Vehicles Act into line with EU legislation

The Government proposes that the legislation on vehicle approval and market surveillance be updated to bring it into line with the amended EU legislation. In the future, the Vehicles Act would only lay down provisions on the approval of equipment and new vehicles 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) and trailers towed by tractors (R) and towed equipment (S) are laid down as of 1 September 2020 in EU legislation.

Once the EU regulation has entered into force, Member States must also determine penalties for companies for breaches of obligations related to vehicle regulation. The Government proposes in the Vehicles Act that the maximum sum as a penalty for such breaches be EUR 30,000. The payment would be imposed by the Transport and Communications Agency.

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 amendments in EU regulation and, consequently, in the Vehicles Act, mainly affect vehicle manufacturers and importers.

In addition, the Vehicles Act will be clarified by amendments that are technical or structural in nature.

What are the next steps?

On 15 October 2020, the Government submitted its proposal to Parliament to amend the Vehicles Act.

A preliminary debate will be held on the proposal in a plenary session. The timetable for the debate will be listed on Parliament's website. After the referral debate, the proposal will be sent to a committee. Once the committee's report is ready, the matter will be discussed in a plenary session again.

The Act is expected to enter into force as soon as possible.

Inquiries:

Emma Särkkä, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 50 513 8260