VEHICLES IN
EUROPE TO BE INSPECTED
14
November 1997
Twenty countries sign an international treaty to develop uniform rules
for periodic technical inspections of vehicles
On the
occasion of the UN/ECE Regional Conference on Transport and
the Environment (Vienna, 12-14 November 1997), twenty
countries have signed the Agreement concerning the Adoption
of Uniform Conditions for Periodical Technical Inspections of
Wheeled Vehicles and the Reciprocal Recognition of such
Inspections.
The Agreement,
developed under the auspices of the UN/ECE by Government
experts in close cooperation with non-governmental
organizations representing the car manufacturing industry,
the transport industry and the users, pursues further the
objective of ECE Governments of ensuring a higher level of
safety and protection of the environment in road traffic in
all European countries by promoting the carrying out of
periodic technical inspections of wheeled vehicles in use in
these countries.
To this end,
the Agreement provides the international legal framework for
the development of uniform technical rules according to which
periodical inspections for wheeled vehicles in all European
countries shall be carried out. These technical rules, as
they are developed, will be annexed to the Agreement.
A Draft Rule
containing the provisions in accordance to which technical
inspections with regard to the environmental aspects of
vehicles, including emissions and noise, should be carried
out has already been elaborated and is being endorsed by the
ECE Conference.
The Agreement,
which will remain opened for signature in the UN/ECE in
Geneva until 30 June 1998, will enter into force after five
countries have signed it without reservation of ratification
or have ratified or acceded to it.
While leaving
the responsibility of the implementation of the technical
rules in their territories to the countries which will become
Contracting Parties to the Agreement, this Agreement foresees
the recognition by one Contracting Party of the inspections
carried out in accordance with those rules in the other
Contracting Parties, and vice-versa.