Unions welcome tractor law simplification

Published on Thursday 29 July 2010 16:55

THERE has been a cautious welcome from both the Scottish and English National Farmers Unions to new European Commission proposals aimed at simplifying agricultural and forestry vehicle laws.

The proposal aims to replace around 50 directives with one core regulation covering the approval of tractors, trailers and their appliances.

It would come into being in 2014, and it would simplify, improve and standardise safety rules for the construction of agricultural vehicles and their towed equipment. The intention is that it would also include provisions for higher braking standards along with improving the compatibility between tractor and trailer.

While Scottish union president Jim McLaren welcomed the apparent simplification of the legislation, he wanted to see if the changes would present unnecessary cost and add red tape. "I wholeheartedly support any move to improve the safety of farm vehicles and therefore look forward to reading the document in greater detail," he said.

McLaren said they were already using their contacts in Europe to ascertain the implications of the new proposals, particularly in relation to the use of existing vehicles.

The NFU of England and Wales called the proposal "common sense" and said they would be urging the UK government to look at the current UK rules for tractors and trailers as these have not been thoroughly reviewed for the past 24 years.

The union claims that British farmers and growers are being put at a disadvantage against their European competitors as UK rules have fallen behind new technologies and equipment available on the market.

NFU transport adviser Peter Garbutt said: "Modern agricultural vehicles are constructed for the European market and so it makes sense to have common safety standards. Extending European-type approval should give buyers more confidence in the construction standards and safety of equipment.

"However, it is increasingly apparent that as construction standards are harmonised across the EU, our government must take an interest in modernising the regulations so that British farmers and growers are not needlessly restricted.

"Other member states are able to take full advantage of the efficiencies made possible by safe, type approved modern equipment, and the Department of Transport must review our out-dated legislation governing use of this equipment on the road as a matter of urgency if these new proposals are to have any meaningful impact here."