Annex 4: Road Vehicles
4.1 A Cooperation Programme covering regulatory Requirements for road vehicles (including components) will be pursued under the auspices of this Arrangement and in conformance with the provisions of Part IX.
Coverage of Existing Regulatory Requirements
4.2 The Cooperation Programme will cover all road vehicle standards. The two main options for cooperation are mutual recognition or harmonisation. From the date of signing of the Arrangement, Australia and New Zealand will embark on a programme aimed, where appropriate, at harmonising Australian and New Zealand standards with the internationally recognised United Nations - Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE) standards, or those national or regional standards that are agreed by the Parties, and at developing consistent conformance assessment and certification requirements in both countries. This body of internationally harmonised standards is intended to form the basis of a set of trans-Tasman road vehicle standards. It is intended that, as far as possible, all vehicles would be certified against these trans-Tasman standards. All road vehicles certified as meeting these standards will be able to be freely traded between Australia and New Zealand.
4.3 those road vehicles approved before cooperative arrangements are put in place, and for those not intended for trans-Tasman trade (because of a desire to maintain unique national standards, for example, due to different operating environments in either country), Country-specific standards will continue to apply.
Institutional Arrangements
4.4 The Ministerial Council on Road Transport (MCRT) has responsibility for endorsing regulatory proposals relating to road transport in Australia in accordance with the National Road Transport Commission Act 1991. It is intended the MCRT will remain the decision making body for the Australian Parties when deciding regulatory Requirements for Australia.
4.5 The Minister of Transport has responsibility for the regulatory requirements relating to road transport in New Zealand in accordance with the Land Transport Act 1993. It is intended that the Minister of Transport will remain responsible for decisions relating to transport regulatory Requirements for New Zealand.
4.6 It is intended that decisions relating to trans-Tasman regulatory proposals developed under this Cooperation Programme will be made by the ATC and that consistent with the Arrangement, New Zealand will have full membership of the ATC and the Standing Committee on Transport when dealing with TTMRA-related road transport matters. New Zealand will also have full membership status on Australia's Technical Liaison Group, which develops regulations, and on the Transport Agencies Chief Executives (TACE) committee.
4.7 The legislation establishing the NRTC and MCRT ceases to have effect on 15 January 1998. It is intended that the principle for New Zealand participation set out in paragraph 4.6 will be applied in the consideration of any arrangements put in place to replace or extend the Operations of the NRTC and/or MCRT and that, if appropriate, New Zealand membership of the MCRT and/or involvement in the NRTC will be considered at that time.
Legislation Subject to Special Exemption
Australia
Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989.
New Zealand
Goods Service Vehicle (Constructional) Regulations 1936.
Transport Act 1962.
Heavy Motor Vehicle Regulations 1974.
Traffic Regulations 1976.
Road User Charges Act 1977.
Road User Charges Regulations 1978.
Transport Services Licensing Act 1989.
Transport (Vehicle Standards) Regulations 1990
Land Transport Act 1993.
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