Brussels, 13/09/2012 (Agence Europe) - On 19 September, the European Parliament environment committee will reach a decision on the draft regulation of December 2011 to reduce motor vehicle noise levels, by introducing a new trial method. This first reading vote was initially planned for 13 September but was postponed for a week, to allow for further clarification, explained committee president Matthias Groote (S&D, Germany).
Miroslav Ouzky (ECR, Czech Republic), the rapporteur on this issue, underlined the main objective in this proposal, that of protecting public health and the environment. He also considers, however, that the text should be improved in an effort to promote the manufacture and purchase of less noisy vehicles, in full knowledge of the facts. Some amendments that will be submitted for a vote demand that a labelling system be introduced in sales outlets and technical publicity documentation, in an effort to better inform consumers about motor vehicle noise levels and the introduction of a classification system based on the quality of road surface improvement so as to allow national and local authorities to ensure efficient monitoring, given that the quality of road surfaces influences the level of noise emitted by vehicles.
Other amendments involve technical requirements applicable to methods for measuring motor vehicle noise levels and provisions on value limits, in an effort to adapt the text to any forthcoming technical progress in this area.
Given the importance of value limits and a deadline for their application, the rapporteur advocates that any modification to annexe III of the regulation is a matter for co-decision and not delegated Commission acts, as stipulated in the draft regulation on the table. (AN/trans/fl)