PURPOSE: to put in place legislation on the emission of pollutants by agricultural or forestry tractors. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Directive 2000/25/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on action to be taken against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants by engines intended to power agriculture or forestry tractors and amending Council Directive 74/150/EEC. CONTENT: the Directive concerns requirements applicable to emissions from agriculture or forestry tractors. They particularly concern the definition of the type approval procedures by type of engine intended to be fitted to tractors, and also the definition of type approval procedures by type of vehicle from the point of view of emission pollutants. In the interests of consistency and industrial logic, the decision incorporates the same testing requirements as were adopted for off-road mobile machinery and the corresponding emission limit values. As far as the timetable is concerned, the specific dates have been included for all categories of engines in order to allow manufacturers greater flexibility. ENTRY INTO FORCE: 12.07.2000. DEADLINE FIXED FOR THE TRANSPOSITION: Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive before 29.09.2000. They shall apply these provisios from 31.12.2000.

In adopting without debate the report by Mr. James FITZSIMONS (UEN, Ire), the European Parliament approved the legislative resolution on the Council common position for adopting a European Parliament and Council Directive on action to be taken against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants by engines intended to power agricultural or forestry tractors and amending Directive 74/150/EEC. This report was adopted under the codecision procedure: second reading.

In adopting without debate the report by Mr. James FITZSIMONS (UEN, Ire), the European Parliament approved the legislative resolution on the Council common position for adopting a European Parliament and Council Directive on action to be taken against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants by engines intended to power agricultural or forestry tractors and amending Directive 74/150/EEC. This report was adopted under the codecision procedure: second reading.

The committee adopted the recommendation for second reading (codecision procedure) by James FITZSIMONS (UEN, IRL) approving the Council's common position without amendments, thereby bringing to a close the debate about the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants by engines intended to power agricultural tractors. The committee decided not to table amendments in view of the importance of having a Directive in place as soon as posible, given that it was almost four years since the first proposal had been drawn up. The longer adoption of the Directive was delayed, the worse the implications for the environment, as there was evidence that emissions generated by agricultural and forestry tractors were adding considerably to air pollution. At first reading Parliament had expressed concern about the commitology question, but new arrangements had come into force since then. The Commission would also be amending the framework directive in the near future, inter alia so as to define the commitology procedure, and would effectively deal with Parliament's remaining concerns in that area. While a couple of other issues previously raised by Parliament had not been solved, the committee felt that the common position as it stood should be approved so that the ensuing legislation, which would result in significant improvements for the environment, could be introduced without further delay.

Apart from the deletion of Article 7 on tax incentives, the main difference, as compared with the Commission proposal, concerns the crucial subject of the dates of application of this Directive (depending on the different categories of engine power and the second stage for the pollutant limit values). The Commission, however, believes that the proposal has not been altered in substance and, therefore, supports the Council's common position.

The Council's common position slightly amends the Commission's original proposal with a view to clarifying and amending certain deadlines, in particular as far as the application dates are concerned. Specific dates for all categories of engines have therefore been introduced in order to render the Directive more readable and allow for more flexibility for manufacturers. The Council has also decided to delete the original Article 7 on tax incentives as it seems unjustified to legislate on this in the field of agricultural tractors. Lastly, the Council found it useful to add a new Annex III relating to the recognition of alternative type-approvals.

The Council's common position slightly amends the Commission's original proposal with a view to clarifying and amending certain deadlines, in particular as far as the application dates are concerned. Specific dates for all categories of engines have therefore been introduced in order to render the Directive more readable and allow for more flexibility for manufacturers. The Council has also decided to delete the original Article 7 on tax incentives as it seems unjustified to legislate on this in the field of agricultural tractors. Lastly, the Council found it useful to add a new Annex III relating to the recognition of alternative type-approvals.

The Commission's amended proposal takes up two of the four amendments adopted by the European Parliament. The first amendment consists in inserting a new recital referring explicitly to the 'modus vivendi' between Parliament and the Commission in the comitology procedure. The other EP amendment accepted by the Commission consists in replacing 'sufficiently early' by 'as soon as possible' in relation to tax incentives. The Commission rejected the amendment which would oblige it to propose, before the end of 2002, a third phase in the reduction of emission limit values. It considered the EP's fourth amendment dealing with the procedure for adaptation to technical progress as being out of place in this separate directive.

The Commission's amended proposal takes up two of the four amendments adopted by the European Parliament. The first amendment consists in inserting a new recital referring explicitly to the 'modus vivendi' between Parliament and the Commission in the comitology procedure. The other EP amendment accepted by the Commission consists in replacing 'sufficiently early' by 'as soon as possible' in relation to tax incentives. The Commission rejected the amendment which would oblige it to propose, before the end of 2002, a third phase in the reduction of emission limit values. It considered the EP's fourth amendment dealing with the procedure for adaptation to technical progress as being out of place in this separate directive.

The Parliament adopted its report drafted by Mr. James FITZSIMONS (UPE, IRL) concerning air pollution from agicultural or forestry tractors. There were a number of technical amendments. The Parliament calls on the Commission to put forward a proposal by the end of 2002 (rather than 2004) to the European Parliament and the Council to decide on a further reduction in emission limit values by the end of 2005 (instead of 2006). This proposal will be drawn up on the basis of the cost-effective attainment of Community air quality standards, as laid down in Directive 96/62/EC on ambiant air quality assessment and management and in the Directive on Limit Values for Sulphur Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide and Oxides of Nitrogen, Particulate Matter and Lead in Ambiant Air, and in subsequent daughter directives, and will be consistent with measures identified by the review of emission standards and fuel quality in Directived 98/69/EC relating to measures to be taken against air pollution by emissions from motor vehicles, and in Directive 98/70/EC relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels.

The Parliament adopted its report drafted by Mr. James FITZSIMONS (UPE, IRL) concerning air pollution from agicultural or forestry tractors. There were a number of technical amendments. The Parliament calls on the Commission to put forward a proposal by the end of 2002 (rather than 2004) to the European Parliament and the Council to decide on a further reduction in emission limit values by the end of 2005 (instead of 2006). This proposal will be drawn up on the basis of the cost-effective attainment of Community air quality standards, as laid down in Directive 96/62/EC on ambiant air quality assessment and management and in the Directive on Limit Values for Sulphur Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide and Oxides of Nitrogen, Particulate Matter and Lead in Ambiant Air, and in subsequent daughter directives, and will be consistent with measures identified by the review of emission standards and fuel quality in Directived 98/69/EC relating to measures to be taken against air pollution by emissions from motor vehicles, and in Directive 98/70/EC relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels.

OBJECTIVE: to adopt legislation on the emission of pollutants by agricultural or forestry tractors laying down requirements similar to those applicable to off-road mobile machinery so as to ensure equivalent protection of the environment. SUBSTANCE: the proposal for a Directive concerns requirements applicable to emissions from agricultural or forestry tractors. They particularly concern the definition of type approval procedures by type of engine intended to be fitted to tractors, and also the definition of type approval procedures by type of vehicle from the point of view of emissions of pollutants. In the interests of consistency and industrial logic, the proposal incorporates the same testing requirements as were adopted for off-road mobile machinery and the corresponding emission limit values. In order to facilitate access to third-country markets, equivalence between the technical requirements of the proposal concerning stage 1 and those in Regulation No 96 of the UN Economic Commission for Europe is recognised. In order to render the engine market more flexible, the technical requirements of Directive 88/77/EEC concerning emissions by diesel engines for use in vehicles will also be recognised during stage 1.

OBJECTIVE: to adopt legislation on the emission of pollutants by agricultural or forestry tractors laying down requirements similar to those applicable to off-road mobile machinery so as to ensure equivalent protection of the environment. SUBSTANCE: the proposal for a Directive concerns requirements applicable to emissions from agricultural or forestry tractors. They particularly concern the definition of type approval procedures by type of engine intended to be fitted to tractors, and also the definition of type approval procedures by type of vehicle from the point of view of emissions of pollutants. In the interests of consistency and industrial logic, the proposal incorporates the same testing requirements as were adopted for off-road mobile machinery and the corresponding emission limit values. In order to facilitate access to third-country markets, equivalence between the technical requirements of the proposal concerning stage 1 and those in Regulation No 96 of the UN Economic Commission for Europe is recognised. In order to render the engine market more flexible, the technical requirements of Directive 88/77/EEC concerning emissions by diesel engines for use in vehicles will also be recognised during stage 1.