Regulation 2013/167 - Approval and market surveillance of agricultural and forestry vehicles - Main contents

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 on the approval and market surveillance of agricultural and forestry vehicles

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

The regulation lays down rules on safety and environmental protection as well as administrative procedures for the type-approval* of tractors* and other agricultural and forestry vehicles.

The specific vehicle categories (R = trailers, S = interchangeable towed equipment, T = wheeled tractors, and C = track-laying tractors) and subcategories (R1, R2, etc.) are listed in Article 4 of the regulation.

The regulation has been amended and updated several times:

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  amending Regulation (EU) 2016/1628 (see summary) aligns the legislation on agriculture and forestry vehicles for non-road mobile machinery (NRE) as regards the specific limit values, test procedures and requirements for pollutant emissions to be met.
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  amending Regulation (EU) 2019/519 clarifies the descriptions of T1 and T2 agricultural wheeled tractors in Regulation (EU) No 167/2013.

KEY POINTS

Scope

The regulation applies to EU type-approval of agricultural and forestry tractors, trailers* and interchangeable towed equipment*. However, manufacturers may choose to comply instead with national requirements in the case of track-laying, high-clearance or extra-wide tractors, as well as trailers and interchangeable towed equipment.

In the case of tractors, this regulation covers all relevant safety requirements, while for trailers, interchangeable towed equipment or any machinery installed on the tractors, Directive 2006/42/EC (see summary) applies for those risks not covered by this regulation.

Manufacturers are responsible for vehicles and components complying with the regulation in terms of safety and minimising the impact on the environment, including, but not limited to:

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  structural integrity;
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  protection and roll-over structures;
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  operating space and access to the driving position;
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  visibility and controls, including emergency stop;
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  lighting, exterior design, tyres, brakes and accessories;
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  external and internal noise;
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  pollutant emissions.

Manufacturers should also provide dealers and repairers with easy access to repair and maintenance information websites, training material and working tools.

Procedure for type-approval

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  Application may be made in stages or for individual components. An information dossier, with data, drawings and photographs, is submitted to the approval authority* of the EU country, followed by conformity testing and the issuing of a certificate.
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  The approval authorities of other EU countries are notified of successful approvals within a month, while notice of failure or withdrawal of approval should be communicated without delay, as should any finding deemed to be a safety risk.

Checks and penalties

Manufacturers will be regularly checked by a competent authority or designated technical service. EU countries will carry out market surveillance and controls of vehicles, systems and components entering the market and will apply penalties if the regulations are infringed.

Delegated and implemented acts

The European Commission has adopted the following delegated and implementing acts.

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  Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1322/2014 supplementing and amending Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 sets out the technical requirements and test methods required for the construction of agricultural and forestry vehicles to minimise the risk of injury to persons working on or with the vehicle.
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  Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/68 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 with regard to vehicle braking requirements laying down the technical requirements and test procedures regarding functional safety with respect to braking performance of agricultural and forestry vehicles and systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
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  Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/208 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 with regard to vehicle functional safety requirements sets out the technical requirements and test procedures regarding functional safety, except with respect to braking performance, for the approval and market surveillance of agricultural and forestry vehicles and the systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
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  Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/504 implementing Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 lays down uniform conditions for implementing the administrative requirements for the approval of new agricultural and forestry vehicles, as well as systems, components and separate technical units designed and constructed for such vehicles and for the placing on the market and entry into service of parts or equipment which may pose a serious risk to the correct functioning of systems that are essential for the safety of the vehicle or for its environmental performance.
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  Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/985 supplements Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 as regards environmental and propulsion unit performance requirements for agricultural and forestry vehicles and their engines. To address the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1564 amends Regulation (EU) 2018/985 extending its transition periods:

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    for engines of the subcategories within the NRE category for which the mandatory date of application set out in Annex III to Regulation (EU) 2016/1628 in respect of the placing on the market is 1 January 2020, EU countries must authorise the extension of the 24-month period of placing on the market and of the 18-month period of manufacturing by an additional 12 months for vehicle manufacturers with a total yearly production of less than 100 units of agricultural and forestry vehicles equipped with an engine;
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    for engines of all subcategories for which the mandatory date of application set out in Annex III to Regulation (EU) 2016/1628 in respect of the placing on the market is 1 January 2019, the 24-month period of placing on the market and the 18-month period of manufacturing will be extended by 12 months.

Review

By the end of 2019, EU countries had to report to the Commission on the operation of the regulation which, in turn, has to submit a report by 31 December 2022 with proposals for legislation, if appropriate.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

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  Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 has applied since 1 January 2016.
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  Amending Regulation (EU) 2016/1628 has applied since 1 January 2017.
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  Amending Regulation (EU) 2019/519 has applied since 18 April 2019.

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

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  Vehicle categories (European Commission).

KEY TERMS

Type-approval: the procedure whereby an approval authority certifies that a type of vehicle, system, component or separate technical unit satisfies certain prescribed legislative requirements.

Tractor: a motorised, wheeled or tracked agricultural or forestry vehicle that can travel at more than 6 km/h, designed for its power to pull, push, carry and actuate equipment or tow trailers.

Trailer: any agricultural or forestry vehicle intended

mainly to be towed by a tractor and intended mainly to carry loads or to process materials.

Interchangeable towed equipment: any vehicle used in agriculture or forestry designed to be towed by a tractor, incorporating tools and appliances that change or add to the tractor's functions and temporarily storing any materials produced or needed during work.

Approval authority: the authority established by an EU country with competence for all aspects of vehicle type-approval.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 February 2013 on the approval and market surveillance of agricultural and forestry vehicles (OJ L 60, 2.3.2013, pp. 1-51)

Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/985 of 12 February 2018 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards environmental and propulsion unit performance requirements for agricultural and forestry vehicles and their engines and repealing Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/96 (OJ L 182, 18.7.2018, pp. 1-15)

See consolidated version.

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/504 of 11 March 2015 implementing Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to the administrative requirements for the approval and market surveillance of agricultural and forestry vehicles (OJ L 85, 28.3.2015, pp. 1-197)

See consolidated version.

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/208 of 8 December 2014 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to vehicle functional safety requirements for the approval of agricultural and forestry vehicles (OJ L 42, 17.2.2015, pp. 1-175)

See consolidated version.

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/68 of 15 October 2014 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to vehicle braking requirements for the approval of agricultural and forestry vehicles (OJ L 17, 23.1.2015, pp. 1-139)

See consolidated version.

last update 17.12.2020

This summary has been adopted from EUR-Lex.