I 
(Legislative acts)  
DIRECTIVES  
DIRECTIVE 2011/87/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL  
of 16 November 2011  
amending Directive 2000/25/EC as regards the application of emission stages for narrow-track 
tractors  
(Text with EEA relevance)  
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE 
EUROPEAN UNION,  
Having regard to the Treaty on Functioning of European Union, 
and in particular Article 114 thereof,  
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,  
After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national 
parliaments,  
Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and 
Social Committee (  1 ), 
Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (  2 ), 
Whereas:  
(1) Directive 2000/25/EC of the European Parliament and of 
the Council of 22 May 2000 on action to be taken 
against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants 
by engines intended to power agricultural or forestry 
tractors (  3 ) regulates exhaust emissions from engines 
installed in agricultural and forestry tractors with a 
view to further safeguarding human health and the 
environment. Directive 2000/25/EC provided that the 
emission limits applicable in 2010 for type-approval of 
the majority of compression ignition engines, referred to 
as Stage III A, were to be replaced by the more stringent 
Stage III B limits, entering into force progressively as 
from 1 January 2010 as regards the type-approval, and 
from 1 January 2011 with regard to the placing on the 
market, for those engines. Stage IV, providing for 
emission limits more stringent than Stage III B, will 
enter into force progressively as from 1 January 2013 
as regards the type-approval for those engines and from 
1 January 2014 with regard to the placing on the 
market.  
(2) Article 2(b) of Directive 2004/26/EC of the European 
Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 amending Directive 97/68/EC on the approximation of 
the laws of the Member States relating to measures 
against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants 
from internal combustion engines to be installed in non- 
road mobile machinery (  4 ), provides that the Commission 
is to consider the available technology, including the 
cost/benefits, with a view to confirming Stage III B and 
IV limit values and evaluating the possible need for addi ­
tional flexibilities, exemptions or later introduction dates 
for certain types of equipment or engines and taking into 
account engines installed in non-road mobile machinery 
used in seasonal applications. Moreover, Article 4(8) of 
Directive 2000/25/EC provides for a review clause in 
order to take into account the specificities of tractors 
of categories T2, T4.1 and C2.  
(3) Directive 97/68/EC of the European Parliament and of 
the Council (  5 ) was the subject of several technical 
studies. As a result of those technical studies carried 
out in 2007, 2009 and 2010 and confirmed by the 
impact assessment carried out by the Commission, it 
was established that it is not technically feasible for 
tractors of categories T2, T4.1 and C2 to meet the 
requirements of Stages III B and IV by the dates set 
out in that Directive.  
(4) In order to prevent Union legislation from prescribing 
technical requirements which cannot be met yet and in 
order to prevent a situation in which tractors of 
categories T2, T4.1 and C2 can no longer be type- 
approved and placed on the market or put into service, 
it is necessary to provide for a transitional period of 3 
years, during which tractors of categories T2, T4.1 and 
C2 may still be type-approved and placed on the market 
or put into service.  
(5) The Commission should report annually to the European 
Parliament and the Council on progress in the devel ­
opment of technical solutions for Stage IV-compliant 
technology.EN 18.11.2011 Official Journal of the European Union L 301/1  
( 1 ) OJ C 132, 3.5.2011, p. 53.  
( 2 ) Position of the European Parliament of 25 October 2011 (not yet 
published in the Official Journal) and decision of the Council of 
8 November 2011.  
( 3 ) OJ L 173, 12.7.2000, p. 1.  ( 4 ) OJ L 146, 30.4.2004, p. 1.  
( 5 ) OJ L 59, 27.2.1998, p. 1.(6) Directive 2000/25/EC should therefore be amended 
accordingly,  
HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:  
Article 1  
Amendments to Directive 2000/25/EC  
In Article 4 of Directive 2000/25/EC, the following paragraph is 
added:  
‘9. By way of derogation, the dates set out in points (d) 
and (e) of paragraph 2 and in paragraph 3 shall, for tractors 
of categories T2, T4.1 and C2, as defined respectively in the 
second indent of point A.1 of Chapter A, in point 1.1 of Part 
I of Appendix 1 of Chapter B, and in point A.2 of Chapter A 
of Annex II to Directive 2003/37/EC, and equipped with 
engines of categories L to R, be postponed for 3 years. 
Until such dates, the requirements of Stage III A in this 
Directive shall continue to apply.’.  
Article 2  
Availability of compatible technology  
The Commission shall, by 31 December 2014, consider what 
technology is available that is capable of meeting Stage IV 
requirements and that is compatible with the needs of 
categories T2, T4.1 and C2, and submit, where appropriate, 
proposals to the European Parliament and the Council.  
Article 3  
Transposition  
1. Member States shall adopt and publish, by 9 December 
2012 at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall 
forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those 
measures.  
When Member States adopt those measures, they shall contain a 
reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a 
reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member 
States shall determine how such reference is to be made.  
2. Member States shall forthwith communicate to the 
Commission the text of the main provisions of national law 
which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.  
Article 4  
Entry into force  
This Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following 
its publication in the  Official Journal of the European Union . 
Article 5  
Addressees  
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.  
Done at Strasbourg, 16 November 2011.  
For the European Parliament 
The President  
J. BUZEK  For the Council 
The President  
W. SZCZUKAEN L 301/2 Official Journal of the European Union 18.11.2011