EU Committee votes on Euro 5 emissions standards

18th September 2006

The European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety has voted to introduce Euro 5 emission standards. For cars the start date is 1 September 2009 while heavier vehicles get until 1 September 2010. The Euro 5 law also means information on vehicle repairs must be easily available to independent repairers. MEPs also want dates set for Euro 6 standards and suggest 1 September 2014 for cars and 1 September 2015 for light commercial vehicles. There will be another vote in October 2006.

Commenting on the decision, BlueCat Project Director said that it was disappointing that the Euro5 deadline had been pushed back bu a year to 2010 but took comfort from the fact that Euro5 trucks were already available and the superior fuel economy was a greater driver to acceptance than the legislative requirement.