In addition to just providing mileage certification Bimta, actually do a lot behind the scenes, lobbying the Government on behalf of all independant importers. :wink:
This may be of interest to all on the Forum, as it affects all future importation, from their last newsletter:
ITS OFFICIAL:
SVA WILL FINISH ON 30th APRIL 2009!!!!
- Ten-year-old rule will be scrapped
- Extra model reports being proposed
….and more!
BACKGROUND
As our bulletins reported last year: The European Community (EC) is currently negotiating a Recast Framework Directive (RFD) on the approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
This will replace the existing Framework Directive (70/156/EEC) with the most important change being the extension of European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA) from passenger cars (category M1) to what might be generally described as "commercial vehicles".
This covers all vehicles under type approval regulations that have not been registered previously in the EU e.g. New vehicles INCLUDING imported vehicles.
SVA ENDS 1st MAY 2009
From 1st May 2009 SVA and ESVA will be no longer for M1 passenger vehicles. SVA will become bespoke IVA (Individual Vehicle Approval) and ESVA will become IVA. This is set in stone.
Remember this scheme remains a concession from the Directives. While the UK has opted to continue operating a small series National Type Approval Scheme it did not have to do so.
A full copy of the Directives can be found at: -
www.dft.gov.uk/roads/vehicles/typeapproval
We have been informed that there will be no period of grace. All vehicles must be registered under SVA by 30th April 2009. This could have big impact on your business decisions.
WHAT IS BIMTA DOING?
With the available resources and the voluntary contributions of the committee, especially Howard Lister and Neil Howe, plus members such as Model Reports.com, Model Reports Direct, LTC Liverpool, BMS Bristol, RTS Bristol and others, we are fighting hard to save the industry and keep the door open and ensure to the extent possible that any changes to the regulations have the least impact on industry.
BIMTA as a private industry stakeholder has a seat at the table. Throughout the last
12 months notable gains have included:
1.Reducing the number of 5 additionally proposed model reports to potentially 1
Six months ago the DfT was proposing to add 5 model reports to the ESVA scheme.
These were: Steering Effort, Front and Side Impact, Air Conditioning, Fuel Tank Measurement and EMC (Electric Magnetic Compatibility).
After various rounds of negotiations agreements have been reached that model reports will not be required for steering, impact, air conditioning, fuel tank measurement and EMC.
EMC will be the most costly model report to produce and we have made strong representations against this and we are still waiting on a final decision from DfT.
2.Ensuring that the concession for different sized registration plates for imported vehicles will continue to apply.
Otherwise all rear bumpers with Japanese sized number plates would have been required to have been replaced.
What is certain is that there will be additional items to the test. The technical regulations, new test fees and new inspection manual are currently being drafted between DfT, VOSA and VCA.
We are working very hard behind the scenes in the formal consultation with the Department for Transport. We regret bulletins and updates are not as frequent as they might be.
This is a massive industry issue and BIMTA will do what it can but at this moment there still remains many unanswered questions.
What is for sure is that without BIMTA and our seat at the table the industry would be finished.
We have also asked the DfT to review the Japanese noise and emissions technical standards in comparison with EU/UN-ECE standards and are working tirelessly to lobby for a formal review of the system for the provision of evidence from manufacturers and independent sources to prove compliance.
WHAT ABOUT LIGHT COMMERICALS AND CAMPERS?
Light Commercials will be increasingly brought in line with the passenger vehicle test.
Camper vehicles/motor homes will have to undergo type approval testing or have bespoke IVA before they can be imported and registered from 2012.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Tell everyone in the industry that this is happening.
And tell everyone who isn’t a BIMTA MEMBER TO JOIN TODAY – TO RECEIVE UPDATES AND HELP US FIGHT.
If people believe that BIMTA will sort things out anyway its just not true. There are simply no guarantees and our efforts are resource led. There is still a lot of negotiating to be done…..BE AWARE OF THE BRUSSELS FACTOR.
Even if we are relatively happy with the proposed regulations, the EU will have the final say and until they have approved the UK Schemes, which is likely to be around August 2008, we cannot definitely say that there will be no further model reports or the 10 year old rule will remain.
It is a given that the scheme will change from 1st May 2009. The question is by how much?
CONCERNED?
First of all you should be. If you have any views on the proposed changes especially, the impact of more model reports, removal of the 10 year old rule, increased fees, etc.
Please email any concerns or representations to
queries@bimta.org
TIMETABLE OF OFFICIAL EVENTS
April-May 2008 – DfT to publish public consultation
May-August 2008 – EU will review, approve or reject all countries official schemes.
May 2009 – SVA ends and IVA will be phased in?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOSA SET TO UPLIFT SVA FEES BY 30%
FROM APRIL 2008!!!
What Next?
While industry grapples with the implications of SVA ending and IVA beginning under the Recast Framework Directive, VOSA as an agency is proposing to increase statutory fees VOSA charges for its services in connection with testing and inspecting vehicles including SVA and vehicle identity checks.
What is concerning is that if fees are uplifted in 2008 we also know that fees for the IVA scheme from 2009 are also being developed. Fees are set to go one way!
VOSA have tried to justify this on the grounds of:
The increase proposed to the fees for Single Vehicle Approval of cars and light goods vehicles, at about 30%, is greater than the proposed 5% increase for other fees. This larger rise is needed to ensure that the scheme fully covers its costs in 2008/09, though it still carries forward a deficit.
The SVA scheme has been adversely affected by reducing volumes. It must also be remembered that the SVA fees remained unchanged from August 2001 until April 2007. The proposed increases, therefore, represent an annual growth rate since August 2001 of only 4.85%.
In summary the fee increases are deemed necessary to cover inflation and to invest in;
· Developing and maintaining E-enabled services;
· Refurbishing old test stations and installing modern equipment;
· Supporting better targeting of enforcement in line with the Government response to the Hampton report
www.hm-treasury.gov.uk./media/0/B/hampt ... 281106.pdf
· Additional enforcement sites in key locations; and
· Service loans used to pay for such developments which have been capitalised
VOSA asks 3 questions:
· Should we seek higher increases in one or more areas to increase the rate of investment in improved services?
· Should we cut back on planned investment and not seek to improve services in one or more areas?
· Should we decrease running costs by worsening existing service levels such as waiting time for tests or turnaround times for licence applications?
What next for us?
We are massively concerned that the proposed uplift is unjustified, disproportionate, and inevitably will be passed onto industry.
There is currently an 8 week public consultation been undertaken and replies are due to VOSA by 10th March.
As a stakeholder BIMTA will make a formal representation and we desperately need the views of members.
We ask for your general views on the above and the perceived impact that you think this will have on the industry by close of FriDay this week Feb 29th!
The full consultation documents can be viewed at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/ope ... aservices/
Mike @ Torque
