The Motor Vehicles (Type Approval) (EEC Manufacturers) Regulations 1981
The Regulations extend to vehicles and vehicle parts manufactured in other member States of the EEC and in Northern Ireland the application, so far as relating to type approval certificates and certificates of conformity, of sections 47 to 50 of the Road Traffic Act 1972 (approval of design, construction etc., of vehicles and vehicle parts) and of regulations made under those sections before the coming into operation of the Regulations first above-mentioned. Manufacturers of such vehicles and parts in EEC member States other than the United Kingdom, and manufacturers in Northern Ireland are no longer to be restricted to application for Minister's approval certificates (section 47(8), (11) and (12) of the Act of 1972) but may apply for a type approval certificate and issue certificates of conformity to indicate compliance with the relevant prescribed type approval requirements subject to the same conditions and provisions of law as apply to manufacturers in Great Britain. It is provided that type approval certificates under the extended provisions of the Act of 1972 need not be issued until one year after the coming into operation of the Regulations. The Regulations are required to satisfy the United Kingdom's Community obligations under Articles 7 and 30 of the EEC Treaty.