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End-Of-life Vehicles Regulations 2003 SI No. 2003/2635

The End-of-Life Vehicles Regulations 2003 (SI No. 2003/2635) came into effect on 3rd November 2003. The Regulations apply to vehicles designated as category M1 or N1, (i.e. passenger cars and small van type goods vehicles) as defined in Annex IIA of Council Directive 70/156/EEC relating to the type approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, and to three wheeled motor vehicles as defined in Council Directive 2002/24/EC, as amended relating to the type approval of two or three wheeled vehicles, excluding motor tricycles.

The Regulations Explained in brief

The main objective of the legislation is environmental protection. The Regulations transpose into UK law a number of provisions of EU End-of-Life Directive (ELV) 2000/53/EC, including:

• Restrictions on the use of certain heavy metals in vehicle manufacture (part III of the Regulations);
• Marking of certain rubber and plastic vehicle components and publication of design and dismantling information (Part IV of the Regulations);
• The introduction of a Certificate of Destruction (Part V);
• Free take-back of vehicles put on the market from 1st July 2002, if having no value when scrapped (Part VI);
• Licensing of authorised treatment facilities and the site and operating standards with which they must comply (Part VII).

The purpose of this Web Page

The Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) has been appointed by BIS (the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills) to enforce compliance with parts III and IV of the Regulations, the Prohibition of Heavy Metals and Information requirements respectively. The purpose of this page is to outline the requirements of Part III and IV of the Regulations, the role VCA will have in the compliance process and ways in which VCA can help.

For more information on End-of-Life or other enforcement activities, please telephone us on 0117 9524190; email:

Part III (Prohibition of Heavy Metals) Explained

This part of the legislation requires that the producers shall ensure that materials and components of vehicles which they put on the market on or after 3rd November 2003 do not contain lead, mercury, cadmium or hexavalent chromium, unless used for certain applications and within the concentrations set down in Schedule 1 of the Regulations.  It is the Department's view that the heavy metal restrictions apply to the components and materials of cars and light vans, as well as their automotive accessories, except in the case of accessories for special purpose vehicles where those accessories themselves are directly relevant to the special purpose of the vehicle, for example medical equipment in ambulances, habitation equipment in motor caravans etc. The restrictions also do not apply to accessories, for any vehicle, where the accessory is added after the production of the vehicle is complete, is clearly not necessary for vehicular function, and is designed for the customer to remove without the need for tools and use independently of the vehicle.

The ELV Directive does not specifically define “put on the market”, a term often used in the context of EC single market measures. However it is understood (in the context of so-called New Approach Directives) to mean when a product is made available in return for payment free of charge, with a view to distribution, use, or both, for the first time in the community market.

Spare, replacement and service parts, to be used in vehicles put on the market before 1st July 2003 are also exempt.

The Regulations require producers to compile documentation which will enable the enforcement authority, in this case VCA, to be assured that the vehicles, materials and components that the producer has ‘put on the market’ on or after 3rd November 2003 comply with the heavy metal restrictions. The method of recording information is not specified but could, for example, form a file of collected ‘assurances of conformity’ from a producer’s material and component suppliers.  Such records should be retained for a period of 4 years from the date that vehicles, materials and components were put on the market.

VCA may ask a producer to submit such technical documentation at any reasonable time, or by mutual agreement, visit the producer to verify adequate control systems are in place.

Part IV (Information requirements) Explained

This part of the Regulations sets down certain requirements for the marking of certain rubber and plastic parts, or coding as it is referred to in Schedule 2 of the Regulations. Part IV also refers to the provision and reporting of dismantling information.

The system of marking rubber and plastics is to promote the dismantling, for re-use, recycling and recovery of discrete components. The Department does not believe that it is necessary for all plastics and rubber materials above the threshold weights specified in Schedule 2 to be marked, if there is little prospect of their being dismantled and separately recovered, for example in the case of plastics and rubber bonded against other materials to form laminates and multi-material sheet for a vehicle roof, bonnet and boot lining etc. The marking requirements do not apply to tyres.

These parts of the Regulations apply to “producers” – vehicle manufacturers and professional importers. Producers are required to compile documentation to satisfy the enforcement authority that the relevant requirements have been met. The method of recording information is not specified but again, this could be a collection of ‘assurances of conformity’ collected from a producers’ material and component suppliers. VCA may ask the producer to submit such technical documentation at any reasonable time, or by mutual agreement, visit the producer to verify adequate control systems are in place.

Part IV of the Regulations deals with the provision of dismantling information. Within six months of putting a new type of vehicle on the market, the producer must provide dismantling information in respect of that type. The dismantling information should identify, in so far as is needed by treatment facilities, the different materials and components of the vehicle and the location of all hazardous substances in the vehicle, in order to achieve other objectives of the Directive, i.e. the re-use of components suitable for re-use, and the recovery of those which cannot be re-used, giving preference to recycling when environmentally viable. Producers are able to discharge their responsibilities here by providing manuals and / or by means such as a website, or by contributing to recognised databases such as IDIS, the International Dismantling Information System.

Part IV also deals with the reporting of vehicle recoverability and recyclability information for prospective buyers. In respect of new types of vehicles, such information will need to be used in any promotional literature for marketing. Web based information is also acceptable if accessible at dealer premises.

VCA’s Enforcement Role

VCA will be seeking to enforce the Regulations in a number of ways, including:

• Requesting producer’s technical information in respect of compliance with Part III and IV of the Regulations, on a random basis;
• Or by mutual agreement, visiting producer premises to review their manual / electronic control systems to ensure they are adequate;
• Monitoring of the Internet, promotional literature and trade publications;
• Attendance at Trade Shows;
• Dealing with specific complaints.

What can VCA do for you?

Whilst seeking actively to enforce the Regulations, we are keen to work with Industry to ensure that legal obligations are met. Producers can seek VCA’s advice on compliance issues.

Useful sources of information

Directives are published in the Official Journal of the European Union, available here: http://europa.eu/index_en.htm (page opens in a new browser window).

Alternatively, VCA can provide these.  Follow this link for more information: More information on VISTA

A copy of the Regulations (SI No. 2003/2635) is available from the Office of Public Sector Information - http://www.opsi.gov.uk

• Please follow this link to VCA's Enforcement and Prosecution policy page