WORLD TRADE G/TBT/Notif.97.334/Add.1
31July1997
ORGANIZATION(97-3224)
Original: English Committee onTechnical Barriers toTrade
NOTIFICATION
Addendum
ThefollowingcommunicationbyNetherlandsisbeingcirculatedinaccordancewithArticle10.6.
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Thefollowing information should beattached tonotification G/TBT/Notif.97.334.
ANNEX
Regulation oftheMinister fortheInterior andtheMinister ofJustice of
...June1997, No.EA97/U... and.../.../GJB, Containing Rules forthe
Measuring Instruments forUsebythePolice
TheRegional Police Forces Management Decree, based onthePolice Act,provides inageneral
sense thattheMinister ofHome Affairs andtheMinister ofJustice arerequired tolaydown rules
regarding theequipment oftheregional police forces. These equipment requirements areembodied
inthepresent Regulation. InthisRegulation itisprovided thatfortheuseofspecified measuring
instruments, interaliaspeed check meters, acertificate ofexamination musthavebeenissued bythe
Netherlands Measuring Institute [Nederlands Meetinstituut] (NMI), evidencing thatthese measuring
instruments satisfy therequirements stated intheannex tothisRegulation. Oneoftheduties ofthe
police istheestablishing ofactions relating tothespeed ofmotor vehicles. Ifthepolice wishtouse
aspeed check meter forthispurpose, theymust, pursuant tothePolice Measuring Instruments
Regulation, beinpossession ofacertificate issued bytheNMIevidencing thatthemeter satisfies the
technical requirements embodied inthisRegulation.
Having regard tothenature ofthematter under consideration itis,forreasons ofsafety, of
urgent necessity thatthepresent provisions oftheRegulation bere-enacted andbecome operative
immediately. Immediate enactment andcoming intoeffect isonlypossible where urgent problems
ofsafety, health, environmental protection ornational security ariseorthreaten toarise, mentioned
inparagraph 10ofArticle 2oftheAgreement onTechnical Barriers toTrade. Thecircumstances
atpresent obtaining justify apleaofimmediate enactment. Forcitizens uncertainty exists regarding
theapplicability ofthepresent Regulation containing rules forthemeasuring instruments foruseby
thepolice, afterthedecision oftheECCourt ofJustice incaseC-194/94 (ECR 1996, p.I-2201) in
which theCourt considered thelegal consequences ofthenot-notifying oftechnical requirements.
Theunclearness regarding thequestion towhat extent evidence canbefurnished forexceeding the
speedlimits, hascreated anacuteproblem inrespect oftheinvestigations inconnection withthecriminal
offence ofdriving toofast,aswellasanacute problem inrespect ofpending andfuture criminal cases.
Thisleadstoserious andunforeseeable situations relating topublic health andsafety. Indeed: speeding -
anddefective vehicles -cancause lifethreatening situations ontheroads. Toobviate theenormous
risksattaching tothissituation oflegaluncertainty asdescribed above, itisofurgent necessity that
the1997 Police Measuring Instruments Regulation beenacted immediately.