New and used vehicles arriving in New Zealand will have to
meet new tests for safe exhaust emissions in a push to meet
international standards.
The standards relate to emissions that are directly harmful
to human health, but do not test fuel economy or emissions of
carbon dioxide.
All vehicles imported into New Zealand from November next
year will need documentation from the manufacturer, or
approved body.
Associate Transport Minister Simon Bridges said existing
rules that allowed compliance with an emissions standard to
be show by a simple test on arrival had been misinterpreted
by many.
Wider tests would now be carried out to show they comply with
the full standard.
The new rules include stricter requirements for reduced
emissions from other parts of vehicles, such as evaporative
emissions from fuel tanks.
"It's important for both people's health and the safety of
vehicles entering the fleet that this rule is updated. In
general, the newer the vehicle, the higher the standard of
safety features," said Mr Bridges.
Mr Bridges said his officials would also look at how to
reduce harmful emissions from vehicles already on New Zealand
roads.
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