The Motor Vehicles (Type Approval) (Great Britain) Regulations 1984

EXPLANATORY NOTE

1.

These Regulations consolidate, with amendments, the provisions of the Motor Vehicles (Type Approval) (Great Britain) Regulations 1979 and the amending Regulations specified in Schedule 6 and revoked by Regulation 15(1).

2.

These Regulations make provision for a scheme of type approval of motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts, in relation to certain classes of motor vehicle, in Great Britain on a national basis.

3.

The classes of motor vehicle to which the scheme applies are defined in Regulation 3. Regulation 4 and Schedule 1 specify the type approval requirements. Regulations 5, 6 and 7 make provision for applications for type approval certificates and Minister's approval certificates. The forms of these certificates, the forms to accompany the applications and the forms of certificates of conformity to be issued by manufacturers are provided for in Regulation 9 and Schedules 2 to 5. Regulation 8 provides for appeals, Regulations 10 and 11 provide for the issue of duplicate certificates and for the keeping of records and Regulation 12 empowers the Secretary of State to authorise persons to examine vehicles and vehicle parts which are subject to type approval requirements. Regulation 13 provides that notices shall be in writing and may be given by post.

4.

When the first application for a licence under the Vehicles (Excise) Act 1971 is made for a motor vehicle which is subject to type approval requirements, Regulation 14 requires that evidence that the vehicle complies with those requirements must be produced before the licence can be granted.

5.

Regulation 15(2) contains transitional provisions.

6.

The Regulations amend the type approval requirements prescribed by the Regulations of 1979 so as to:—

(1)

amend the existing exemption for prototype vehicles and provide an exemption for pre-release vehicles (Regulation 3(2)(g) and (h);

(2)

provide for the cessation of the application of the type approval requirement specified in item 2 of Schedule 1 relating to radio-interference suppression with the result that after 30th September 1984 only the requirement in item 2A will be prescribed;

(3)

provide (by adding to item 4C in Schedule 1) a new alternative prescribed requirement relating to exhaust emissions as a result of Council Directive 83/351/EEC of 16th June 1983;

(4)

provide exemptions for vehicles fuelled solely by liquid petroleum gas in relation to the prescribed requirements specified in items 4B and 4C relating to exhaust emissions;

(5)

provide (by adding to item 6 in Schedule 1) a new alternative prescribed requirement relating to headlamps in consequence of the adoption by the United Kingdom of ECE Regulation 5 as revised on 29th August 1982;

(6)

provide for the cessation of the application of certain of the prescribed requirements specified in items 13A, 13C and 13D in Schedule 1 relating to brakes with the result that after 30th September 1984 the requirements prescribed will be those prescribed in consequence of Council Directive 71/320/EEC as amended by Commission Directive 79/489/EEC or ECE Regulation 13 as revised on 4th January 1979 and amended on 11th August 1981;

(7)

provide (by adding new items 22, 23, 24 and 24A in Schedule 1) prescribed requirements for wiper and washer systems, defrosting and demisting systems and the installation of lighting and signalling equipment;

(8)

provide for a new information document for use in conjunction with applications for type approval certificates; and

(9)

make minor and consequential amendments.

7.

Copies of the ECE Regulations and EEC Directives referred to in these Regulations may be obtained from Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Enquiries about the availability of the British Standards referred to herein should be made to the British Standards Institution at Linford Wood, Milton Keynes, MK14 6LE (telephone number Milton Keynes (STD 0908) 320066).