The European Commission asked Romania and Slovakia to harmonize their legislation for end-of-life vehicles, after the two member states failed to notify the Commission about the transposition of legislation updating a ban on hazardous metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium in materials and components of vehicles.

The measures should have been enforced by the end of 2011. The two countries have two months to comply, otherwise the Commission may take the two countries to court.

The EC sent letters of formal notice to Romania and Slovakia on January 30 this year. Romania responded that a law transposing the Directive was currently in consideration but it has not yet been adopted and no timetable for the adoption has been communicated to the Commission,” according to the EC statement.

EU member states have to ensure that spare parts for vehicles put on the market after 1 July 2003 do not contain lead, mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium except under specific circumstances, with the aim to avoid these harmful materials entering the environment when the vehicles reach disposal stage.

editor@romania-insider.com