FUTURE LEGISLATION
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EC Legislative Initiatives
• The Vehicle Inspectorate options for the future-Consultation on the privatisation of HGV Test Stations.
• Operator licensing-simplification of the 0-Licence system included in Deregulation
Bill before Parliament. 0-Licensing changes to the system in Northern Ireland. Also review of fee structure.0-Licensing fee increase proposed to £200 and £8 per vehicle per quarter from £170 and £7 respectively.
• Paying for Better Motorways. Point of use charges for motorway/trunk roads under consideration.
• Load Security-revision to Code of Practice.
• Amendments to Food Hygiene Regulations-review of temperature control requirements.Expected Summer 1994 for implementation in 1995. • Waste Management licensingRegulations for licensing by Local Authorities of waste handling and treatment facilities. Due to be implemented on 1 May 1994.
• New Driver Safety : Proposed measures to reduce accidents involving newly qualified drivers, including retesting after conviction for certain traffic offences and incorporating an extended driving test (see EC initiative on theory test below). • MOT Scheme Review, • Storage and Carriage of spare petrolH&SE proposals to revise conditions under which i petrol can be stored without need for a Petroleum Spirit Licence. • Dangerous Goods Transport : El&SE proposals for revision of UK dangerous goods legislation to align with ADR agreement, as required by proposed EC directive.
• Review of UK Domestic Driver's Hours Legislation
• Driving Test Fees-proposals to increase fees for all tests booked from 1 April 1 994, with the fee for a weekday LGV/PCV test increased from £60 to £62.
• Dangerous Goods-Carriage of Dangerous Goods {Classification, Packaging & Labelling) Regulations: New Regulations for the consignment of dangerous goods by road or rail replacing carriage provisions of the Chemicals (Hazardous Information & Packaging) Regulations 1993 (CHIP). Require UN specification packaging for most dangerous goods). • Vehicle weights and dimensions-harmonisation throughout EU
• Commission proposal for a Council Directive on protection of animals during transportation. Specifies, inter-alia, resting, feeding and watering times and minimum space allowances for certain animals
• Second generation tachographs— incorporation of/replacement by computerised records.
EC Directive on Food Hygiene—includes designation of vehicles carrying bulk foodstuffs. Adopted on 14 June 1993. • Dangerous Goods—Appointment of Risk Prevention Officers by companies involved in packing, loading, unloading or storage of dangerous goods.
• Carbon tax on fossil fuels—agreement not yet reached by EU Governments. Implementation opposed by UK.
• Safely and Quality assurance scheme for operators of road tankers and tank containers carrying dangerous goods—to be developed as a European Standard on similar basis to BS5750 and with voluntary participation.
• Dangerous Goods—Harmonisation of dangerous goods transport regulationsproposed directive to align domestic requirements with ADR Agreement.
• Dangerous Goods—EU Quality/Safety Assurance Scheme: The European Standards Organisation has been mandated by the Commission to develop a quality/safety assurance standard for all dangerous goods carriers.
• Dangerous Goods-Uniform Procedures for Checks on the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road: Proposed Directive on the implementation of a system of uniform Community-wide dangerous goods vehicle enforcement procedures.
• Driving Test/Driver Licensing-Extension to incorporate a theory test staged testing and lowering of LGV threshold in line with second EC Directive on driver licensing.
• Working Time Directive-minimum rest periods for staff but transport activities are exempt. Safety for Transport Activities-proposed EC Directive on minimum safety and health requirements. • Road Transport Taxation-Council of Ministers decision on minimum VED rates, road user charges and liberalisation of cabotage operations.