./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/Notif.98.634
23 December 1998
(98-5181)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  BELGIUM
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):  Belgium
2. Agency responsible:
Commission Communautaire Française de Bruxelles-Capitale
Boulevard de Waterloo 100-103
B-1000 Bruxelles
TP:  +32 2 542 82 11
TF:  +32 2 542 83 90
Agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification shall be
indicated if different from above:           
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ X ], 2.10.1 [    ], 5.6.2 [    ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:           
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading.
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  No specific products - fire
safety standards
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Order of the College of
the French Community Commission Establishing the Modalities and Procedure for
Obtaining the Safety Certificate for Accommodation Establishments Existing as at
1 January 1991 and Laying Down Specific Fire Safety Standards for Such Establishments(Regulations Governing Hotel Status)
6. Description of content:  The Decree on conditions for the operation of accommodation and
hotel establishments was enacted on 9 November 1990, together with two implementing
orders issued on 24 December 1990:
- One of these orders lays down the conditions for the operation of hotel
establishments, the procedure for obtaining and withdrawal of operating
licences, and the classification and model badge of hotel establishments;
- the second lays down the modalities and procedure for obtaining the fire
safety certificate specifically for such accommodation establishments.
Practical problems have arisen in relation to the latter, in particular as regards the
appeal and waiver procedure involving the communal authorities and fire services.
The purpose of this draft Order, issued jointly with the Government of the Walloon
region in order to ensure uniform regulations throughout the French Community - is to
clarify the procedure for obtaining the safety certificate for the accommodation
establishments concerned and speed up their adaptation to the fire safety rules.G/TBT/Notif.98.634
Page 2
6. Description of content: (cont'd)
On 26 November 1997 the Tourism Council approved this draft, with the inclusion
of the following observations:
- Acknowledgement of receipt should not be required in the case of letters
sent by registered mail;
- longer deadlines should be provided for appeals and waiver applications
submitted to the Minister;
- compensation of Commission members.  Compensation to be provided by
the Walloon region.
The draft Order takes account of all of these observations.
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable:  To
allow hotels and accommodation establishments to ensure the safety of their guests, in
accordance with the regulations laid down by  safety specialists, and enable the
administration to handle appeals and waiver applications in the best possible conditions inorder to forward proposals to the competent authority.
8. Relevant documents:  -
9. Proposed date of adoption:
Proposed date of entry into force: } 60 days
10. Final date for comments:
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ X ] or address, e-mail and telefax number of
the other body:  CIBELNOR