PURPOSE: to ensure the functioning of the internal market by requiring agricultural tractors to comply with harmonised environmental exhaust provisions.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Directive 2011/87/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2000/25/EC as regards the application of emission stages for narrow-track tractors.

CONTENT: following an agreement at first reading with the European Parliament, the Council adopted a directive amending Directive 2000/25/EC as regards the application of emission stages for narrow-track tractors in order to help engine manufacturers adapt to stricter environmental requirements.

The Danish delegation voted against.

Directive 2000/25/EC regulates exhaust emissions of gaseous and particulate pollutants from engines installed in agricultural and forestry tractors with a view to contributing to the protection of human health and the environment. It provided that the emissions limits applicable in 2010 for type approval of the majority of diesel engines (known as Stage IIIA) were to be replaced by the more stringent limits (Stage IIIB) progressively.

Stage IV, providing for emissions limits more stringent than Stage IIIB, will enter into force progressively as from 1 January 2013 as regards the type-approval for those engines and from 1 January 2014 with regard to placing on the market.

Directive 2000/25/EC is amended in order to grant a transitional period of three years during which narrow-track tractors ( tractors of categories T2, T4.1 et C2) may still be type approved and placed on the market before complying with emission requirements of Stages IIIB and IV.

The Commission shall, by 31 December 2014, consider what technology is available that is capable of meeting Stage IV requirements and that is compatible with the needs of categories T2, T4.1 and C2, and submit, where appropriate, proposals to the European Parliament and the Council.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 08/12/2011.

TRANSPOSITION: 09/12/2012.

The European Parliament adopted by 630 votes to 4, with 18 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2000/25/EC as regards the application of emission stages for narrow-track tractors.

Parliament adopted its position at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure. The amendments adopted in plenary are the result of a compromise negotiated between the European Parliament and the Council. They amend the Commission proposal as follows:

Availability of compatible technology : the amended text provides that the Commission shall, by 31 December 2014 , consider what technology is available that is capable of meeting Stage IV requirements and that is compatible with the needs of categories T2, T4.1 and C2, and submit, where appropriate, proposals to the European Parliament and the Council.

Transposition : Member States shall transpose the Directive 12 months following its entry into force. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those measures

The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety adopted the report drafted by Salvatore TATARELLA (EPP, IT) on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2000/25/EC as regards the application of emission stages for narrow-track tractors.

It recommends that the European Parliament’s position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure approves the Commission proposal subject to amendments.

Members approve the Commission proposal to amend Directive 2000/25/EC which would postpone for three years the obligation to comply with Stage IIIB and Stage IV requirements for tractors in categories T2, C2 and T4.1.

The report notes that the studies which preceded the drawing up of this proposal do not indicate with the requisite certainty that narrow-track tractors are capable of fulfilling, in due course, the requirements specified for Stage IV.

It is for this reason that the Members proposed that the Commission shall, by 31 December 2014, consider what technology capable of meeting Stage IV requirements and compatible with the T2, C2 and T4.1 needs is available and submit, where appropriate, proposals to the European Parliament and the Council.

The Commission should report each year to the European Parliament and Council on progress in the development of technical solutions for Stage IV compliant technology.

PURPOSE: to ensure the functioning of the internal market by requiring agricultural tractors to comply with harmonised environmental exhaust provisions.

PROPOSED ACT: Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council.

BACKGROUND: Directive 2000/25/EC regulates exhaust emissions from engines installed in agricultural or forestry tractors. The stage of emission limits currently applicable for type approval of the majority of compression ignition engines is referred to as Stage IIIA.

The Directive provides that those limits will be replaced by the more stringent Stage IIIB limits, entering into force progressively as of 1st January 2010 as regards the type approval and as of 1st January 2011 with regard to the placing on the market of those engines.

Directive 2004/26/EC amending Directive 97/68/EC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to measures against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from internal combustion engines to be installed in non-road mobile machinery, provides that the Commission shall consider the available technology, including the cost-benefit, with a view to confirming stage IIIB and IV limit values and evaluating the possible need for additional flexibilities, exemptions or later introduction dates for certain types of equipment or engines and taking into account engines installed in non-road mobile machinery used in seasonal applications. Directive 2000/25/EC provides for a review clause in order to take into account the specificities of tractors of categories T2, T4.1 and C.2 (called narrow-track tractors, maximum width less than 1.15 m).

Directive 97/68/EC was the subject of several technical studies. As a result of these technical studies carried out in 2007, 2009 and 2010, it was established that it is not technically feasible for tractors classified within the categories T2, C2 and T4.1 to meet the requirements of stages IIIB and IV already at the dates in the Directive.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: the Commission undertook a formal impact assessment in 2010, based on the previously mentioned technical studies and taking into account recent technological developments. The conclusion was that technical solutions are likely to be feasible, although not in the timeframe set in current legislation. A delay of 3 years for Stage IIIB and Stage IV requirements was assessed as the preferred option.

LEGAL BASE: Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

CONTENT: in order to prevent Union legislation from prescribing technical requirements which cannot be met yet and in order to prevent that tractors of categories T2, C2 and T4.1. can no longer be type-approved and placed on the market or put into service, the Commission proposes that the dates given in Article 4 of Directive 2000/25/EC for type approval and initial entry into service of Stages IIIB and IV shall be delayed by three years for tractors of categories T2, C2 and T4.1.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: the proposal has no implication for the Union budget.

PURPOSE: to ensure the functioning of the internal market by requiring agricultural tractors to comply with harmonised environmental exhaust provisions.

PROPOSED ACT: Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council.

BACKGROUND: Directive 2000/25/EC regulates exhaust emissions from engines installed in agricultural or forestry tractors. The stage of emission limits currently applicable for type approval of the majority of compression ignition engines is referred to as Stage IIIA.

The Directive provides that those limits will be replaced by the more stringent Stage IIIB limits, entering into force progressively as of 1st January 2010 as regards the type approval and as of 1st January 2011 with regard to the placing on the market of those engines.

Directive 2004/26/EC amending Directive 97/68/EC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to measures against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from internal combustion engines to be installed in non-road mobile machinery, provides that the Commission shall consider the available technology, including the cost-benefit, with a view to confirming stage IIIB and IV limit values and evaluating the possible need for additional flexibilities, exemptions or later introduction dates for certain types of equipment or engines and taking into account engines installed in non-road mobile machinery used in seasonal applications. Directive 2000/25/EC provides for a review clause in order to take into account the specificities of tractors of categories T2, T4.1 and C.2 (called narrow-track tractors, maximum width less than 1.15 m).

Directive 97/68/EC was the subject of several technical studies. As a result of these technical studies carried out in 2007, 2009 and 2010, it was established that it is not technically feasible for tractors classified within the categories T2, C2 and T4.1 to meet the requirements of stages IIIB and IV already at the dates in the Directive.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: the Commission undertook a formal impact assessment in 2010, based on the previously mentioned technical studies and taking into account recent technological developments. The conclusion was that technical solutions are likely to be feasible, although not in the timeframe set in current legislation. A delay of 3 years for Stage IIIB and Stage IV requirements was assessed as the preferred option.

LEGAL BASE: Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

CONTENT: in order to prevent Union legislation from prescribing technical requirements which cannot be met yet and in order to prevent that tractors of categories T2, C2 and T4.1. can no longer be type-approved and placed on the market or put into service, the Commission proposes that the dates given in Article 4 of Directive 2000/25/EC for type approval and initial entry into service of Stages IIIB and IV shall be delayed by three years for tractors of categories T2, C2 and T4.1.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: the proposal has no implication for the Union budget.