The EEC Motor Vehicle Type Approval - Success Or Failure?

In 1970 the EEC adopted a framework directive (70/156/EEC) on a European type approval. Till the adoption of all necessary separate directives which lay down the technical requirements to be met, Member States retain the right to require that motor vehicles pass national certification procedures. They are, however, obliged (a) to grant type approval to all those vehicles which are built in conformity with harmonized requirements and (b) to accept test certificates issued by any other EC Member Government on the basis of harmonized requirements. The paper discusses the present functioning and the chances for the completion of the EEC type approval system. It arrives at the conclusion that the EEC type approval system is, by and large, a success.