The Motor Vehicles (Approval) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations further amend the Motor Vehicles (Approval) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 (the “principal Regulations”). The amendments are necessary in connection with the implementation of Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 September 2007 establishing a framework for the approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles (OJ No L263, 9.10.2007, p.1), referred to in the Regulations as the “Framework Directive”, which replaces Directive 70/156/EEC. The Framework Directive has been amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1060/2008 (OJ No L292, 31.10.2008, p.1).

The principal Regulations provide for the issue of the Department’s approval certificates for single vehicles under Article 31A of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981.

From April 29^th 2009 the new Framework Directive imposes new requirements for the approval of single passenger vehicles in category M1 other than special purpose vehicles (for which new requirements apply from 29^th April 2011). Regulation 3 of the principal Regulations is therefore amended by regulation 2(4) to limit their application to M1 special purpose vehicles. This provision also removes certain light vehicles with 3 and 4 wheels from the scope of the principal Regulations since approval of these is now covered by the Motor Cycles Etc (EC Type Approval) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/2920).

Regulation 2 also replaces reference to the 1970 Directive in the principal Regulations with references to the Framework Directive and makes other consequential amendments.

As these Regulations do not in themselves have an impact on the costs of the business, voluntary or public sectors, no Impact Assessment has been produced in relation to them. An Impact Assessment and Transposition Note have been produced in relation to the principal implementing instrument, the Road Vehicles (Approval) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/717).