. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/Notif.00/493
12 October 2000
(00-4198)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   SLOVAK REPUBLIC
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):           
2. Agency responsible:   Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic/Fire Protection Office
Agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification shall be
indicated if different from above:           
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [     ], 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):   Gas cylinders intended
for flammable gases or oxidizing gases, pressure vessels intended for flammable gases or
oxidizing gases, battery vehicles with pressure vessels intended for transport of flammable
gases or oxidizing gases, filling facilities for flammable gases or oxidizing gases.
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   D e c r e e  o f  t h e
Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic No. 124/2000 Coll. establishing principles of
fire safety at activities with flammable gases and oxidizing gases (17 pages, in Slovaklanguage)
6. Description of content:   The Decree defines the gas recognized as a flammable gas or
oxidizing gas.  It also defines the pressure vessel destined for transport of gas, and a specific
sub-group – gas cylinders recognized to be refillable with flammable gas or oxidizing gas
intended for storage or transport.  The Decree establishes principles of fire protection in
relation to handling, storage and transport of substances dangerous by fire risk, as well as
relevant constructions, technical and technological equipment.
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
The issues of fire safety related to filling of pressure vessels intended for transport and
storage of gases had not been completely solved in the legal system of the Slovak Republic.
Nowadays this topic is solved by the Slovak standard STN 078 8304 "Metal Pressure
Vessels for Gas Transport.  Operation Rules" that is in force since 1988.
With the aim of creating a single market, removing technical barriers to trade, and
harmonizing the legal rules of the Slovak Republic with the European Union law system,
progressive transformation of the technical standard provisions into commonly binding
legal acts takes place in the field of fire protection, too.  For this reason the Ministry ofInterior of the Slovak Republic has elaborated the Decree establishing principles of fire
safety related to the activities performed with flammable gases and oxidizing gases.G/TBT/Notif.00/493
Page 2
8. Relevant documents:
Directive 97/23/EC of the European Parliame nt and of the Council on the approximation of
the laws of the Member States concerning pressure equipment;
Council Directive 84/525/EEC on the approxim ation of the laws of the Member States
relating to seamless, steel gas cylinders;
Council Directive 84/526/EEC on the approxim ation of the laws of the Member States
relating to seamless unalloyed aluminium and aluminium alloy gas cylinders;
Council Directive 84/527/EEC on the approxim ation of the laws of the Member States
relating to welded unalloyed steel gas cylinders;
ADR – European Agreement on the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road, as
amended by Annexes A and B in force since 1 January 1999
The Decree was published in the Collection of Acts of the Slovak Republic,
9. Proposed date of adoption:
Proposed date of entry into force:  1 May 2000
10. Final date for comments:
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ X] or address, e-mail and telefax
number of the other body:           