Type-approval and market surveillance requirements for motorbikes/mopeds and quads in the EU

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EU) No 168/2013 — the approval and market surveillance of 2- or 3-wheel vehicles and quadricycles

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

Its main purpose is to reduce pollution from transport and to increase the functional safety of new L-category vehicles*.
It aims to upgrade the EU’s functional safety and environmental requirements for L-category vehicles as a requirement for vehicle registration.
It also applies to enduro motorcycles, trial motorcycles and heavy all-terrain quads that may be used both on- and off-road.

KEY POINTS

Approval and market surveillance authorities

EU Member States must designate:

approval authorities to certify that a given type of vehicle complies with the various administrative and technical requirements that are laid down in the law;
market surveillance authorities to ensure that vehicles, systems, components or separate technical units on the market comply with the law and do not endanger health, safety or any other aspect of public interest protection.

Type-approval

Type-approval requirements are set out for the (vehicle) manufacturers, approval authorities and technical services (e.g. inspection bodies) involved. Once a vehicle complies with a comprehensive set of requirements, a vehicle type may be sold on the EU market.
The manufacturer must deliver a conformity certificate with each vehicle; this allows the owner to register the vehicle.

Functional safety requirements

The regulation lays down safety requirements such as:

new motorcycles of more than 125 cm³ must be equipped with an anti-lock braking system;
on a 2-wheeled motorcycle under 125 cm³, the fitting of an anti-lock brake system, a combined brake system or both is left to the manufacturer’s discretion;
for better visibility:
- from July 2014, all new types of L-category vehicles must be fitted with a mechanism that automatically turns on the lights,
- from 1 January 2016, all existing types of these vehicles must also comply;
the mandatory fitting of a differential (which allows wheels on the same axle to turn at different rates) on quads and other types of 3- and 4-wheeled L-category vehicles to ensure they can turn corners safely.

Environmental performance requirements

To get type approval, an L-category vehicle has to comply with 8 different test types, such as for evaporative emissions (fuel vapours), pollution control devices, energy efficiency and sound.
The regulation sets out environmental requirements for 2 stages of emission reductions. The first stage (Euro 4) is mandatory for new types of vehicles from 1 January 2016. A second stage (Euro 5) has applied since 2020, allowing manufacturers and suppliers to plan for the medium term.

Obligations on manufacturers, their representatives, importers and distributors

The regulation sets out the obligations of all those involved in the supply chain:

where a vehicle presents a serious risk for users or the environment, the manufacturer or other parties in the supply chain must take effective protective measures, including a recall of vehicles if necessary;
manufacturers must provide unrestricted access to on-board diagnostics using a standardised connector and to vehicle repair and maintenance information through websites to authorised dealers and repairers, as well as to independent operators. This does not apply to ‘small-series’ vehicles.

Delegated and implementing acts

The European Commission has adopted delegated acts to supplement Regulation (EU) No 168/2013:

Delegated Regulation (EU) No 3/2014 lays down the detailed technical requirements and test procedures regarding functional safety for the approval and market surveillance of L-category vehicles and the systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles. It was amended by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1824 to adapt it to technical progress.
Delegated Regulation (EU) No 134/2014 on environmental and propulsion unit performance requirements and amending Annex V of Regulation (EU) No 168/2013. This regulation has been amended by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1824 and by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/295. to improve the technical requirements and test procedures and adapt them to technical progress.

The Commission also adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) No 901/2014 on the administrative requirements for the approval and market surveillance of two- or three-wheel vehicles and quadricycles. This implementing act has since been amended by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1825 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/239.

Repeal of previous legislation

Regulation (EU) No 168/2013 repeals and replaces Directive 2002/24/EC from 1 January 2016.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since 1 January 2016.

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

Automotive industry (European Commission).

KEY TERMS

L-category vehicles: a family of light powered vehicles such as powered cycles, 2- and 3-wheeled mopeds, motorcycles (with and without side cars), tricycles and quadricycles.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Regulation (EU) No 168/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2013 on the approval and market surveillance of two- or three-wheel vehicles and quadricycles (OJ L 60, 2.3.2013, pp. 52-128)

Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) No 168/2013 have been incorporated in the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.