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SMMT issues type approval warning
Page 14
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WHOLE-VEH1CLE type approval legislation is still not finalised, with several grey areas threatening to cause complications for manufacturers and operators, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The legislation is designed to remove trade barriers across the EU by harmonising vehicle construction, but it is not clear who will be responsible for approving vehicles.
According to the SMMT, it is still to be decided whether current vehicle specification will be compatible with future approval criteria, and bespoke vehicles could also require further endorsement — no approval will mean no sale.
So far the framework is set to include 49 individual directives, but it is not known if additions such as extra lighting will come under the legislation.
To assist small businesses, a national scheme will be allowed for low-volume production: this is intended to be more flexible in its requirements.
However, the SMMT believes that most of these businesses are not prepared for, or in some cases even aware of, the forthcoming legislation.
The European Parliament is expected to give the proposal a second reading in September, with a final draft expected by the end of the year. The earliest mandatory date for both national and EU programmes will be no earlier than January 2009.