We identify and keep track of worldwide regulatory changes with the focus on areas such as:
product compliance, product safety, vehicle type approval and homologation, import restrictions, international trade law, radio certification, material compliance, chemistry, environmental regulations, electric vehicles, cybersecurity and autonomous driving.
Below you will find an excerpt of the world News on regulations from these areas.
Please contact us for a comprehensive overview of the topic or specific countries.
Recently the European Commission published two draft EU Regulations, which allow a wider use of fully automated vehicles.
The first draft (Ares(2022)2077610) mainly specifies changes to (EU) 2018/858 on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, which would allow the European Small Series Type Approval (EUSSTA) of fully automated vehicles.
The new Fuel Economy Standards will affect Passenger Cars and Light Trucks of the Model Years 2024-2026
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has finalized its revisions of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards for Model Years 2024-2026 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks and published a final rule regarding the subject.
Taiwans proposal to adopt electrical safety specifications, electromagnetic compatibility and related inspections standards has been transposed
Taiwans Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) published a new proposal in November 2021, through WTO notifications, to renew the current version of safety specifications in reference to electrics and electronics to meet international standards of consumer safety. The proposed changes have been implemented.
Switzerland makes amendments to the Energy Efficiency Ordinance, which provides for adjustments for mass-produced vehicles and appliances.
Increasing energy efficiency is a cornerstone of the Energy Strategy 2050. Accordingly, the Federal Council also emphasized the importance of improving energy efficiency and, in particular, electricity efficiency in its dispatch in 2021. Against this background, the planned amendments to the Energy Efficiency Ordinance will make adjustments for series-produced vehicles and appliances.
An update of the REACH Regulation was recently published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), by which 5 substances were added to the list
Annex XIV to the REACH Regulation lists substances that require authorization before they can be placed on the market. The total number of substances increases from 54 to 59. The list is regularly updated by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
The draft takes a cross-sectoral approach and aims at a fairer distribution of the value creation associated with data.
According to the EU Commission, the potential of machine-generated data has so far remained largely untapped. The draft Data Act enables certain private and public actors to access and use data. The aim of the new Data Act is to give consumers and businesses more say in how their data is used by clarifying who has access to the data and under what conditions.
The German legislator has enacted the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, which is scheduled to enter into force on 1st of January 2023.
The new Supply Chain Sourcing Obligations Act in Germany will be applicable across all sectors from 2023 for companies with at least 3,000 employees. From 2024, companies with at least 1,000 workers will also be required to comply with these regulations. This law is intended to contribute to compliance with human rights and environmental standards in other countries.
The UN/ECE introduces an amendment for automatic parking brakes
The UN Economic Commission (UN/ECE) paves the way for the amendment of the UN/ECE R 13 regulation (Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles of categories M, N and O with regard to braking) by taking up Germany’s initiative. The parking braking system shall enable the vehicle to be held stationary on an uphill or downhill gradient, even in the absence of the driver.
The German Federal Cabinet has initiated an ordinance for the approval of autonomous motor vehicles on German roads
Soon, automated vehicles will be allowed to roll along German roads also from a regulatory point of view. Recently, the German Federal Cabinet has laid the foundation for this by issuing a regulation, according to which autonomous motor vehicles will be allowed to drive in regular operation in defined operating areas on public roads throughout Germany.
Haulage companies still request far-reaching action from politics in order to realise their full potential
The haulage companies surveyed by the professional journal “trans aktuell” demand a liberalisation of existing restrictions on the positive network as well as an increase of the total weight limit. In particular, the lengthy approval procedures and the lack of transparency in route clearances are proving to be problematic for haulage companies in practice.
The German government is considering to increase the weight limit for trucks as a measure to contribute to climate protection
Through their request, 28 industry and trade associations appeal to the German government to take a more ambitious approach to climate protection and to increase the weight limit for trucks. Compared to the associations’ first appeal, this time the number of supporters has increased by a third. Unlike a year and a half ago, a number of significant associations has joined in to support the proposition to increase the weight limit for trucks on the road.
Public consultation has been launched on a review of the ROHS Directive
The EU Commission has launched a public consultation regarding a review of the EU rules for the restriction of the use of hazardous substances in electronics. The RoHS Directive currently restricts the use of 10 hazardous substances in EEE and is a part of the CE conformity assessment system in the EU.
The list of products subject to EAC conformity assessment for machinery was updated
Recently, the list of equipment subject to certification or declaration of conformity in accordance with the Technical Regulation of the Customs Union CU 010/2011 ”On safety of machinery and equipment” came into force in a new edition.
Probably in March the EU Parliament decide on the new Battery Regulation
At the end of 2020, the EU Commission presented proposals for new rules for batteries in the EU (as we reported in our Insight). Soon, the Commission’s text with amendments may be adopted by the EU Parliament. This would finally give the industry the clarity about what to prepare for (a transition period of four years will be probably given to implement all the requirements).
The annexes of the new dual-use regulation (EU 2021/821) have been updated. The regulation itself came into force on January 7, 2020
Regulation (EU) 2021/821 requires so-called dual-use items to be subject to effective control when they are exported from the Union, transited through the Union or delivered to a third country in the context of brokering services.
