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EC demands 2005 digitach deadline
Page 6
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An EC move to impose a year-end deadline on digital tachographs has caused consternation. Alan Osborn and Keith Nuthall report.
THE EUROPEAN Commission has sparked chaos and confusion in the road haulage industry by attempting to impose a final deadline of 31 December for fitting digital tachographs on new trucks.
It has acted under a 1998-vintage European Union Directive that said digital tachographs should become compulsory when the necessary technology becomes available.
Brussels is now saying this technology is in place, so member states may only "continue to permit the use of analogue tachographs on [new] vehicles registered up until 3 I December 2005". This move has angered many in the industry, given that the European Parliament and EU Council or Ministers are currently debating replacement legislation that would allow a more relaxed deadline of August 2006.
It could also generate a legal challenge, given that most onlookers think the EC needs clearance from the council and ME Ps for a 31 December deadline under the old legislation. and cannot impose this deadline under its own authority. The Freight Transport Association is not convinced that manufacturers could satisfy the January date. A spokesman says:"Industry has had no opportunity to investigate or purchase downloading tools or software,let alone train administration staff and, more importantly, drivers.
35 Therefore it would 6 be impossible for
37
334 operators to meet these requirements by January." Assuming the EC needs the permission of the EU council and parliament, there would also be little chance of the EU's notoriously slow decision making procedures approving a 31 December deadline by the time it came into force.
The spokesman adds: "The EC appears to be steadfastly ignoring that parliament and council are debating a new mandatory fitment date, and parliament's position that vehicles manufactured from August 2006 is the earliest reasonable date for mandatory fitment of digital tachographs and August 2007 for vehicles first put intoservice."