The Goods Vehicles (Authorisation of International Journeys) (Fees) Regulations 1995

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations consolidate, with amendments, the Goods Vehicles (Authorisation of International Journeys) (Fees) Regulations 1983 (“the 1983 Regulations”) with the Regulations amending them as listed in Schedule 2.

The Regualtions prescribe the fees to be paid for the issue of documents authorising the operation of goods vehicles on journeys between the United Kingdom and—

(a) other member countries of the European Conference of Ministers of Transport, and

(b) certain states with whom bilateral agreements or arrangements have been concluded.

These same fees were previously charged under the 1983 Regulations.

The Regulations also prescribe, in regulation 3(2), a new fee of £1 payable on the issue to the operator of a heavy goods vehicle of Ecopoints pursuant to Council Regualtion (EEC) No. 3637/92 (OJ No. L373, 21.12.1992, p. 1) introducing a system for the distribution of rights of transit (“Ecopoints”) through Austria for heavy goods vehicles with a laden weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes registered in a member State.

The Ecopoints system was created by an Agreement concluded on 30th November 1992 and taking effect on 1st January 1993 between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Austria on the transit of goods by road and rail (“the Transit Agreement”) (OJ No. L373, 21.12.1992, p. 6). Under the Transit Agreement the number of Ecopoints required by a road vehicle if it is to travel through Austria is determined according to the level of nitrogen oxide which it emits. The prescribed fee is payable for the issue of Ecopoints covering one journey through Austria, whether outward or inward.

Other changes made by the Regulations are the deletion of references to international agreements and arrangements and Community instruments which are spent or no longer require permits for the carriage of goods by road, and the addition of references to recent international agreements which require such permits.

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