Motor Vehicles (Approval) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

The Motor Vehicles (Approval) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 (“the 2001 Regulations”) established a statutory system for approving the construction of single vehicles before entering into service. The 2001 Regulations apply to passenger vehicles and dual-purpose vehicles constructed to carry no more than 8 passengers excluding the driver (equivalent to EC category M1) and certain 3-wheeled vehicles having a maximum unladen weight of more than 410 kg (i.e. not motorcycles).

These Regulations amend the 2001 Regulations so as to extend their application to light goods vehicles (maximum gross weight not exceeding 3,500 kg, equivalent to EC category N1) and certain other goods vehicles with a design gross weight not exceeding 5,500 kg.

The Regulations also correct a minor error in Schedule 4 to the 2001 Regulations (regulation 7(2)).

These Regulations have been notified to the European Commission pursuant to European Parliament and Council Directive 98/34/EC of 22nd June 1998 (O.J. No. L204, 21.7.98, p. 37) as amended by European Parliament and Council Directive 98/48/EC of 20th July 1998 (O.J. L217, 5.8.98, p. 18) laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations and of rules on Information Society services.

Copies of the EC Directives and ECE Regulations referred to in these Regulations may be obtained from TSO, 16 Arthur Street, Belfast BT1 4GD.