ETRMA: Rules Sets Tyre Safety at ‘Unprecedented Levels’

European tyre manufacturing body, ETRMA, has welcomed the approval of new requirements for the general safety of motor vehicles in yesterday’s first-reading agreement by the European Parliament. According to the association, the new type approval requirements recognise the importance of an integrated approach to tyre performance for consumers by considering both safety and environmental performance in the same act. “The implementation of this legislation will be challenging, but the tyre industry is ready to meet the challenge in light of the consumers and citizens interests,” said ETRMA president Francesco Gori. The challenge will be for the 27 enforcement Authorities to ensure consistent and effective market surveillance.

From ETRMA’s point of view the new regulation is about “environmental and safety objectives with challenging targets, while providing visibility and regulatory certainty for the next 10 years. It is about a single regulation, directly applicable in all the Member States, creating a level playing field in the EU.”

The new tyre requirements will be introduced from November 2012 and will apply progressively to the entire tyre replacement market.

Mrs Fazilet Cinaralp, ETRMA secretary general commented: “In the current economic situation, the massive parliament approval provides the essential regulatory visibility and legal certainty to Industry in order to be able to plan the necessary investments and to develop product offerings with ever increasing safety performances for road users and vehicles while reducing further their environmental impact”.

The Council of Ministers is expected to formally back the European Parliament first reading in May.