. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/N/BEL/13
26 July 2001
(01-3713)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   BELGIUM
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):
2. Agency responsible:
Ministry of the Interior
Directorate-General of the General Police of the KingdomAdministrative Police
Rue Royale 56
B-1000 Brussels
Tel.:  +32 2 506-4815
Fax:  +32 2 513-6382
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers and E-mail and Web site
addresses, if available) of  theagency 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):   This draft Royal Decree
amends the Royal Decree of 2 June 1999 on the safety standards to be respected in football
stadiums and establishes technical regulations for their exterior layout and fixtures (parking
areas, car parks, ticket offices, access control points, etc.), interior layout and fixtures(security barriers, stairways, emergency exit routes, aisleways, stands, seating, adjoining
premises, etc.) and technical, electrical and gas installations and fire safety regulations for
football stadiums.
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   R o y a l  D e c r e e
Amending the Royal Decree of 2 June 1999 on Safety at Football Matches.
6. Description of content:   In addition to rectifying technical inaccuracies, this draft Royal
Decree aims to clarify somewhat the need for railings in seated stands and the number and
location of ticket offices and control points to ensure the smooth and trouble-free flow of
supporters entering the stadium and thus prevent crushing.  The organizers have a range ofpossibilities open to them with regard to other types of barrier, such as inner security fences,
and requirements related to seat shape, the aim being to establish clear conditions and a
specific objective, notably the prior approval of the Ministry of the Interior (barriers) and
optimal resistance to fire and vandalism (stadium seats).G/TBT/N/BEL/13
Page 2
6. Description of content:  (cont'd)  Additional safety requirements are imposed with regard to
fire notices and signs (a reminder should also be installed at the command post).  The
importance of conveying messages and instructions to spectators using visual
communication notice boards, insofar as these are available, should also be stressed.
Finally, the dates and findings of the mandatory inspections and certifications of
technical, electrical and gas installations in stadiums should be made available to the official
responsible for monitoring (by way of inspection visits) compliance with this Royal Decree.
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
In addition to making necessary changes to incorrect information and clarifying the
wording of certain parts, some paragraphs have been rearranged in a more logical order. It
has also since transpired that stadium seats need not necessarily be affixed to the floor at
three points to guarantee an equivalent or greater level of safety.  An ultimate objective has
been introduced, that is to say, requirements have been tightened, notably to ensure a firm
stand against vandalism.  As alternative seat shapes have been approved, clubs with othertailor-made systems which do not comply with earlier requirements (Royal Decree of
2 June 1999) are not being penalized more heavily by being forced into further investment.
This is also the reason for affording clubs the opportunity to propose other types of barrier.
8. Relevant documents:
9. Proposed date of adoption:
Proposed date of entry into force: }60 days
10. Final date for comments:
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ X] or address, telephone and fax
numbers and E-mail and Web site addresses, if available, of another body:
CIBELNOR