SMMT today expressed dismay as the government launched its consultation on the End of Life Vehicles (ELV) Directive, a full year after the final text had been agreed. The motor industry is extremely concerned that the UK government seems to favour a manufacturer liability for meeting the cost of recycling all cars from next year, and not in 2007 – the date laid down in the Directive, and flies in the face of other European governments.
‘We are both disappointed and angry that the government appears to have completely ignored the concerns of the UK’s largest manufacturing sector’, said SMMT Chief Executive Christopher Macgowan.
‘The French and German governments have made it clear that they intend to follow the letter of the Directive, with manufacturers responsible for meeting cost-free take back of all cars on the road, no sooner than 2007. But this consultation seems to show that our government is content to burden manufacturers in this country further with a costly and totally impractical liability as soon as next year. The consultation does not say why and it just doesn’t make any sense.’
The ELV Directive sets two target dates for manufacturers’ liability. In 2002, vehicle makers must meet a significant part of recycling costs of all new vehicles which the UK industry supports. In 2007 the Directive says that this liability will extend to all vehicles on the road. SMMT has consistently urged the UK government to opt for a regime that reflects these target dates and imposes no greater cost burden on manufacturers here than in other European member states.
