New measures to harmonise vehicle standards and open new markets

New measures coming in to force today will make it easier for manufacturers of commercial and special-purpose vehicles to access new European markets.

These measures, which already apply to cars, are designed to ensure that all new vehicles across Europe meet the same safety and environmental standards. Once fully implemented they will enable vehicle manufacturers to sell their products across 27 member states without incurring additional approval costs. This considerably reduces the burden on manufacturers who until today have needed to apply for separate approval from each member state.

The changes - which cover vans, trucks, minibuses, buses, coaches, trailers, wheelchair-accessible cars and other special-purpose vehicles - are in response to a new European Directive on Whole Vehicle Type Approval Directive (ECWVTA).

Transport Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick said "These measures present a great opportunity for improving the safety and environmental performance of all vehicles across Europe.

"In addition, they will open up European markets to British manufacturers by removing the technical barriers to trade and lessening the administrative burden."

Under ECWVTA manufacturers will be responsible for ensuring that their vehicles meet a series of construction requirements covering areas such as braking, lighting, crash safety and environmental standards. In addition the manufacturer's production processes will be assessed to confirm that each vehicle coming off the production line conforms to the same approval standards.

The Department has used provisions within the Directive to also implement national approval schemes which will be available at a lower cost. Low volume manufactures wishing to sell in the UK only will be required to meet National Small Series Type Approval or Individual Vehicle Approval requirements rather than ECWVTA.

ECWVTA will be phased in between 2009 and 2014. Once the new requirements come in all affected vehicles will have to be built to an approved standard before they can be sold and registered for use on the road.