26. 7. 97 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 199/53 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 1 July 1997 concerning a request for exemption submitted by Germany pursuant to Article 8 (2) (c) of Council 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 (Only the German text is authentic) (97/465/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 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 ('), as last amended by European Parliament and Council Directive 96/79/EC (%), and in particular Article 8 (2) (c) thereof, Whereas the request submitted by Germany on 5 June 1996 and consolidated by letter of 25 September 1996, which reached the Commission on 2 October 1996, contained the information required by Article 8 (2) (c); whereas the request concerns the fuelling with compressed natural gas of a class M, type of vehicle; Whereas the reasons given in the request, according to which such fuelling systems do not meet the require- ments of the Directives concerned, in particular Council Directive 70/220/EEC of 20 March 1970 on the approx- imation of the laws of the Member States relating to measures to be taken against air pollution by gases from spark-ignition engines of motor vehicles(®), as last amended by Commission Directive 96/69/EC (%), and No L 42, 23. 2. 1970, p. 1. No L 18, 21. 1. 1997, p. 7. No L 76, 6. 4. 1970, p. 1. No L 282, 1. 11. 1996, p. 64. Council Directive 80/1268/EEC of 16 December 1980 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States re- lating to the fuel consumption of motor vehicles (%), as last amended by Commission Directive 93/116/EC of 17 December 1993 (%) are well founded; whereas, however, the tests performed in accordance with the abovemen- tioned 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 emis- sions 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 leaktightness tests at a pressure of at least the service pressure; Whereas the Community 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 is in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on Adap- tation to Technical Progress set up by Directive 70/156/EEC, () OJ No L 375, 31. 12. 1980, p. 36. () OJ No L 329, 30. 12. 1993, p. 39.