While the post-Brexit landscape remains uncertain, the Tyre Industry Federation (TIF) understands the Department for Transport (DfT) intends to retain alignment with future evolutions of the EU tyre labelling regulations for UK, at least as far as the label itself is concerned. The rationale is to ensure a smoothly working market for tyres.

A document issued by the EU Commission early in the Brexit negotiations had given rise to concerns that the tyre labelling regulation would not apply post-Brexit. There were even suggestions the UK might strike out on its own with a Made-in-Britain labelling scheme. From an international tyre industry point of view this would clearly be extremely challenging.

The Department for Transport recently gave the following assurance:

“Under the Withdrawal Act, direct EU law, such as The Tyre Labelling Regulation, will form part of UK domestic law after exit and hence the requirement to ensure tyres are labelled in accordance with 1222/2009 will continue to apply (at least until such time as the Government chooses to make changes).”

The DfT has also given clarification regarding the validity of tyre labelling data sourced in the UK prior to EU-exit:

“Our expectation is that provided labelling data is obtained according to the procedures set out in the regulation, it should not matter where the data is sourced. The obligation will be on the manufacturer to demonstrate that the data is sourced according to the test procedures set out in the regulation.”

A recent European study commissioned by ETRMA has shown that there are now over 78,000 different labels for car tyres alone. The recently concluded EU Market Surveillance project found 11% of the 131 tyres tested were incorrectly labelled. Improved test methods and a revised labelling regulation are currently under discussion to address this shortfall but any changes are still some years off.

The DfT has recently shown renewed interest in pursuing enforcement powers for the labelling regulation in the UK but “resources are dependent on the outworking of Brexit”.

Alfred Graham, (TIF) Chairman, said: “The implementation of tyre labelling has not been without issue but at least the assertion from the DfT that it intends to remain aligned with the EU regulations avoids a significant challenge for the tyre industry on this post-Brexit issue in the UK. As such, TIF welcomes the news. TIF has been invited by the DfT to discussions “in due course” and has indicated its intention to participate.”

 

Further resources

• Initial document from EU Commission:

http://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents/27401

• ProSafe conclusions:

http://www.mstyr15.eu/images/MSTYR/Documents/MSTyr15_2nd_Press_release_20180709_FINALv3.pdf

• ETRMA labelling study:

http://www.etrma.org/uploads/Modules/Documentsmanager/etrma-lizeo-report-2018-v9-web.pdf

The Tyre Industry Federation (TIF) has elected Patrick O’Connell, the managing director of the Bandvulc Group, as its new Chairman with immediate effect.

Patrick has been managing director of Bandvulc Group, which incorporates Bandvulc Tyres Ltd, Bandvulc Tyre Contracts and Devon Rubber, since 2003. It is a family business which was founded in 1970.

“The Tyre Industry Federation performs a crucial function by speaking with one voice on behalf of its members, so it’s a great responsibility to take over as Chairman.

“However, it’s a role that I’m looking forward to as it will fully utilise my extensive knowledge of the tyre industry.”

Patrick, who replaces David Seward as the previous TIF chairman, is also a member of the Plymouth Manufacturing Group, the Tyre Recovery Association, National Tyre Distributors Association and chairman of the Retread Manufacturers’ Association.

The Tyre Industry Federation provides a common platform for the British Tyre Manufacturers’ Association, the Imported Tyre Manufacturers’ Association, the National Tyre Distributors Association, the Retread Manufacturers Association and the Tyre Recovery Association.

Among its aims are to address areas of common concern and to raise government awareness of the impact of the tyre industry on issues including road safety, climate change and sustainability.