (CINORTECH)