Article 1 Definitions
For the purposes of this Directive: — ‘agricultural or forestry tractor’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘tractor’)means any vehicle as defined in Article 1(1) of Directive 74/150/EEC, — ‘engine’means any internal combustion engine intended to power tractors as defined in Annex I, — ‘type-approval of an engine type or family as a separate technical unit with respect to pollutant emissions’means the instrument whereby a Member State certifies that an engine type or family intended to power tractors meets the technical requirements of this Directive, — ‘type-approval of a tractor type in respect of pollutant emissions’means the instrument whereby a Member State certifies that a tractor type equipped with an engine meets the technical requirements of this Directive, — ‘family of engines’means two or more types of engine that are similar in design and which, therefore, could display characteristics that are comparable in terms of pollutant emissions, — ‘replacement engine’ means a newly built engine which replaces an engine in a machine and which has been supplied for this purpose only.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL - Grounds for and objectives of the proposal This proposal provides for an amendment to European Parliament and Council Directive 2000/25/EC 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. [1] The objective of Directive 2000/25/EC is to guarantee the free movement of agricultural and forestry tractors whilst reducing permissible exhaust emission levels of engines in order to protect the health and well-being of citizens as well as the environment. The Directive defines successive stages reducing the exhaust emission limits largely coherent with the provisions of Directive 97/68/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 1997 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 [2]. Following the definition of further reductions of the limits of gaseous and particulate polluting emissions from internal combustion engines to be installed in non-road mobile machinery adopted with Directive 2004/26/EC of the European Parliament and the Council[3], Directive 2000/25/EC was amended by Commission Directive 2005/13/EC of 21 February 2005 [4]. The new limits of gaseous and particulate polluting emissions were defined to provide reductions in excess of 90% of the previously regulated values, with a view to have secondary exhaust after treatment systems for both PM and NOX adopted on the vast majority of the engines and machines covered by the respective directives by the time the most advanced stage becomes compulsory. In view of those challenges and given the uncertainties about the actual technical feasibility of those goals, Directive 2004/26/EC provided for the Commission to conduct a technical review, in particular 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 additional 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” [5]. Directive 2000/25/EC, as amended, in Article 4 (8) established a link to the technical review provided for in Directive 2004/26/EC in order to investigate the issues related to agricultural tractors and in particular those in categories T2, T4.1 and C2 (the so-called narrow-track tractors, maximum width less than 1,15 m). The results of the technical evaluation confirmed the feasibility of the challenging limits set by the co-legislators in the vast majority of engines intended for installation on non-road machinery and on agricultural tractors. However, for the agricultural tractors in categories T2, T4.1 and C2 an amendment of the requirements was deemed necessary. - General context In order to fulfil the obligations set by Article 2 of Directive 2004/26/EC and by Article 4(8) of Directive 2000/25/EC, EC - DG ENTR awarded a contract to DG JRC to investigate all the aspects requested by those Directives. For the issue of agricultural tractors, DG JRC assessed the situation of categories T2, T4.1 and C2 with literature research, and direct evaluation of the vehicles visiting five manufacturers of different sizes and employing different technologies, one of them can be classified as a SME. Their production covers the vast majority of narrow-track tractors placed on the European market. The tractors covered by the research emerged as typical European products developed to meet the requirements of specialised agriculture in southern European (specifically Mediterranean) agriculture. The overwhelming majority of these tractors is sold in the EU. The results of this analysis were presented during successive GEME meetings starting from June 2006 and confirmed in the draft final Report issued in December 2007 and published on the CIRCA website. Contrary to other issues where multiple options were indicated, the only conclusion of DG JRC was that the tractors in categories T2, T4.1 and C2 should be exempted from stages IIIB and IV of Directive 2000/25/EC. This conclusion received the support of some Member States and no negative reaction. These findings by JRC were confirmed in an Impact Assessment study performed by Arcadis in 2008-2009 under contract for EC - DG ENTR. The Arcadis study clearly indicated the advantage for environment of the proposed postponement: without it users would not be in a position to buy up-to-date tractors of Stage IIIA and would continue using (very) old machines (‘stage 0’ level). In addition Arcadis shows negative impacts of economic and social nature if the proposal were not adopted. - Existing provisions in the area of the proposal The following two directives are relevant in this respect: - European Parliament and Council Directive 97/68/EC of 16 December 1997 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, as amended. - European Parliament and Council Directive 2000/25/EC 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 and amending Council Directive 74/150/EEC, as amended. - Consistency with other policies and objectives of the Union Directive 97/68/EC is based on the Community programme of policy and action in relation to the environment and sustainable development.[6] Directive 2000/25/EC represents the transposition to the agricultural tractors sector of the same goals and policy. This proposal is consistent with the current Community environmental policy and objectives as detailed in the Sixth Environmental Action Programme (COM(2001) 31 final) [7], which lists improvement of the air quality as a priority objective to be attained, inter alia , by enforcing product-specific exhaust emission limits. The Sixth Environmental Action Programme defines a policy making method based on participation and sound knowledge, according to which: “Broad involvement of stakeholders will be central to the successful implementation of the Sixth Programme, and in every stage of the policy process from agreeing targets to putting measures into practice. Sound scientific knowledge and economic assessments, reliable and up to-date data and information and the use of indicators will underpin the drawing-up, implementation and evaluation of environmental policy” The proposed delay is fully aligned with this method of policy making: it covers the Stage IIIB and IV limits laid down in the Directive 2000/25/EC for tractors of categories T2, T4.1 and C2 insofar as these have been found to be technically impossible to meet by all stakeholders and the DG JRC independent study.
Revised version (Article 1 Definitions):
For the purposes of this Directive: — ‘agricultural or forestry tractor’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘tractor’)means any vehicle as defined in Article 1(1) of Directive 74/150/EEC, — ‘engine’means any internal combustion engine intended to power tractors as defined in Annex I, — ‘type-approval of an engine type or family as a separate technical unit with respect to pollutant emissions’means the instrument whereby a Member State certifies that an engine type or family intended to power tractors meets the technical requirements of this Directive, — ‘type-approval of a tractor type in respect of pollutant emissions’means the instrument whereby a Member State certifies that a tractor type equipped with an engine meets the technical requirements of this Directive, — ‘family of engines’means two or more types of engine that are similar in design and which, therefore, could display characteristics that are comparable in terms of pollutant emissions, — ‘replacement engine’ means a newly built engine which replaces an engine in a machine and which has been supplied for this purpose only, — ‘flexibility scheme’ means the exemption procedure by means of which a Member State permits the placing on the market and entry into service of a limited number of tractors in accordance with the requirements laid down by Article 3a, — ‘engine category’ means the classification of engines which combines the power range with the stage of exhaust emission limits, — ‘making available on the market’ means any supply of a tractor or engine for distribution or use on the Union market in the course of a commercial activity, whether in return for payment or free of charge, — ‘placing on the market’ means the first making available on the market of a tractor or engine, — ‘entry into service’ means the first use, for its intended purpose, in the Union of a tractor or engine. The date on which it is registered, if applicable, or placed on the market shall be considered the date of entry into service.
Article 2 Type-approval procedure
The procedure for granting type-approval for an engine type or family in respect of pollutant emissions, the procedure for granting type-approval for tractors with respect to pollutant emissions, and the conditions of the unrestricted placing on the market of such engines and tractors, are as laid down in Directive 74/150/EEC.
Article 3 Obligations
1. Subject to Article 5, any engine type or family must meet the requirements of Annex I. 2. Any tractor type must meet the requirements of Annex II. In this respect type-approvals for engine type or families which have been approved in accordance with Annex I or the provisions mentioned in Annex III shall be recognised. 3. Replacement engines shall comply with the limit values that the engine to be replaced had to meet when originally placed on the market. The text ‘REPLACEMENT ENGINE’ shall be attached to a label on the engine or inserted into the owner’s manual.
Article 3a Flexibility Scheme
By way of derogation from Article 3(1) and (2), Member States shall provide that, at the request of the tractor manufacturer, and subject to permission being granted by the approval authority, the engine manufacturer may, during the period between two successive limit value stages, place on the market a limited number of engines that comply only with the emission limit value stage immediately preceding the currently applicable stage, or tractors with such engines, provided that he complies with the procedure set out in Annex IV.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL - Grounds for and objectives of the proposal This proposal provides for an amendment to European Parliament and Council Directive 2000/25/EC 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. [1] The objective of Directive 2000/25/EC is to guarantee the free movement of agricultural and forestry tractors whilst reducing permissible exhaust emission levels of engines in order to protect the health and well-being of citizens as well as the environment. The Directive defines successive stages reducing the exhaust emission limits largely coherent with the provisions of Directive 97/68/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 1997 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 [2]. Following the definition of further reductions of the limits of gaseous and particulate polluting emissions from internal combustion engines to be installed in non-road mobile machinery adopted with Directive 2004/26/EC of the European Parliament and the Council[3], Directive 2000/25/EC was amended by Commission Directive 2005/13/EC of 21 February 2005 [4]. The new limits of gaseous and particulate polluting emissions were defined to provide reductions in excess of 90% of the previously regulated values, with a view to have secondary exhaust after treatment systems for both PM and NOX adopted on the vast majority of the engines and machines covered by the respective directives by the time the most advanced stage becomes compulsory. In view of those challenges and given the uncertainties about the actual technical feasibility of those goals, Directive 2004/26/EC provided for the Commission to conduct a technical review, in particular 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 additional 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” [5]. Directive 2000/25/EC, as amended, in Article 4 (8) established a link to the technical review provided for in Directive 2004/26/EC in order to investigate the issues related to agricultural tractors and in particular those in categories T2, T4.1 and C2 (the so-called narrow-track tractors, maximum width less than 1,15 m). The results of the technical evaluation confirmed the feasibility of the challenging limits set by the co-legislators in the vast majority of engines intended for installation on non-road machinery and on agricultural tractors. However, for the agricultural tractors in categories T2, T4.1 and C2 an amendment of the requirements was deemed necessary. - General context In order to fulfil the obligations set by Article 2 of Directive 2004/26/EC and by Article 4(8) of Directive 2000/25/EC, EC - DG ENTR awarded a contract to DG JRC to investigate all the aspects requested by those Directives. For the issue of agricultural tractors, DG JRC assessed the situation of categories T2, T4.1 and C2 with literature research, and direct evaluation of the vehicles visiting five manufacturers of different sizes and employing different technologies, one of them can be classified as a SME. Their production covers the vast majority of narrow-track tractors placed on the European market. The tractors covered by the research emerged as typical European products developed to meet the requirements of specialised agriculture in southern European (specifically Mediterranean) agriculture. The overwhelming majority of these tractors is sold in the EU. The results of this analysis were presented during successive GEME meetings starting from June 2006 and confirmed in the draft final Report issued in December 2007 and published on the CIRCA website. Contrary to other issues where multiple options were indicated, the only conclusion of DG JRC was that the tractors in categories T2, T4.1 and C2 should be exempted from stages IIIB and IV of Directive 2000/25/EC. This conclusion received the support of some Member States and no negative reaction. These findings by JRC were confirmed in an Impact Assessment study performed by Arcadis in 2008-2009 under contract for EC - DG ENTR. The Arcadis study clearly indicated the advantage for environment of the proposed postponement: without it users would not be in a position to buy up-to-date tractors of Stage IIIA and would continue using (very) old machines (‘stage 0’ level). In addition Arcadis shows negative impacts of economic and social nature if the proposal were not adopted. - Existing provisions in the area of the proposal The following two directives are relevant in this respect: - European Parliament and Council Directive 97/68/EC of 16 December 1997 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, as amended. - European Parliament and Council Directive 2000/25/EC 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 and amending Council Directive 74/150/EEC, as amended. - Consistency with other policies and objectives of the Union Directive 97/68/EC is based on the Community programme of policy and action in relation to the environment and sustainable development.[6] Directive 2000/25/EC represents the transposition to the agricultural tractors sector of the same goals and policy. This proposal is consistent with the current Community environmental policy and objectives as detailed in the Sixth Environmental Action Programme (COM(2001) 31 final) [7], which lists improvement of the air quality as a priority objective to be attained, inter alia , by enforcing product-specific exhaust emission limits. The Sixth Environmental Action Programme defines a policy making method based on participation and sound knowledge, according to which: “Broad involvement of stakeholders will be central to the successful implementation of the Sixth Programme, and in every stage of the policy process from agreeing targets to putting measures into practice. Sound scientific knowledge and economic assessments, reliable and up to-date data and information and the use of indicators will underpin the drawing-up, implementation and evaluation of environmental policy” The proposed delay is fully aligned with this method of policy making: it covers the Stage IIIB and IV limits laid down in the Directive 2000/25/EC for tractors of categories T2, T4.1 and C2 insofar as these have been found to be technically impossible to meet by all stakeholders and the DG JRC independent study.
Revised version (Article 3a Flexibility scheme):
By way of derogation from Article 3(1) and (2), Member States shall provide that, at the request of the tractor manufacturer, and on condition that the approval authority has granted the relevant permit for placing on the market in accordance with the procedures laid down in Annex IV, a limited number of tractors fitted with engines approved in accordance with the requirements of the emission limits stage immediately preceding the applicable one may enter into service. The flexibility scheme shall begin when a given stage becomes applicable and shall have the same duration as the stage itself. The flexibility scheme set out in section 1.2 of Annex IV shall, however, be restricted to the duration of Stage III B or to three years where no subsequent stage exists.
Article 4 Timetable
1. Member States may not after 30 September 2000: — refuse to grant EC type-approval or national type-approval in respect of an engine type or family, or — prohibit the sale, entry into service or use of a new engine, or — refuse to grant EC type-approval or national type-approval of tractor types, or — prohibit the use, the sale, the initial entry into service of tractor types, on grounds relating to air pollution if the pollutants emitted by those engines or the engines fitted to those tractors meet the requirements of this Directive. 2. Member States may no longer grant EC type-approval or national type-approval for a type or family of engines or a tractor type where the pollutants emitted by the engine do not meet the requirements of this Directive: (a) in stage I — after 31 December 2000 for engines of categories B and C (power range as defined in Article 9(2) of Directive 97/68/EC); (a) in stage I — after 31 December 2000 for engines of categories B and C (power range as defined in Article 9(2) of Directive 97/68/EC); (b) in stage II — after 31 December 2000 for engines of categories D and E (power range as defined in Article 9(3) of Directive 97/68/EC), — after 31 December 2001 for engines of category F (power range as defined in Article 9(3) of Directive 97/68/EC), — after 31 December 2002 for engines of category G (power range as defined in Article 9(3) of Directive 97/68/EC); (b) in stage II — after 31 December 2000 for engines of categories D and E (power range as defined in Article 9(3) of Directive 97/68/EC), — after 31 December 2001 for engines of category F (power range as defined in Article 9(3) of Directive 97/68/EC), — after 31 December 2002 for engines of category G (power range as defined in Article 9(3) of Directive 97/68/EC); (c) in stage III A — after 31 December 2005 for engines of categories H, I and K (power range as defined in Article 9(3a) of Directive 97/68/EC), — after 31 December 2006 for engines of category J (power range as defined in Article 9(3a) of Directive 97/68/EC); (c) in stage III A — after 31 December 2005 for engines of categories H, I and K (power range as defined in Article 9(3a) of Directive 97/68/EC), — after 31 December 2006 for engines of category J (power range as defined in Article 9(3a) of Directive 97/68/EC); (d) in stage III B — after 31 December 2009 for engines of category L (power range as defined in Article 9(3c) of Directive 97/68/EC), — after 31 December 2010 for engines of categories M and N (power range as defined in Article 9(3c) of Directive 97/68/EC), — after 31 December 2011 for engines of category P (power range as defined in Article 9(3c) of Directive 97/68/EC); (d) in stage III B — after 31 December 2009 for engines of category L (power range as defined in Article 9(3c) of Directive 97/68/EC), — after 31 December 2010 for engines of categories M and N (power range as defined in Article 9(3c) of Directive 97/68/EC), — after 31 December 2011 for engines of category P (power range as defined in Article 9(3c) of Directive 97/68/EC); (e) in stage IV — after 31 December 2012 for engines of category Q (power range as defined in Article 9(3d) of Directive 97/68/EC), — after 30 September 2013 for engines of category R (power range as defined in Article 9(3d) of Directive 97/68/EC). (e) in stage IV — after 31 December 2012 for engines of category Q (power range as defined in Article 9(3d) of Directive 97/68/EC), — after 30 September 2013 for engines of category R (power range as defined in Article 9(3d) of Directive 97/68/EC). 3. Member States shall prohibit the initial entry into service of engines and tractors where the pollutants emitted by the engines do not meet the requirements of the Directive: — after 30 June 2001 for engines of categories A, B, and C, — after 31 December 2001 for engines of categories D and E, — after 31 December 2002 for engines of category F, — after 31 December 2003 for engines of category G, — after 31 December 2005 for engines of category H, — after 31 December 2006 for engines of categories I, — after 31 December 2006 for engines of categories K, — after 31 December 2007 for engines of category J, — after 31 December 2010 for engines of category L, — after 31 December 2011 for engines of categories M — after 31 December 2011 for engines of categories N, — after 31 December 2012 for engines of category P, — after 31 December 2013 for engines of category Q, — after 30 September 2014 for engines of category R. However, for tractors fitted with category E or F engines, the above dates shall be postponed for six months. 4. The requirements of paragraph 3 do not apply to engines intended to be installed in tractor types for export to third countries and the replacement of engines for tractors in service. 5. For engines of categories A to G Member States may postpone the dates laid down in paragraph 3 for two years with respect to engines with a production date prior to the said date. They may grant other exceptions under the conditions laid down in Article 10 of Directive 97/68/EC. 6. For engines of categories H to R, the dates laid down in paragraph 3 shall be postponed for two years with respect to engines with a production date prior to the said date. 7. For engine types or engine families meeting the limit values set out in the table in section 4.1.2.4, 4.1.2.5 and 4.1.2.6 of Annex I to Directive 97/68/EC before the dates laid down in paragraph 3 of this Article, Member States shall allow special labelling and marking to show that the equipment concerned meets the required limit values before the dates laid down. 8. In accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 20(2) of Directive 2003/37/EC, the Commission shall align the limit values and dates of stages IIIB and IV with the limit values and dates decided following the revision procedure provided for in Article 2(b) of Directive 2004/26/EC, with a view to the needs of agricultural or forestry tractors and, in particular, tractors of categories T2, T4.1 and C2.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL The proposal for a Council Directive adapting certain directives in the field of free movement of goods is necessitated by the upcoming accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union. The Treaty concerning the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union[1] was signed by all Member States of the European Union and the Republic of Croatia at Brussels on 9 December 2011. Article 3 (3) of the Treaty of Accession provides that it shall enter into force on 1 July 2013 provided that all the instruments of ratification have been deposited before that date. Article 3(4) of the Treaty of Accession enables the institutions of the Union to adopt before accession measures referred to, inter alia, in Article 50 of the Act concerning the conditions of accession of the Republic of Croatia[2]. These measures shall enter into force only subject to and on the date of the entry into force of the Treaty of Accession. Article 50 of the Act of Accession provides that where acts of the institutions adopted prior to accession require adaptation by reason of accession, and the necessary adaptations have not been provided for in this Act or its Annexes, the Council or the Commission (if the original acts were adopted by the Commission) shall adopt the necessary acts. Point 2 of the Final Act[3] refers to the political agreement on a set of adaptations to be adopted by the institutions which was reached between the Member States and Croatia in the context of the approval of the Treaty of Accession; the High Contracting Parties of the Treaty of Accession invited the Council and the Commission to adopt these adaptations before accession in accordance with Article 50 of the Act of Accession, completed and updated where necessary to take account of the evolution of the law of the Union. The present proposal covers all Council directives as well as European Parliament and Council directives which require technical adaptation by reason of the accession of Croatia in the field of free movement of goods – corresponding to negotiation chapter 1. This proposal is part of a series of proposals for Council directives by the Commission to the Council which regroup the technical adaptations to Council directives as well as to European Parliament and Council directives corresponding to negotiation chapters into separate proposals for different Council directives. This structure is designed to facilitate the transposition of the directives concerned by Member States into their respective legal orders. The package of proposals for legal acts which the Commission has transmitted to the Council is composed of this series of proposals for Council directives on the one hand, as well as of a proposal for a single Council regulation which covers the relevant European Parliament and Council regulations and decisions as well as the relevant Council regulations and decisions on the other hand. This is in line with the approach which was taken in the past in view of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania[4]. It is foreseen that all the legal acts included in this package will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union at the same date. The present proposal and the other proposals included in this package will take into account technical adaptations to the acquis which were published in the Official Journal of the European Union until 1 September 2012. The reasons for this are to provide sufficient time for the legislative processes involved on the one hand, and for the fulfilment of the ensuing transposition and notification obligations by Member States as regards directives on the other hand. Adaptations which may be necessary to the acquis published in the Official Journal of the European Union after 1 September 2012 will be foreseen in the relevant acts themselves or done at a later stage through the appropriate procedure. In addition, the Commission intends to informally provide a list of such legislation to Member States in early July 2013.
Revised version (Article 4 Timetable):
1. Member States may not after 30 September 2000: — refuse to grant EC type-approval or national type-approval in respect of an engine type or family, or — prohibit the sale, entry into service or use of a new engine, or — refuse to grant EC type-approval or national type-approval of tractor types, or — prohibit the use, the sale, the initial entry into service of tractor types, on grounds relating to air pollution if the pollutants emitted by those engines or the engines fitted to those tractors meet the requirements of this Directive. 2. Member States may no longer grant EC type-approval or national type-approval for a type or family of engines or a tractor type where the pollutants emitted by the engine do not meet the requirements of this Directive: (a) in stage I — after 31 December 2000 for engines of categories B and C (power range as defined in Article 9(2) of Directive 97/68/EC); (a) in stage I — after 31 December 2000 for engines of categories B and C (power range as defined in Article 9(2) of Directive 97/68/EC); (b) in stage II — after 31 December 2000 for engines of categories D and E (power range as defined in Article 9(3) of Directive 97/68/EC), — after 31 December 2001 for engines of category F (power range as defined in Article 9(3) of Directive 97/68/EC), — after 31 December 2002 for engines of category G (power range as defined in Article 9(3) of Directive 97/68/EC); (b) in stage II — after 31 December 2000 for engines of categories D and E (power range as defined in Article 9(3) of Directive 97/68/EC), — after 31 December 2001 for engines of category F (power range as defined in Article 9(3) of Directive 97/68/EC), — after 31 December 2002 for engines of category G (power range as defined in Article 9(3) of Directive 97/68/EC); (c) in stage III A — after 31 December 2005 for engines of categories H, I and K (power range as defined in Article 9(3a) of Directive 97/68/EC), — after 31 December 2006 for engines of category J (power range as defined in Article 9(3a) of Directive 97/68/EC); (c) in stage III A — after 31 December 2005 for engines of categories H, I and K (power range as defined in Article 9(3a) of Directive 97/68/EC), — after 31 December 2006 for engines of category J (power range as defined in Article 9(3a) of Directive 97/68/EC); (d) in stage III B — after 31 December 2009 for engines of category L (power range as defined in Article 9(3c) of Directive 97/68/EC), — after 31 December 2010 for engines of categories M and N (power range as defined in Article 9(3c) of Directive 97/68/EC), — after 31 December 2011 for engines of category P (power range as defined in Article 9(3c) of Directive 97/68/EC); (d) in stage III B — after 31 December 2009 for engines of category L (power range as defined in Article 9(3c) of Directive 97/68/EC), — after 31 December 2010 for engines of categories M and N (power range as defined in Article 9(3c) of Directive 97/68/EC), — after 31 December 2011 for engines of category P (power range as defined in Article 9(3c) of Directive 97/68/EC); (e) in stage IV — after 31 December 2012 for engines of category Q (power range as defined in Article 9(3d) of Directive 97/68/EC), — after 30 September 2013 for engines of category R (power range as defined in Article 9(3d) of Directive 97/68/EC). (e) in stage IV — after 31 December 2012 for engines of category Q (power range as defined in Article 9(3d) of Directive 97/68/EC), — after 30 September 2013 for engines of category R (power range as defined in Article 9(3d) of Directive 97/68/EC). 3. Member States shall prohibit the initial entry into service of engines and tractors where the pollutants emitted by the engines do not meet the requirements of the Directive: — after 30 June 2001 for engines of categories A, B, and C, — after 31 December 2001 for engines of categories D and E, — after 31 December 2002 for engines of category F, — after 31 December 2003 for engines of category G, — after 31 December 2005 for engines of category H, — after 31 December 2006 for engines of categories I, — after 31 December 2006 for engines of categories K, — after 31 December 2007 for engines of category J, — after 31 December 2010 for engines of category L, — after 31 December 2011 for engines of categories M — after 31 December 2011 for engines of categories N, — after 31 December 2012 for engines of category P, — after 31 December 2013 for engines of category Q, — after 30 September 2014 for engines of category R. However, for tractors fitted with category E or F engines, the above dates shall be postponed for six months. 4. The requirements of paragraph 3 do not apply to engines intended to be installed in tractor types for export to third countries and the replacement of engines for tractors in service. 5. For engines of categories A to G Member States may postpone the dates laid down in paragraph 3 for two years with respect to engines with a production date prior to the said date. They may grant other exceptions under the conditions laid down in Article 10 of Directive 97/68/EC. 6. For engines of categories H to R, the dates laid down in paragraph 3 shall be postponed for two years with respect to engines with a production date prior to the said date. 7. For engine types or engine families meeting the limit values set out in the table in section 4.1.2.4, 4.1.2.5 and 4.1.2.6 of Annex I to Directive 97/68/EC before the dates laid down in paragraph 3 of this Article, Member States shall allow special labelling and marking to show that the equipment concerned meets the required limit values before the dates laid down. 8. In accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 20(2) of Directive 2003/37/EC, the Commission shall align the limit values and dates of stages IIIB and IV with the limit values and dates decided following the revision procedure provided for in Article 2(b) of Directive 2004/26/EC, with a view to the needs of agricultural or forestry tractors and, in particular, tractors of categories T2, T4.1 and C2. 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 5 Recognition of equivalence and conformity
The authorities of Member States granting EC type-approval for a type or family of engines shall recognise the type-approvals granted in accordance with the provisions of Annex III and the corresponding type-approval marks as being in conformity with this Directive.
Article 6 Further reduction in emission limit values
As soon as the provisions referred to in Article 19 of Directive 97/68/EC are adopted by the European Parliament and the Council, the Commission shall, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 13 of Directive 74/150/EEC, without delay align the limit values and dates contained in this Directive with those adopted following the decisions taken pursuant to the abovementioned Article 19.
Article 7 Technical adaptations
Any amendments needed in order to adapt the requirements of the Annexes to technical progress shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 13 of Directive 74/150/EEC.
Article 8 Amendment of Directive 74/150/EEC
In Annex II to Directive 74/150/EEC the following item 2.8.2 shall be inserted: ‘2.8.2. Emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants by engines: SD’.
Article 9 Transposition into national law
Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive before 29 September 2000. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof. They shall apply these provisions from 31 December 2000. When Member States adopt these measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive, or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. The methods of making such a reference shall be laid down by the Member States.
Article 10 Entry into force
This Directive shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities .
Article 11 Adressees
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.