PURPOSE: to clarify the descriptions of T1 and T2 agricultural tractors in Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Regulation (EU) 2019/519 of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 on the approval and market surveillance of agricultural and forestry vehicles.

CONTENT: this Regulation amending Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 clarifies the descriptions of vehicles of categories T1 and T2 with regard to the position of the axle nearest the driver for tractors with reversible driving positions and with regard to the method of calculating the height of the centre of gravity. It introduces an accurate definition of the different features of agricultural tractors based on the analysis of their technical characteristics is of the utmost importance for the correct and complete implementation of this Regulation and of the delegated and implementing acts adopted under it:

- “category T1” comprises wheeled tractors, with the closest axle to the driver having a minimum track width of not less than 1 150 mm, with an unladen mass, in running order, of more than 600 kg, and with a ground clearance of not more than 1 000 mm; for tractors with a reversible driving position (reversible seat and steering wheel), the closest axle to the driver is the one fitted with the largest diameter tyres;

- “category T2” comprises wheeled tractors with a minimum track width of less than 1 150 mm, with an unladen mass, in running order, of more than 600 kg, with a ground clearance of not more than 600 mm; if the height of the centre of gravity of the tractor (determined in accordance with ISO standard 789-6:1982 and measured in relation to the ground) divided by the average minimum track for each axle exceeds 0,90, the maximum design speed shall be restricted to 30 km/h.’.

Importers shall, for a period of 10 years after the placing on the market of the vehicle and for a period of five years after the placing on the market for a system, component or separate technical unit, keep a copy of the EU type-approval certificate at the disposal of the approval and market surveillance authorities.

The Regulation also extends the Commission's power to adopt delegated acts for a further 5 years and provides for its tacit extension, unless the Council or the European Parliament expressly objects.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 18.4.2019.

The European Parliament adopted by 640 votes to 32, with 5 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending and correcting Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 on the approval and market surveillance of agricultural and forestry vehicles.

The European Parliament's position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure amended the Commission’s proposal as follows.

The amended text introduces a precise definition of the different features of agricultural tractors, based on the analysis of their technical characteristics.

Members considered that such a definition is essential for the correct and complete implementation of the Regulation and the delegated and implementing acts adopted under it.

Considering that discussions on the definitions of the categories take place in the relevant international fora, of which the Union is a party, such work should be taken into account by the Commission to prevent any disproportionate and negative effects on the application of technical requirements and test procedures, as well as any negative impacts for the manufacturers, in particular of highly specialised tractors.

As regards the scope, Parliament specified that the Regulation shall not apply to interchangeable equipment that is fully raised from the ground or that cannot articulate around a vertical axis when the vehicle to which it is attached is in use on a road.

The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection adopted the report by Nicola DANTI (S&D, IT) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending and correcting Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 on the approval and market surveillance of agricultural and forestry vehicles.

The committee recommended that the European Parliament's position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure should amend the Commission’s proposal as follows.

An accurate definition of the different features of agricultural tractors based on the analysis of their technical characteristics is of utmost importance for the correct and complete implementation of this Regulation and of the delegated and implementing acts adopted under it.

Scope : with a view to correcting certain terms, the amended text proposed that this Regulation shall not apply to interchangeable equipment that is fully raised from the ground or that cannot articulate around a vertical axis when the vehicle to which it is attached is in use on a road.

PURPOSE: to amend and correct Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 on the approval and market surveillance of agricultural and forestry vehicles.

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

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.

BACKGROUND: t ype-approval requirements applying to agricultural and forestry vehicles are set out in Directive 2003/37/EC and its implementing Directives, which have been repealed with effect from 1 January 2016 and replaced by Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 and its four delegated acts and one implementing act.

The Commission wishes to upgrade to technical progress Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 by updating certain requirements and correcting certain editorial errors following feedback received by stakeholders and Member States in the first implementation period.

More precisely, it is necessary to introduce clarifications to two definitions of tractor categories and corrects certain terms important for the uniform application of the Regulation without possible interpretations.

Moreover, there is a continuous need to update elements of these delegated acts to technical progress. However, Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 limited the Commission’s powers to adopt delegated acts for a period of five years, which will expire on 21 March 2018.

CONTENT: the proposal to amend Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 aims to:

clarify the descriptions of T1 and T2 category vehicles regarding the position of the axle closest to the driver for tractors with reversible driving position and regarding the method of calculating the height of the centre of gravity. In order to accurately and uniformly establish the height of the centre of gravity for T2 category vehicles, reference should be made to internationally applicable standards which determine the centre of gravity of a tractor; extend the power conferred on the Commission to adopt delegated acts for 5 more years and sets out its tacit renewal, unless the Council or the European Parliament expressly object to it. The Commission has already received requests from stakeholders and Member States to extend this power.