WORLD TRADE G/TBT/Notif.97.750
9December 1997
ORGANIZATION
(97-5384)
Committee onTechnical Barriers toTrade
NOTIFICATION
Thefollowing notification isbeing circulated inaccordance withArticle 10.6.
1. Member toAgreement notifying: FRANCE
Ifapplicable, name oflocalgovernment involved (Articles 3.2and7.2):
2. Agency responsible:
Ministry ofEmployment andSolidarity
Directorate-General ofHealth
8,avenue deSégur
75350 Paris 07SP
Agency orauthority designed tohandle comments regarding thenotification shall be
indicated ifdifferent from above:
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X],2.10.1 [],5.6.2 [],5.7.1 [],other:
4. Products covered (HSorCCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading.
ICSnumbers maybeprovided inaddition, where applicable): Personal stereos
5. Title, number ofpages andlanguage(s) ofthenotified document: Order Implementing
Article L.44.5 oftheCode ofPublic Health Relating toPersonal Stereos
6. Description ofcontent: Inimplementation ofArticle L.44.5 oftheCode ofPublic
Health, thedraftOrder isintended toprotect thehearing ofusers ofpersonal stereos by
limiting themaximum level ofsound pressure andbyinforming them oftherisks
incurred.
7. Objective andrationale, including thenature ofurgent problems where applicable:
Article 1defines apersonal stereo. ThenexttwoArticles explain thatapersonal stereo
iscomposed ofanumber ofinterchangeable components, towhich maximum sound
pressure applies, andthatitisnecessary toinform users regarding thecompatibility of
these components, particularly ofthefactthattheaverage lifeofaheadset ismuch
shorter thanthatofthecentral unit. Asthelawcannot beapplied without aprecise
definition ofthecriteria usedtocalculate themaximum level ofsound pressure, these
aresetoutinthefourth Article andexplained indetail inthetechnical Annex.
./.G/TBT/Notif.97.750
Page2
7. Objective andrationale, including thenature ofurgent problems where applicable
(cont'd):
Intheabsence ofspecific standards forpersonal stereos, theAnnex refers tothe
standards thatarethemostrelevant topersonal stereos anditisbased onthemostrecent
work ontestequipment, signals, packaging, measuring apparatus anddetermination of
thelevel. ThefifthArticle defines theinformation tobegiven tousers regarding
hearing risks. Simple control measures aredefined inthesixth Article. Theseventh
Article allows sufficient timeforimplementation sothatthemanufacture andmarketing
ofpersonal stereos canmeet thecriteria laiddown intheOrder. Bylimiting thesound
level andproviding information onthehearing risks, thehealth ofusers ofpersonal
stereos willthusbebetter protected.
8. Relevant documents:
- LawNo.96-452 of28May 1996 containing anumber ofhealth, social and
statutory measures;
- draftdecree onpenalties forviolating theregulations onpersonal stereos.G/TBT/Notif.97.750
Page3
9. Proposed dateofadoption:
Proposed dateofentry intoforce: }
Firsthalfof1998
10. Final dateforcomments: 25January 1998
./.G/TBT/Notif.97.750
Page4
11. Texts available from: National enquiry point [X]oraddress, e-mail andtelefax number
ofother body: (CINORTECH)
Mme Vaquier (AFNOR) -Tour Europe, 92049 Paris LaDéfense