Vehicles, engines must conform to European emission standards: Environment Ministry

All vehicles and engines, imported or assembled locally, will have to conform to European emission standards, in keeping with regulations issued this week by the Environment Ministry, a senior official said.

Director ( Air Resource Management & National Ozone Unit) of the Environment Ministry, S. Dharmakeerthi said the tougher regulations are for reduction in vehicular emissions.

"The stipulated Euro 4 standard will ensure the safety standards including seat belts and air bags," he said, adding that, all imported vehicles since 2003 are of

Euro 2 standards.

Mr Dharmakeerthi said that many countries in the region are moving to the higher level of European Emission Standards and that, neighbouring

India and Bangladesh have moved to Euro 4 levels. "The New

Delhi state has passed a law to import Euro 6 vehicles to minimize pollution," he said.

Persons who import vehicles individually will also have to produce certified copies of vehicular emission standards issued by manufacturers or, any accredited vehicle emission testing centre approved by the Commissioner General of Motor Traffic.

The regulation specifies vehicular emission standards for petrol vehicles having a gross vehicle weight less than 3,500 kg and mass emission standards for petrol two-wheelers, three-wheelers, heavy vehicles and heavy engines and construction equipment vehicles.

For vehicles manufactured or assembled in Sri Lanka, the conformity of product has to be tested every year up to three years.

Mr Dharmakeerthi said a 3-month grace period will be granted to persons who have already lodged their Letters of Credit for importation of vehicles.

The regulation specifies vehicular emission standards for petrol vehicles having a gross vehicle weight less than 3,500 kg and mass emission standards for petrol two-wheelers, three-wheelers, heavy vehicles and heavy engines and construction equipment vehicles.