Aussie adopts UN rules

The federal government is abolishing unnecessary red tape by bringing Australian Design Rules (ADRs) into line with international vehicle standards. Reforms just announced are steps towards ensuring that every time a UN Regulation is updated, the relevant ADR can be updated automatically to ensure the latest technology is available in the market as quickly as possible. The first two regulations in the reform programme are UN Regulation 19, which allows for testing methods that better represent real-world conditions for front fog-lamps, while number 46 allows the introduction of new types of rear-vision devices and provides for more robust testing methods. Applying these two regulations is expected to deliver nearly AU$1 million in compliance savings every year because manufacturers will have the option of supplying fully approved UN products as part of their certification of vehicles. This will ensure marques no longer need to produce older products specifically for Australia, which in turn means consumers will have access to safer vehicles sooner at the lowest possible cost. “We are working through further UN regulations that can be applied in close co-operation with industry, as well as state and territory agencies, and will be making more announcements throughout next year,” says Jamie Briggs, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. “These changes are in addition to abolishing the requirement for manufacturers to install rear-mudguard extensions on new motorcycles, which will deliver AU$14.4m savings every year. “The government is committed to lowering business costs to make Australia more competitive, which is why this year we have already abolished thousands of unnecessary and ineffective regulations costing the economy AU$2.1 billion a year.