Motor vehicles and trailers: liquid-fuel tanks, rear underrun protection (amend. direct. 70/221/EEC)

PURPOSE : to amend Council Directive 70/221/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to liquid fuel tanks and rear underrun protection of motor vehicles and their trailers. COMMUNITY MEASURE : Directive 2000/8/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 70/221/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to liquid fuel tanks and rear underrun protection of motor vehicles and their trailers. CONTENT : this Directive introduces into Directive 70/221/EEC new provisions concerning plastic tanks in order to take account of technical progress and the technical requirements adopted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe in its Regulation No 34 relating to the approval of vehicles with regards to the prevention of fire risk, in particular, to the provisions of fuel tanks made of plastic material. With effect from 3 May 2001, Member States shall accept compliance with the requirements of Directive 70/221/EEC, as amended by this Directive, for the purposes of Articles 4(1) of Directive 70/156/EEC. With effect from 3 May 2002, Member States: - shall no longer grant EC type-approval in accordance with Article 4(1) of Directive 70/156/EEC, and - may refuse national type-approval, for a new type of vehicle on grounds related to its fuel tank if it fails to comply with the provisions of Directive 70/221/EEC, as amended by this Directive. With effect from 3 May 2003, Member States: - shall consider certificates of conformity which accompany new vehicles in accordance with the provisions of Directive 70/156/EEC as no longer valid for the purposes of Article 7(1) of that Directive, and; - may refuse the sale, registration or entry into service of new vehicles which are not accompanied by a certificate of conformity valid in accordance with Directive 70/156/EEC, except where the provisions of Article 8(2) of that Directive are invoked; on grounds relating to the fuel tanks, if the requirements of Directive 70/221/EEC are not fulfilled. The Directive shall not invalidate any approval previously granted to vehicles having metal liquid fuel tanks nor prevention extensions of such approval under the terms of the directive under which they were originally granted. Finally, Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive before 3 May 2001 and shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof. ENTRY INTO FORCE : 23.05.2000.�