BELGIUM: DRAFT ROYAL ORDER AMENDING THE ROYAL ORDER OF 3 NOVEMBER CONCERNING RESERVOIRS The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6. G/TBT/Notif.97.98 dated 26 March 1997. 1. Member to Agreement notifying: BELGIUM. If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2). 2. Agency responsible: Ministry of Economic Affairs Quality and Safety Administration Metrology Division, St. Lievenshaven 25 9000 Gent -- Belgium Agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification can be indicated if different from above. 3. Notified under Article 2.9.2. 4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): Petroleum products, reservoirs, measuring instruments. 5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Draft Royal Order Amending the Royal Order of 3 November Concerning Reservoirs. 6. Description of content: Article 1 of the draft of the same order changes the name of the public service responsible for the application of the Royal Order of November 1993 concerning reservoirs. This change results from the restructuring of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Article 2 of the draft of the same order makes a distinction in regard to content and related administrative costs. In addition to petroleum products, the storage of alcohol, wine and similar products is economically important. Nevertheless, such liquids are stored in much smaller quantities than petroleum products. Article 3 of the draft of the same order amends the text so that it is now also possible to establish scales for the content of reservoirs based on empty space. In practice, automatic altimeters for liquids actually measure empty space. The level of the liquid is then deduced from that reading. Article 4 of the draft of the same order makes it possible to establish scales for the content of reservoirs at a reference temperature other than 15 C. In practice, alcohol for example is stored at a temperature of 20 C and other petroleum products at a temperature between 60 C and 150 C. In order to have available at all times scales that can be used immediately showing the content of reservoirs, we require only mention of the reference temperature. Article 5 of the draft of the same order takes into account the provisions of Article 3. Two models of scales for the content of reservoirs are approved, i.e., "A scale showing the content of reservoirs based on the level of the liquid" and "a scale showing the content of reservoirs based on empty space". 7. Objective and rationale: The objective of the Royal Order of 3 November 1993 concerning reservoirs, effective 1 January 1994, is to regulate the amounts of petroleum products stored in reservoirs. The readings of these amounts are used, inter alia, to assess the level of excise taxes. 8. Relevant documents: The law of 16 June 1970. Amended by the law of 21 February 1986 -- Royal Order of 3 November 1993. 9. Proposed date of adoption: N/A Proposed date of entry into force: 60 days. 10. Final date for comments: N/A.11. Texts available from: National enquiry point or address and telefax number of other body: CIBELNOR. (0104)

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