FUTURE LEGISLATION
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UK
• EC Driver's Hours Exemptions—a European Commission decision has authorised the UK to grant a limited exemption from the provisions for vehicles used exclusively within airports. As with the impending exemption for Police escorted abnormal load carrying vehicles domestic legislation will need to be made to bring the exemption into force.
• Operator Licensing simplification of the '0' Licence system included in Deregulation Bill before Parliament.
• Load Security—revision to Code of Practice. • Amendments to Food Hygiene Regulations — review of temperature control requirements and new food hygiene regulations, including special transport provisions. Also proposals for a simple "chill" temperature of 8'.
• Review of UK Domestic Driver's Hours Legislation • Vehicle Excise Duty continuous licensing for cars and light vans whether or not used or kept on the public road. • Implementation of second EC directive on driver licensing—the EC directive is to be introduced by I July 1996. Measures currently under consultation include the introduction of staged testing and of a theory element in the driving test and the lowering of the LGV threshold. • Photographs on Driving Licences—required by second EC directive on driver licensing.
• Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1994—new consolidated regulations to implement the EC Food Hygiene Directive. Regulations expected to be laid summer 1994 for implementation summer 1995.
• Dangerous Goods Transport—Revision of UK dangerous goods vehicle operator legislation to align with ADR agreement, as required by proposed EC directive. Draft legislation expected spring 1995, possible implementation July 1996.
EC Legislative Initiatives
• Liberalisation of the use of hired vehicles within the EU.
• Vehicle weights and dimensions—harmonisation throughout EU • Second generation tachographs—incorporation of/replacement by computerised records. Amending regulation formally adopted Consultation at a National level anticipated shortly.
• Road Transport Taxation Council of Ministers decision on minimum VED rates, road user charges and liberalisation of cabotage operations.
• Carbon tax on fossil fuels—agreement not yet reached by EU Governments. UK government remains opposed. • Dangerous Goods Draft Directive on the appointment of Risk Prevention Officers by coin parries involved in packing, loading, unloading or storage of dangerous goods.
• Dangerous Goods—ADR Framework Directive. Harmonisation of dangerous goods transport regulations—proposed directive to align domestic requirements with ADR Agreement. "Common position" reached at June Council of Transport Ministers meeting. Possible adoption of Directive in November. Implementation by 1.1.97.
• Dangerous Goods—EU Quality Assurance Scheme—The European Standards Organisation (CEN) has been mandated by the Commission to develop a quality assurance standard for all dan gerous goods carriers. CEN Technical Committee 320 (TC320) has established working a group to develop the standard. Freight Transport Association coordinating UK Working Group activities.
• Dangerous Goods—Uniform Procedures for Checks on the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road: Proposed Directive on the implementation of a system of uniform Communitywide dangerous goods vehicle enforcement procedures. "Common position" likely to be adopted by Council of Transport Ministers in September.
• Paying for our Post—UK Government Green Paper examining the potential policies to be applied to the clean-up of past pollution as a consequence of industrial activity. Relates to two EC draft Directives concerning civil liability and the remecliation of past pollution.