Brussels, 01/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 28 September, new rules aiming to make motorbikes safer and greener were approved by negotiators at the European Parliament and the Council. The rules cover 30 million vehicles (including mopeds, scooters, motorbikes, all-terrain vehicles and quads). The new regulation lays down approval and market surveillance rules for all L-category vehicles in the EU. All more powerful motorbikes (above 125 cc) should be fitted with anti-lock braking systems (ABS), while less powerful motorbikes (below 125 cc) - like scooters - should be fitted with ABS or combined brake systems, according to the new rules. L-category vehicles emit high levels of pollutants, which should be reduced by extending Euro 3 standards to mopeds as of January 2016. More stringent Euro 4 standards would apply from 2016 and Euro 5 limits from 2020 to heavy motorcycles. The provisionally agreed text still needs to be formally adopted by the Council and Parliament. (LC/transl.fl)