EU Energy Ministers are expected to reach political agreement in principle ('general approach') on 4 March on an update of the 2009 EU rules on tyre labelling.
As work has progressed well at the technical level, the general approach on this text has almost been reached.
The Romanian Presidency's draft compromise text incorporates the main elements of the proposal of 17 May 2018: - addition of information on the performance of tyres on snow and ice on the label; - possibility of including information on mileage and abrasion (when test methods will be available); - extension of labelling to tyres for heavy vehicles (C3); - extension of the rules to retreaded tyres (but after the adoption of uniform rules on a method to measure their performance).
The Regulation does not apply to second-hand tyres, "unless they are imported from a third country", nor to off-road professional tyres. Tyre suppliers would be required to submit information in a database before placing a tyre on the market.
Provisions are also made when selling tyres over the Internet. In this case, the service provider will be required to show the product label and information sheet.
Once the European Parliament has confirmed the negotiating mandate granted to Michał Boni (EPP, Poland), European Parliament/Council talks on this issue can begin (see EUROPE 12198). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)