AUSTRALIA - Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018

Australia has released the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 replacing former version Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 and the Motor Vehicle Standards Regulations 1989.   

This new Act and its supporting Rules will repeal and replace the Motor Vehicle Standards Act and its supporting Regulations with effect from 10th December 2019.

The new Road Vehicle Standards Act and Road Vehicle Standards Rules, the Australian have tried to modernise and strengthen the legislative framework for road vehicles, among others, by:

• Modifying the method by which vehicles are declared to be compliant with the applicable Australian standards via the introduction of a new Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV).

• Clarifying the obligations on approval holders with regard to both obtaining and maintaining type approvals.

• Clarifying the methods to be used for monitoring and enforcing compliance with applicable requirements.

• Introducing new provisions on both compulsory and voluntary recalls that are broader in scope than those currently specified within Australian Consumer Law and which specifically relate to road vehicles and their components.

From 10th December 2019, all new type approvals will be required to meet the requirements specified in the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 and in the associated Road Vehicle Standards Rules 2019. However, existing type approvals issued to the requirements of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 and the Motor Vehicle Standards Regulations 1989 will remain valid until 9th December 2020.