Reducing pollution from light motor vehicles

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 — type-approval of light passenger and commercial vehicles with respect to emissions (Euro 5 and Euro 6) and access to vehicle repair and maintenance information

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

Regulation (EC) No 715/2007:

sets harmonised rules for emission type-approval of cars and light commercial vehicles, known collectively as light-duty vehicles;
covers replacement, pollution control devices*, and sets out rules for their type-approval;
has been amended several times, most recently by Regulation (EU) 2018/858.

Regulation (EU) 2018/858:

overhauls the EU’s rules on vehicle type-approval;
introduces more robust testing methods with respect to pollutant emissions; and
repeals Directive 2007/46/EC on EU type-approval for vehicles from 31 August 2020.

KEY POINTS

The legislation applies to light-duty vehicles less than 2.6 tonnes.

Manufacturers must:

design, construct and assemble components so that the vehicle complies with the legislation;
prove that all new vehicles and new pollution control devices comply with the legislation and can meet the emission limits during a vehicle’s normal life under normal conditions of use on the road;
ensure that pollution control devices can last 160,000 km;
vehicles emissions can be checked after 5 years or 100,000 km, whichever is sooner;
provide buyers with carbon dioxide emissions and fuel consumption figures;
not use defeat devices that reduce the effectiveness of emission control systems, except under strict conditions — such as to protect an engine against damage or accident;
(until 1 September 2020) make available on websites unrestricted and standardised access to vehicle repair and maintenance information for independent garages. This should include items like service handbooks and technical manuals. They may charge a reasonable fee. These requirements are replaced by those in Regulation (EU) 2018/858 on 1 September 2020.

National authorities must:

give EU type-approval* to new vehicles that comply with the legislation;
refuse to grant approval to vehicles that do not meet the emissions standards, within the authorised deadlines relating to each vehicle category;
allow the registration of vehicles complying with this regulation;
ban the sale or installation of pollution control devices that do not meet the EU standards;
ensure penalties exist for manufacturers that falsify declarations or results, withhold data, or make use of defeat devices.

The Commission keeps under regular review the procedures, tests, requirements and emission limits set out in the legislation and regularly updates them in implementing legislation.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since 3 January 2009.

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

Emissions in the automotive sector (European Commission)
Road transport: Reducing CO₂ emissions from vehicles (European Commission).

KEY TERMS

Pollution control device: mechanism or equipment that removes pollutants, from car exhaust fumes for example, which otherwise would be released into the atmosphere.

Type approval: the procedure by which a product is certified to meet a minimum set of regulatory and technical requirements.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2007 on type approval of motor vehicles with respect to emissions from light passenger and commercial vehicles (Euro 5 and Euro 6) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information (OJ L 171, 29.6.2007, pp. 1-16)

Successive amendments to Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Regulation (EU) 2018/858 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles, amending Regulations (EC) No 715/2007 and (EC) No 595/2009 and repealing Directive 2007/46/EC (OJ L 151, 14.6.2018, pp. 1-218)

Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1151 of 1 June 2017 supplementing Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council on type-approval of motor vehicles with respect to emissions from light passenger and commercial vehicles (Euro 5 and Euro 6) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information, amending Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, Commission Regulation (EC) No 692/2008 and Commission Regulation (EU) No 1230/2012 and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No 692/2008 (OJ L 175, 7.7.2017, pp. 1-643)

See consolidated version.

Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 September 2007 establishing a framework for the approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles (Framework Directive) (OJ L 263, 9.10.2007, pp. 1-160)

See consolidated version.

last update 08.10.2019