European Community type-approval will no longer be valid for new vehicles and some part manufacturers if the UK leaves the EU in March 2019 without a deal, the Department for Transport has announced.
In an official notice, the government has outlined the contingency plans the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) would implement in order to allow vehicle and component manufacturers to place new products on the market if the UK leaves the EU without an agreement.
It states that vehicle and some component manufacturers would need to obtain a UK type-approval before placing their products on the UK market.
European Community (EC) type-approvals issued outside of the UK, would no longer be automatically accepted on the UK market and manufacturers would need to ensure that they have the correct type-approval for each market.
UK type-approval
Writing in its report, the DfT said: “The UK plans to issue provisional UK type-approvals to manufacturers that already have EC type-approvals.
“This would be an administrative conversion of EC type-approvals into UK type-approvals.
“This streamlined approach would ensure that products can continue to be sold and registered in the UK.
“This provisional approval would be time-limited, for example two years.
“During this period, manufacturers would be able to approach the VCA to request a full conversion of their EC type-approval to a UK type-approval.
“Manufacturers currently holding a VCA-issued EC type-approval, who intend to continue placing their products on the EU market, must obtain a new EC type-approval from a type-approval authority in an EU country.”
Full details on the process are to be made available later this year.
For motorists and fleet operators, a ‘no-deal’ scenario would not prevent them from driving cars they own or may buy either in the UK or abroad.
There are no implications for owners of vehicles registered either in the UK or abroad before the UK leaves the EU.
How type approval works currently
Current type approval standards are set out in the framework regulations on European Community Whole Vehicle Type-Approval (ECWVTA) and those on the approval of non-road mobile machinery.
For a vehicle to be sold and registered in the EU, the manufacturer must hold an European Community type-approval (EC type-approval) issued by the type-approval authority in an EU country.
Some components may also need EC type-approval.
Manufacturers who are in the process of obtaining a new EU approval at the point of exit or intend to place a new vehicle models or components onto the UK market after exit day would need to obtain a UK type-approval.
The DfT said: “They must comply with the requirements of the UK type-approval scheme, which will be fully aligned with the requirements for ECWVTA immediately after exit.
“The VCA would grant a UK type-approval where a manufacturer can demonstrate it holds a valid EC type-approval issued post exit.
“Where necessary, the VCA would carry out conformity of production checks and review the documentary evidence, including test reports and approval certificates.
“Manufacturers wishing to place new products on the EU market after exit would need to follow the existing procedure for obtaining a new EC type-approval.”
No-deal is “unlikely”
In its report, the DfT said a ‘no-deal’ scenario “remains unlikely given the mutual interests of the UK and the EU in securing a negotiated outcome”.
It added: “Negotiations are progressing well and both we and the EU continue to work hard to seek a positive deal.
“However, it’s our duty as a responsible government to prepare for all eventualities, including ‘no-deal’, until we can be certain of the outcome of those negotiations.”
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