Rules shifting for importers

Importers and other businesses in the vehicle supply chain are being reminded that “substantive changes” to the Land Transport Rule: Regulatory Systems Amendment 2025 will come into effect next month.

The Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association (VIA) has sent an email alert to members advising them of the new regulations being introduced from November 3.

Malcolm Yorston, VIA’s technical support, says key changes cover glazing, light and heavy-vehicle brakes, steering and standards compliance.

Under glazing, windscreen and mirrors, there is a new clause 4.2A, which means windscreen wash systems fitted to vehicles – including class LE – must not be removed and remain capable of keeping the screen clear under foreseeable conditions.

Clause 4.3 has been updated to reference 4.2A to ensure compliance is tied to this new requirement, adds Yorston.

He explains importers and modifiers must ensure wash systems remain intact and  “removal during conversions or repairs is no longer acceptable”.

In the steering systems section, clause 2.3 (9) has been revised and vehicles may be exempt from approved standards if compliant with frontal impact standards.

Clause 2.4 has been fully replaced and vehicles capable of more than 50kph with indirect steering, that is no mechanical link, an additional steering method is required unless the system complies with specific approved standards.

“VIA members handling modern imports with steer-by-wire or similar systems must ensure documentation proving compliance with approved standards is available,” says Yorston.

Certifiers and inspecting organisations face a number of changes when it comes to vehicle standards compliance regulations.

These include the addition of clause 2.3A, which states inspecting organisations must notify the land transport director of changes to name, control, address, or corporate status either before the change or within 14 days.

Clauses 6.5 and 7.5 will also now clarify that specialist inspection/certification is only needed if modification hasn’t been previously certified or if risk warrants it.

Meanwhile, clause 9.8 has been revised and Certificate of Fitness (COF) expiry periods must now be risk-based, considering vehicle age, inspection history, audit outcomes and roadside results.

Yorston adds: “The implications of these amendments are that organisations must tighten governance processes to ensure timely notification of changes.

“Certifiers also gain clearer discretion but greater accountability in deciding when specialist inspection is required, and operators with poor inspection or audit histories may face shorter COF validity.”

Elsewhere in the Land Transport Rule, the heavy-vehicle brakes section has inserted a new definition of electronically controlled braking system (EBS) and schedule 5 has been updated to simplify references to this.

“Certifiers and importers should expect greater emphasis on EBS systems in compliance checks,” says Yorston. “This may affect acceptance of imported vehicles without modern braking systems.”

There is also a “slight simplification” of compliance standards for trials and enduro motorcycles when it comes to light-vehicle brakes. Clause 2.7, sub-clause 8, which relates to advanced brake systems for motorcycles, has been revoked along with the definition of “sanctioned competition”.

Overall impacts

Yorston says the overall impacts of the changes for VIA members are:

• Importers/modifiers: Must maintain windscreen wash systems and prepare documentation for braking/steering compliance where necessary. Removal or modification of these systems will likely trigger certification problems.

• Certifiers/inspecting organisations: Greater compliance obligations, notification duties and risk-based discretion. Need to maintain stronger record-keeping and communication with NZTA.

• Operators: Risk-based COF expiry introduces variability, strong compliance history will be rewarded, but poor records may shorten inspection cycles.

VIA members with questions can phone the association on 0800-842-842 or email info@via.org.nz.