General Development EU-Type Approval for Agricultural Vehicles

25 years after granting the first European Type Approval of a tractor, the harmonized regula-tion for tractors has been completely revised and reformed. The primary instrument of the new EU legislation is Regulation (EU), which replaces the previously common tool in the field of harmonization of vehicle regulations, EU Directive, and should thus act in order to simplify administration. Since this reform is accompanied by considerable technical and administrative modification, the affected manufacturers, technical services and approval authorities have to make a significantly higher effort compared to previously. An improvement of road and occupational safety as well as environmental protection, if any, will be recognizable only marginally since the milestones of traffic and safety at work have already been taken much earlier in tractors.