New Vehicles Act to reflect the changes in EU regulation

The legislation on vehicle approval and market surveillance has been revised to bring it into line with the amended EU regulation. In the future, the Vehicles Act will only lay down provisions on the approval of new vehicles and equipment belonging to national vehicle categories and on their market surveillance. These categories and equipment include motorised work machinery, off-road vehicles, studs and studded tyres.

Provisions on the approval and market surveillance of other vehicle categories, including motor vehicles (M, N), motor vehicle trailers (O), mopeds, motorcycles (L), tractors (T, C), trailers towed by tractors (R) and towed equipment (S) are laid down in EU legislation.

The penalties required by EU legislation for breaches of obligations related to vehicle regulation will enter info force at the same time. In the future, the Transport and Communications Agency is authorised to impose a penalty of EUR 30,000 at the most on a company for a breach of obligations. 

The purpose of market surveillance is to ensure that vehicles to be sold and imported are safe for human health, property and the environment and that they do not pose a risk when properly installed and used.

The Vehicles Act was also clarified through several structural and technical amendments.

On 14 January 2021, the Government proposed that the President of the Republic approve the new Vehicles Act and the related legislative amendments. The Act is scheduled to enter into force on 1 March 2021.

Inquiries:

Eeva Asikainen, Senior Officer, tel. +358 50 522 6204

Jenni Rantio, Senior Government Adviser, tel. +358 50 534 7647