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• Technical harmonisation
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Regulatory framework

Completion of the Internal Market

The EC Whole Vehicle Type-Approval (EC WVTA) system applies to passenger cars and to motorcycles on a mandatory basis since January 1998 and June 2003, respectively. As a result, these categories of vehicles must comply with all the relevant EC type-approval directives in order to be placed on the market.

For new types of tractor in categories T1-T2-T3, WVTA is mandatory since 1 July 2005 and all new tractors in these categories must comply as of 1 July 2009. Optional harmonisation has been partly achieved for other categories since 1990; manufacturers may choose between applying the EC directives and regulations and obtaining an EC WVTA, or requesting a national type-approval based on the technical requirements of a Member State.

The currently applicable Framework Directive on type-approval of vehicles, adopted in 2007, makes EC WVTA mandatory for all categories of motor vehicles and their trailers. The implementation is enforced in accordance with a time-schedule extending from 2009 to 2014 depending on the category.

The Directive provides for the Member States to take appropriate measures at two stages:

• before granting type-approval, the approval authority must verify that adequate arrangements for ensuring conformity of production have been taken by the manufacturer. In most cases, this is deemed to be achieved if the manufacturer demonstrates compliance with Standard EN ISO 9001;
• after having given approval, the approval authority must verify that the production arrangements of the manufacturer continue to be adequate. This verification must be carried out in accordance with the procedures set out in the Directive, and, where appropriate, with the specific provisions of the relevant Regulatory Acts listed in Annex IV to that Directive. This procedure may be carried out with manufacturers' technical equipment and control programs, but may also be extended to the actual testing of selected production samples.

The approval authority of each Member State must send to the approval authority of the other Member States a copy of the vehicle type-approval certificate for each vehicle type which it has approved, refused to approve or withdrawn. With respect to type-approvals of systems, components and separate technical units, only a list of approvals granted must be send at three-monthly intervals.

For vehicles for which EC whole vehicle type approval (EC-WVTA) applies, each Member State shall register or permit the sale and entry into service of new vehicles only if they are accompanied by a valid certificate of conformity (CoC).In accordance with the provisions of Article 18 of the Directive, the manufacturer has the obligation to deliver an original hard copy of the CoC to the purchaser of the vehicle.

A certificate of conformity is, in effect, a statement by the manufacturer that the vehicle conforms to the relevant EC WVTA. Member States cannot refuse to register vehicles if they are accompanied by a valid CoC, proving compliance with the Community legislation.

In addition to the separate EC type-approval directives, regulations are developed under the auspices of the UNECE Revised 1958 Agreement. There is a very strong correlation between EU legislation and UNECE regulations, and regulations adhered to by the Community are considered to be equivalent to their corresponding, separate directives for the purpose of EC type-approval.