BELGIUM: ROYAL DECREE ON SOCIAL SECURITY IDENTITY CARD READER SPECIFICATIONS The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6. G/TBT/Notif.97.270. 1. Member to Agreement notifying: BELGIUM. If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2). 2. Agency responsible: Banque Carrefour de la Se

AC T='1'>curite

AC T='1'> Sociale, Public establishment supervised by the Minister of Social Affairs, Chausse

AC T='1'>e Saint-Pierre 375, 1040 Burssels. 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): Social security identity card readers. 5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Royal Decree on Social Security Identity Card Reader Specifications 6. Description of content: The Belgian Government has decided to introduce a social security identity card for the use of all those insured under the Belgian Social Security System. This card will include a microchip of the "protected memory" type; all those insured under the social security system will have received one by 30 June 1998. The microchip will hold two types of data: public data and coded data which can only be read using a decoding card. The readers, which make it possible to use the social security identity card and, where necessary, the decoding card, will be available to authorized persons, namely, the social security agencies, employers and health-care providers. The terminals must satisfy a series of specifications, functional, normative and technical, as well as quality and performance requirements, to be able to use social security identity cards and decoding cards. These specifications form the subject of the present procedure. 7. Objective and rationale: The introduction of an electronic social security identity card is intended to optimize the service provided for persons insured under the social security System, simplify the administrative formalities for the insured, employers, service providers and social security agencies, and combat more effectively social security fraud. The specifications for the social security identity card reader terminals have been designed to allow anyone who so wishes to develop a terminal and thus open up the terminal market completely. 8. Relevant documents: Royal Decree of 18 December 1996 and Law of 26 July 1996. 9. Proposed date of adoption: 60 days; Proposed date of entry into force: 60 days. 10. Final date for comments: Not listed. 11. Texts available from: National enquiry point or CIBELNOR. (0184)

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