L 349/76 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 12. 97 COMMISSION DECISION of 3 December 1997 concerning a request for exemption submitted by Italy 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 Italian text is authentic) (97/849/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 97/27/EC (%), and in particular Article 8 (2) (c) thereof, Whereas the request submitted by Italy on 21 May 1997, which reached the Commission on 27 May 1997, 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 Directive 96/69/EC of the European Parli- ament and of the Council (), and Council Directive 80/1268/EEC of 16 December 1980 on the approxima- tion of the laws of the Member States relating 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 abovementioned Direc- tives 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 environ- mental 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 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, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 The request submitted by Italy for an exemption concern- ing the production and placing on the market of a class M, type of vehicle powered by compressed natural gas is hereby approved. Article 2 This Decision is addressed to the Italian Republic. Done at Brussels, 3 December 1997. For the Commission Martin BANGEMANN Member of the Commission OJ L 42, 23. 2. 1970, p. 1. OJ L 233, 25. 8. 1997, p. 1. O] L 76, 6. 4. 1970, p. 1. OJ L 282, 1. 11. 1996, p. 64. OJ L 375, 31. 12. 1980, p. 36. OJ L 329, 30. 12. 1993, p. 39.