A key vote in Brussels today means that farmers should escape new EU regulation which could make some quad bikes more expensive, less suitable for agricultural use and have a significant impact on choice.
Following NFU lobbying, the internal market committee accepted a crucial distinction between the utility all-terrain vehicles used on many farms and the quad bikes and ATVs used on public roads.
The plan had been to lump both categories together and require manufacturers to bring all new ATVs up to full road safety specifications.
The decision is subject to confirmation by a vote of the whole European Parliament.
However, today’s lead committee approval has been welcomed as a telling step.
NFU adviser Ben Coates said: “The NFU is pleased to see that the committee has seen sense and agreed there should be a division between utility ATVs which are used for work and leisure ATVs which are used for recreation.
“The exclusion of utility ATVs from new stringent road safety and emissions will hopefully permit them to be designed for their intended purpose and allow farmers and other business users, who heavily rely on them, to continue to use these versatile off-road machines.
“We have worked closely with the All Terrain Vehicle Industry European Association and will continue our lobbying in Europe to urge the European Parliament to support the Committee’s decision.”
Conservative MEP and chairman of the internal market committee, Malcolm Harbour, said: “I am pleased that we have been able to work with the industry, notably the All Terrain Vehicle Industry European Association, to deflect a threat that could have been extremely harmful to manufacturers and to farmers."
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