23-01-06 VOSA Product Safety System-Proposed Model for Europe
The European community could adopt the product safety system which VOSA operates and develops with the motor manufacturing industry.
On 2 February, the EC’s Technical Adaptation Committee (TAC) in Brussels will consider a paper prepared by Jeff Sweeting, head of the agency’s Vehicle Safety Branch, about the UK model for safety defects and recalls and the proposal for member states to harmonise their processes, or adopt the VOSA model where a state has none.
VOSA’s Vehicle Safety Branch brings 27 years’ experience of addressing Codes of Practice concerning design or construction product safety issues. The Codes, which cover everything from a bicycle to the largest goods vehicle, are recognised around the world as an effective process for a manufacturer and government agency to follow, and deal with safety issues quickly and successfully. In the UK alone, the Codes have been responsible for recalling more than 38 million vehicles, as well as production changes, technical bulletins to dealers and changes in servicing practices.
Jeff Sweeting said: “The opportunity to help shape and influence this crucial aspect of vehicle safety arose when Directive 2001/95/EC on general product safety came into force in 2004. This includes vehicles and means that manufacturers have to ensure that only safe products are on the market. The promotion of the UK model has the support of the motor manufacturing industry and UK Trade Associations.
“No European country has a nationally administered defects and recalls process like ours and many countries have none, so it makes sense to propose our system which is tried and tested, as a template.
“We fully appreciate manufacturers’ willingness to properly address safety issues and have developed very good relationships with them. The consequence is that our vehicle recalls database is constantly improving, and as a result vehicle safety and reliability, to the benefit of customers and manufacturers alike.
“Talking to TAC about VOSA’s pioneering and successful work in this field reaches a significantly wider audience of decision-makers and the global manufacturing industry. We greatly welcome it.”
The Technical Adaptation Committee includes representatives from enforcement authorities, manufacturers and trade associations.
VOSA’s Vehicle Safety Branch
VOSA is the enforcement authority in Britain with responsibility in the automotive sector. The agency publicises details of launched recalls on the VOSA website, www.vosa.gov.uk, and through http://www.direct.gov.uk, where precise details of all recalls for the past 12 years can be found, and in its bi-annual recall bulletin.
Manufacturers willingly support and comply with the UK Code of Practice on Vehicle Safety Defects, reporting safety matters to VOSA when they arise, some of which result in a recall. Recent changes in legislation - the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 - support the Code.
In 2004/05, there were 269 recalls, involving around 830,000 vehicles. The Vehicle Safety Branch took forward 363 reports of safety defects, 48 of which led to the recall of more than 130,000 vehicles, 48 led to production changes and 24 led to improved service measures.
VOSA and Europe
VOSA is involved in a range of collaborative work with European partners, from supporting Candidate or Accession States to investigating ways of tackling the problem of overloaded vehicles. Further details can be seen in VOSA’s 2004/05 Annual Report on the agency’s website.
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Notes to editor:
Directive 2001/95/EC applies to a wide range of consumer products. It requires producers and distributors to place only safe products on the market, to take appropriate action when products are identified as being unsafe and for member states to establish enforcement authorities to be in charge of monitoring product safety, with powers to impose effective and proportionate penalties. On 1 October 2005, the Directive became UK law and the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 came into force.
VOSA (Vehicle & Operator Services Agency) is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. VOSA is responsible for:
• Processing applications for licences to operate lorries and buses and registering bus services
• Operating and administering testing schemes for all vehicles, including the supervision of the MOT testing scheme
• Enforcing the law on vehicles to ensure that they comply with legal standards and regulations
• Enforcing drivers' hours and licensing requirements
• Supporting Traffic Commissioners to help them make informed decisions on operator licensing, vocational drivers and bus registration requirements
• Providing training and advice for commercial operators
• Investigating vehicle accidents, defects and recalls
For media inquiries about VOSA, please contact: Zita Galambosi on 0117 954 2561 or zita.galambosi@vosa.gov.uk, or Marka Rifat on 0117 954 3208 / marka.rifat@vosa.gov.uk.
Page last updated: 25/09/2006