24.7.98 Official Journal of the European Communities L 208/51 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 29 June 1998 concerning a request for exemption submitted by the Grand Duchy of Luxem- bourg pursuant to Article 8(2)(c) of Directive 70/156/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers (98/468/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 70/156/EEC of 6 February 1970 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers ('), and in particular Article 8(2)(c) and Article 13(3) thereof, Whereas the request submitted by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg on 6 November 1997, which reached the Commission on 10 November 1997, contained the infor- mation required by Article 8(2)(c) of the said Directive; whereas the request concerns the fuelling with compressed natural gas of a class M1 type of vehicle; Whereas the reasons given in the said request are well founded; whereas, according to them, such fuelling systems do not meet the requirements of the Directives concerned, in particular Council Directive 70/220/EEC of 20 March 1970 on the approximation of the laws of the (") OJ L 42, 23. 2. 1970, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Commission Directive 98/14/EC (O] L 91, 25. 3. 1998, p. 1). Member States relating to measures to be taken against air pollution by gases from spark-ignition engines of motor vehicles () and Council Directive 80/1268/EEC of 16 December 1980 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the fuel consumption of motor vehicles (°); whereas, however, the tests performed in accordance with the abovementioned Directives were conducted using both petrol and natural gas as fuel; whereas the relevant limit values were respected with both types of fuel, while recorded emissions of pollutants were lower with natural gas; whereas equivalent environmental protection is thus ensured; Whereas, in order to assure themselves of the safety of vehicles in service, Member States may periodically carry out leak-tightness tests at a pressure of at least the service pressure; Whereas the Directives concerned will be amended in order to permit the production of vehicles powered by compressed natural gas; Whereas the measure provided for by this Decision was submitted on 5 February 1998 to the Committee on Adaptation to Technical Progress set up by Article 12 of Directive 70/156/EEC for its opinion; whereas the outcome of the vote was such that no opinion was deliv- ered, (3 OJ L 76, 6. 4. 1970, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Euro- pean Parliament and Council Directive 96/69/EC of 1 July 1996 (OJ L 282, 1. 11. 1996, p. 64). () OJ L 375, 31. 12. 1980, p. 36. Directive as last amended by Commission Directive 93/116/EC of 17 December 1993 (O] L 329, 30. 12. 1993, p. 39).