Brussels, 20/03/2003 (Agence Europe) - The Community regulation on driver accreditation has been in force since 19 March, reiterated the Commission on Wednesday. This measure is part of the "social package" put forward by the Commission in November 2000 to strengthen the competitiveness and quality of the internal road transport market. Abusive practices which led EU companies to employ a growing number of non-Community drivers in conditions which did not respect national and Community employment legislation will now be contained by measures which represent a step forward in the fight against social dumping. The driver accreditation will facilitate verification of the professional status regularity of drivers from third countries employed by Member State carriers providing international transportation under Community licence. It will be awarded be Member State authorities, on request by the holder of the Community licence, for each driver who is the national of a third country and employed legally by the carrier. National authorities will confer them on receipt of identification documents such as identity card, driving licence, social security card, etc. The driver credentials must be presented to control agents of Member States, who will have to carry out annual checks on a minimum of 20% of valid accreditations awarded by each Member State.