| UK Automotive Aftermarket Liaison Group responds to the EU’s impact assessment on MV-BER |
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UK Automotive Aftermarket Liaison Group responds to the EU’s impact assessment on MV-BER
Group is "encouraged by the evidence that the European Commission are listening"
The Automotive Aftermarket Liaison Group (AALG), after consulting with others in the independent aftermarket, has formally responded to the EU’s recently published impact assessment, which sets out the options to replace the current Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation (MV-BER) due to expire in May 2010.
The detailed AALG response which is available on the R2RC website (www.r2rc.co.uk) concludes that, of the potential outcomes proposed by the Commission, the option of the certainty provided by a robust aftermarket-specific specific MV-BER together with supporting guidelines would offer the greatest level of protection for the motorist and help create a level playing field for independent operators. The Right to Repair Campaign (R2RC) has made a separate submission to the Commission, which arrives at the same conclusion. Brian Spratt of the AALG said: "The European Commission’s documents are very detailed and clearly identify all the failings of the current MV-BER. They acknowledge shortcomings in the areas of access to technical information, training and tools, access to commissioning codes, access to captive parts and the loophole created by the use of extended insurance backed warranties."
He added: "Given the Commission have taken notice of the arguments presented to them during this process, we are optimistic that they will continue to listen to our reasoned conclusion and that the ultimate outcome will be positive for the independent aftermarket and the motorist after May 2010."For more information on R2RC and to sign the petition, NOTES FOR EDITORS
1. Members of the UK AALG are: A1 Motor Stores Automotive Distribution Federation Federation of Engine Remanufacturers Garage Equipment Association Group Auto Union (UK & Ireland) Ltd Independent Battery Distributors Association National Tyre Distributors Association Retail Motor Industry Federation (Independent Garage Association) Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (Aftermarket Section) Broadly, the objectives of the group are: To address issues on which collaborative action on behalf of the independent aftermarket would be more successful than individual uncoordinated action by each association/group. To facilitate the exchange of information between associations/groups on subjects affecting their members. To be a forum for discussion with third parties whose activities affect the independent aftermarket. 2. The aftermarket is at present covered by the Motor Vehicles Block Exemption Regulation (BER) of 2002. This applies to vehicle distribution as well as the aftermarket and expires on 31 May, 2010. 3. The EU Commission reviewed the BER during 2007, published interim conclusions in 2008, and published its final recommendations on 22 July, 2009 after taking account of the responses to the interim report. 4. The recent proposal is technically called a 'Communication' and titled 'The Future Competition Law Framework applicable to the motor vehicle sector'. Copies of the Communication, and supporting papers published at the same time, can be obtained from http://ec.europa.eu/comm/competition/sectors/motor_vehicles/news.html. 5. So far as the aftermarket is concerned, the main recommendation is that it be uncoupled from the vehicle distribution market and covered by a new competition framework from 1 June, 2010. This is proposed to consist of:
a. general competition law
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