On 24 October 2018 the Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) agreed on transitional measures aimed at facilitating the transition for the type-approval of motor vehicles and their components when the United Kingdom leaves the European Union.

The agreed text allows manufacturers of motor vehicles, systems, components and separate technical units holding a UK type-approval to obtain a type-approval granted by an approval authority of one of the remaining Member States, as long as the application is made before the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union.

The new measures lay down the conditions for obtaining a Union type-approval and its effects on the placing on the market, registration or entry into service of such vehicles, components and separate technical units. Moreover, according to these measures, the authority issuing the Union type-approval will assume responsibility for the products placed on the market on the basis of a United Kingdom type-approval.

End-of series vehicles, systems, components and separate units that were produced on the basis of the UK-type approval, where this has become invalid as a result of granting Union type-approval, will be able to be placed on the market, registered or entered into service until March 2019.

The presidency of the Council of the European Union will start the negotiations with the European Parliament once the Parliament has adopted its position.

Sara Capruzzi