EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 17.5.2018

COM(2018) 296 final

2018/0148(COD)

Proposal for a

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

on the labelling of tyres with respect to fuel efficiency and other essential parameters and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009

(Text with EEA relevance)

{SEC(2018) 234 final}
{SWD(2018) 188 final}
{SWD(2018) 189 final}

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1.CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL

•Reasons for and objectives of the proposal

Improving the labelling of tyres will give consumers more information on fuel efficiency, safety and noise, allowing them to obtain accurate, relevant and comparable information on those aspects when purchasing tyres. This will help improve the effectiveness of the tyre labelling scheme so as to ensure cleaner, safer and quieter vehicles and to maximise the scheme’s contribution to the decarbonisation of the transport sector.

This proposal repeals and replaces Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009 1 on the labelling of tyres with respect to fuel efficiency and other essential parameters (the Tyre Labelling Regulation, TLR).

The TLR was amended twice before it entered into application, first to include a new testing method for the wet grip of C1 tyres (cars), and then to reflect the fact that a suitable international testing method of wet grip had also been developed also for C2 (vans) and C3 (heavy duty vehicles) tyres 2 and to include a laboratory alignment procedure for the measurement of rolling resistance. This proposal incorporates those amendments.

•Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area

In 2009, the EU adopted two sets of rules relating to tyres:

–The TLR, which set out Union requirements harmonising the information on tyre parameters to be provided to end-users allowing them to make informed purchasing choices; and

–The Regulation on type-approval requirements 3 for the general safety of motor vehicles (the General Safety Regulation, GSR), which put in place harmonised technical requirements that tyres must satisfy before they can be placed on the Union market.

The GSR puts in place minimum requirements inter alia for tyres as regards:

(i) rolling resistance;

(ii) wet grip performance; and

(iii) external rolling noise of tyres.

These requirements became applicable from 1 November 2012, with a second stage of more stringent requirements for the rolling resistance starting to apply on 1 November 2016 (with further adjustments coming into application in 2018 and 2020).

Like any other products placed on the Union market, tyres must be checked by national market surveillance authorities for compliance with the applicable requirements. Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 4 establishes the framework for market surveillance by Member States and ensures efficient cross-border market surveillance.

The general energy labelling framework was updated in 2017 with the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 5 . This repealed and replaced Directive 2010/30/EU and introduced a number of new elements, such as a product registration database and new rules on visual advertising and on distance and internet sales.

Tyre labelling forms part of Union legislation on the energy efficiency of products. This includes ecodesign regulations, which set minimum requirements that energy-related products must satisfy before they can be placed on the Union market, and energy labelling regulations, which provide consumers with information on the energy consumption and other essential aspects of products, helping them to take informed, cost-effective and environment-friendly purchasing decisions that are both good for the environment and save money.

This initiative is in line with the Union's energy policy as it updates and improves the effectiveness of the existing acquis on tyre labelling.

•Consistency with other Union policies

The review of the tyre labelling scheme contributes to EU efforts to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution caused by the transport sector.

This initiative is part of the Third "Europe on the Move" Package, which delivers on the new industrial policy strategy of September 2017, and is designed to complete the process of enabling Europe to reap the full benefits of the modernisation and decarbonisation of mobility. It is essential that tomorrow's mobility system is safe, clean and efficient for all EU citizens. The aim is to make European mobility safer and more accessible, European industry more competitive, European jobs more secure, and to be cleaner and better adapted to the imperative of tackling climate change. This will require the full commitment of the EU, Member States and stakeholders, not least in strengthening efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.

The Commission's Communication "A European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy" refers to the need to study ways of reducing the unintentional release of microplastics from tyres.

2.LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY

•Legal basis

Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009 is based on Article 95 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, now Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). It is appropriate to have an internal market legal base as the Regulation is linked to type approval requirements for tyres to be placed on the Union market, but as it also covers fuel efficiency, it is appropriate to add also an energy legal base, i.e. Article 194 TFEU.

•Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence)

The instruments on energy and fuel efficiency adopted at EU level reflect the growing importance of energy as a political and economic challenge and its close links to the policy areas of security of energy supply, climate change, sustainability, environment, internal market, and economic development. To date, Member States acting alone have been unable sufficiently to achieve energy efficiency objectives and action at Union level is needed to facilitate and support the uptake of activities at national level.

It is essential to ensure a level playing field for manufacturers and dealers in terms of the information supplied to customers in respect of tyres for sale across the EU internal market. For this reason, EU - wide legally binding rules are necessary.

Market surveillance is carried out by the authorities of the Member States. In order to be effective, it must be uniform across the Union otherwise the internal market is undermined and there is a disincentive to businesses that invest resources in designing, making and selling energy- efficient products. The inclusion of tyres in a product database will help make market surveillance more effective.

•Proportionality

In accordance with the principle of proportionality, the proposed amendments to the existing legislative framework do not go beyond what is necessary to achieve the objectives set. They will improve its clarity and workability.

The proposed amendments will make it possible to display information about snow/ice tyres on the label, strengthen the requirement to show the label in situations where consumers do not see the tyre(s) they are considering buying (because the tyres are stocked elsewhere, or with distance or internet selling) and include tyres in the product registration database established under Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 in order to improve market surveillance and information for consumers.

Suppliers will be required to enter information in the new product database. This is information that they currently have to provide to national market surveillance authorities on request, so any additional burden is considered minimal and proportionate to the enforcement and transparency benefits that the product database is expected to bring.

An impact assessment SWD(2018)189 accompanies the proposal and reference should be made to the parts that discuss proportionality.

•Choice of the instrument

The current TLR is a Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council, and it is appropriate to replace it with an instrument of the same type, as it contains directly applicable obligations for economic operators.

3.RESULTS OF EX-POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS

•Ex-post evaluations/fitness checks of existing legislation

The Commission carried out an ex-post evaluation of the TLR, which can be found in Annex 5 to the impact assessment report.

The evaluation concluded that the effectiveness and efficiency of the TLR can be further improved, in particular by:

(i)    increasing consumers’ awareness of and confidence in the label (which will make them more likely to use the label information when purchasing tyres), and

(ii)    improving market surveillance to ultimately achieve in full the three objectives of the TLR.

•Stakeholder consultations

A stakeholder meeting was held in November 2015 with over 40 stakeholders.

A public consultation ran from 10 October 2017 to 8 January 2018 on the Commission's consultation web page 6 . 70 responses were received and a detailed summary of the respondents and responses can be found at Annex 2 of the impact assessment report.

•Collection and use of expertise

As part of a specific and wide-ranging study commissioned to prepare the review 7 , 6000 consumers were questioned in six Member States.

•Impact assessment

An impact assessment accompanies this proposal and is published on the Commission's Europa website together with the favourable opinion of the Regulatory Scrutiny Board (Ares(2018) 1626237) adopted on 23 March 2018.

The impact assessment identified a number of issues with the current Regulation, of which the two most important were:

–reduced effectiveness of the tyre label due to poor visibility;

–non-compliance due to weak enforcement.

The policy options examined were:

1.non- regulatory measures, including information campaigns, joint enforcement actions and revision of testing methods.

2.targeted legislative amendments, to allow for:

·the labelling at all times of tyres delivered with vehicles;

·online labelling;

·the inclusion on the label of snow and ice performance information;

·extending the scope of the labelling requirement to C3 tyres;

·strengthening the requirements relating to technical documentation;

·amendments to the annexes on testing methods and extending the type approval process to include the label declaration;

·the future inclusion of mileage and abrasion as a performance parameters;

·re-adjustment of the label classes; and

·the inclusion of tyres in the product registration database established under Regulation (EU) 2017/1369.

Sub-options were also considered in which some of the targeted legislative amendments mentioned above were excluded.

3.a combination of policy options 1 and 2.

The preferred option was options 3. Study of this option found the following estimated impacts (section 6 of the impact assessment report):

·increased turnover for business of EUR 9 billion per year by 2030;

·129  PJ annual fuel savings by 2030;

·10 Mt annual CO2-eq savings by 2030;

·decreased noise emission from tyres and resultant health benefits; and

·greater safety and fewer accidents.

This proposal implements the legislative part of the preferred option. Further non-legislative action to implement the option is outlined in the impact assessment.

•Regulatory fitness and simplification

As this proposal revises existing legislation, it has explored how to simplify and improve that legislation. The text has been updated to ensure maximum consistency with other updated legislation in the field, in particular the new Energy Labelling Framework Regulation.

Three main possibilities for simplifying the legislation and reducing administrative burden were identified and included in the proposal:

·product registration database;

·alignment with GSR testing methods; and

·wider use of delegated acts.

The estimated REFIT cost savings of these three possibilities are as following:

To ensure fair competition in the single market and coherent and consistent information for consumers the same rules should apply to all economic operators. All retailers should therefore be subject to the same rules, as tyre labels are useful for consumers only if all products are labelled in all retail outlets. As such, the proposal does not exempt SMEs or micro-enterprises. However, there are no European SME or micro tyre manufacturers, and any potential costs are not expected to be insignificant and are mainly related to the obligation on manufacturers and retailers to show the label when tyres are offered for sale online.

The proposal is internet ready as it includes tyre labelling in the online product registration database established under Regulation (EU) 2017/1369, which will simplify, accelerate and enhance the transmission of product information between manufacturers, retailers, market surveillance authorities and the consumer. Like other products, tyres use QR codes that give consumers electronic access to detailed information. These will be part of the new label.

•Fundamental rights

The proposal is not considered to have impacts on fundamental rights.

4.BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS

This proposal replaces an existing Regulation on the labelling of tyres, and the administrative impact and costs are therefore estimated to be moderate, as most of the necessary structures and rules are in place.

This expenditure will be supported within the resources already foreseen in the official financial programming. No additional resources will be required from the EU budget. Moreover, this initiative does not intend to prejudge the Commission's proposal on the next Multiannual Financial Framework.

5.OTHER ELEMENTS

•Implementation plans and monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements

The impact of the new Regulation will be monitored and evaluated in an evaluation study to be carried out six years after its entry into force. The evaluation will determine whether the objectives of the initiative have been reached.

Reporting by Member States to the Expert Group on Tyres Labelling – Market Surveillance Administrative Cooperation will provide data on market surveillance activities and compliance rates. Further data will come from the ongoing MSTyre15 8 joint surveillance action and any follow-up projects.

The proposed mandatory product registration database will also be a source of data on the basis of which to monitor and evaluate progress towards meeting the objectives of the Regulation. It will provide data on the distribution of tyres across the different performance classes. It will also support market surveillance, which is essential for enforcement of the Regulation. Enforcement will also be aided by requiring Member States to inform the Commission of the penalties and enforcement mechanisms applicable to infringements of the Regulation.

•Detailed explanation of the specific provisions of the proposal

The proposal retains the objectives and main principles of the current TLR but clarifies, strengthens and extends its scope by:

·updating the tyre label and allowing for its revision;

·improving the visibility of the label to consumers by requiring that it be shown in all situations where tyres are sold; and setting requirements in relation to internet and distance selling and as other situations where the tyres are not physically seen by the consumer;

·requiring that information on the snow and ice performance of tyres be included on the label;

·allowing for the future inclusion of mileage and abrasion, if appropriate, as a parameter for the label;

·allowing for the future inclusion of re-treaded tyres, if appropriate;

·requiring that the label be shown in visual advertisements and in technical promotional material;

·extending to C3 tyres the requirement for the label to be shown;

·extension of the type approval process to include the label declaration;

·improving enforcement by creating an obligation to register tyres in the product database established under Regulation (EU) 2017/1369;

·Adjusting the grading of tyre parameters in Annex I;

·Updating the label in Annex II (in particular to show a “snow” icon);

·Adding Annexes on information requirements;

·Replacing the annex on the testing method for measuring the wet grip index (G) of C1 tyres with a reference to the relevant measurement methods.

Updating the tyre label and allowing for its revision:

The label covers three parameters: rolling resistance, wet grip and external rolling noise. The classes for these parameters need to be adjusted, to take account of technological progress and the fact the GSR requirements mean that the bottom classes are in fact empty because such tyres can no longer be sold on the Union market.

Article 11 of the current Regulation empowers the Commission to adopt delegated acts to amend non-essential elements and supplement the Regulation, and to adapt the annexes in the light of technical progress. The scope of the article is expanded to include changes to the label itself so that the possible future inclusion of ice, mileage and abrasion parameters and future re-adjustment of the label classes can be achieved via delegated acts.

Improving the visibility of the label to consumers:

2018/0148 (COD)

Proposal for a

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

on the labelling of tyres with respect to fuel efficiency and other essential parameters and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 114 and Article 194(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee ( 9 ),

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions 10 ,

Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure,

Whereas:

(1)The Union is committed to building an Energy Union with a forward looking climate policy. Fuel efficiency is a crucial element of the Union's 2030 Climate and Energy Policy Framework and is key to moderating energy demand.

(2)The Commission has reviewed 11 the effectiveness of Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council 12 and identified the need to update its provisions to improve its effectiveness.

(3)It is appropriate to replace Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009 by a new Regulation which incorporates amendments made in 2011 and modifies and enhances some of its provisions to clarify and update their content, taking into account the technological progress for tyres over recent years.

(4)The transport sector accounts for a third of Union energy consumption. Road transport was responsible for about 22% of the Union’s total greenhouse gas emissions in 2015. Tyres, mainly because of their rolling resistance, account for 5% to 10% of vehicles’ fuel consumption. A reduction of the rolling resistance of tyres would therefore contribute significantly to the fuel efficiency of road transport and thus to the reduction of emissions.

(5)Tyres are characterised by a number of interrelated parameters that are interrelated. Improving one parameter such as rolling resistance may have an adverse impact on others such as wet grip, while improving wet grip may have an adverse impact on external rolling noise. Tyre manufacturers should be encouraged to optimise all parameters beyond the standards already achieved.

(6)Fuel-efficient tyres can be cost-effective since fuel savings more than compensate for the increased purchase price of the tyres resulting from their higher production costs.

(7)Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council 13 lays down minimum requirements for the rolling resistance of tyres. Technological developments make it possible to decrease energy losses due to tyre rolling resistance significantly beyond those minimum requirements. To reduce the environmental impact of road transport, it is therefore appropriate to update the provisions for tyre labelling to encourage end-users to purchase more fuel-efficient tyres by providing updated harmonised information on that parameter.

(8)Traffic noise is a significant nuisance and has a harmful effect on health. Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 lays down minimum requirements for the external rolling noise of tyres. Technological developments make it possible to reduce external rolling noise significantly beyond those minimum requirements. To reduce traffic noise, it is therefore appropriate to update the provisions for tyre labelling to encourage end-users to purchase tyres with lower external rolling noise by providing harmonised information on that parameter.

(9)The provision of harmonised information on external rolling noise also facilitates the implementation of measures to limit traffic noise and contributes to increased awareness of the effect of tyres on traffic noise within the framework of Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council 14 .

(10)Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 lays down minimum requirements for the wet grip performance of tyres. Technological developments make it possible to improve wet grip significantly beyond those requirements, and thus to reduce wet braking distances. To improve road safety, it is therefore appropriate to update the provisions for tyre labelling to encourage end-users to purchase tyres with high wet grip performance by providing harmonised information on that parameter.

(11)In order to ensure alignment with the international framework, Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 refers to UNECE Regulation 117 15 , which includes the relevant measurement methods for rolling resistance, noise, and wet and snow grip performance of tyres.

(12)In order to provide end-users with information on the performance of tyres specifically designed for snow and ice conditions, it is appropriate to require the inclusion on the label of information requirements on snow and ice tyres.

(13)The abrasion of tyres during use is a significant source of microplastics, which are harmful to the environment, and the Commission's Communication "A European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy" 16 therefore mentions the need to address unintentional release of microplastics from tyres, inter alia through information measures such as labelling and minimum requirements for tyres. However, a suitable testing method to measure tyre abrasion is not currently available. Therefore, the Commission should mandate the development of such a method, taking into full consideration all state-of-the-art internationally developed or proposed standards or regulations, with a view to establishing a suitable testing method as soon as possible.

(14)Re-treaded tyres are a substantial part of the market for heavy-duty vehicle tyres. Re-treading tyres extends their life and contributes to circular economy objectives such as waste reduction. Applying labelling requirements to such tyres would bring substantial energy savings. However, as suitable testing method to measure the performance of re-treaded tyres is not currently available, this Regulation should provide for their future inclusion.

(15)The energy label pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 of the European Parliament and of the Council 17 , which ranks the energy consumption of products on a scale from 'A' to 'G', is recognised by over 85% of Union consumers and has proven to be effective in promoting more efficient products. The tyre label should continue to use the same design to the extent possible, while recognising the specificities of the tyre parameters.

(16)The provision of comparable information on tyre parameters in the form of a standard label is likely to influence purchasing decisions by end-users in favour of safer, quieter and more fuel-efficient tyres. This, in turn, is likely to encourage tyre manufacturers to optimise those parameters, which would pave the way for more sustainable consumption and production.

(17)The need for greater information on tyre fuel efficiency and other parameters is relevant for all end-users, including purchasers of replacement tyres, purchasers of tyres fitted on new vehicles, and fleet managers and transport undertakings, who cannot easily compare the parameters of different tyre brands in the absence of a labelling and harmonised testing regime. It is therefore appropriate to require the labelling of tyres delivered with vehicles at all times.

(18)Currently, labels are explicitly required for tyres for cars (C1 tyres) and vans (C2 tyres) but not for heavy duty vehicles (C3 tyres). C3 tyres consume more fuel and cover more kilometres per year than C1 and C2 tyres, and therefore the potential to reduce fuel consumption and emissions from heavy goods vehicles is significant.

(19)Including C3 tyres fully in the scope of this Regulation is also in line with the Commission’s proposal for a Regulation on the monitoring and reporting of CO2 emissions from, and fuel consumption of, new heavy-duty vehicles 18 and of the Commission’s proposal on CO2 standards for heavy-duty vehicles 19 .

(20)Many end-users make tyre purchasing decisions without seeing the actual tyre and therefore do not see the label affixed to it. In all such situations, the end-user should be shown the label before finalising the purchasing decision. The display of a label on tyres at the point of sale, as well as in technical promotional material, should ensure that distributors as well as potential end-users receive harmonised information on the relevant tyre parameters at the time and place of the purchasing decision.

(21)Some end-users choose tyres before arriving at the point of sale, or purchase them by mail order or on the internet. To ensure that those end-users can also make an informed choice on the basis of harmonised information on tyre fuel efficiency, wet grip performance, external rolling noise and other parameters, labels should be displayed in all technical promotional material, including where such material is made available on the internet.

(22)Potential end-users should be provided with information explaining each component of the label and its relevance. This information should be provided in technical promotional material, for instance on suppliers’ websites.

(23)Fuel efficiency, wet grip, external noise and other parameters concerning tyres should be measured according to reliable, accurate and reproducible methods that take into account the generally recognised state-of-the-art measurements and calculation methods. As far as possible, such methods should reflect average consumer behaviour and be robust in order to deter intentional and unintentional circumvention. Tyre labels should reflect the comparative performance of tyres in actual use, within the constraints due to the need of reliable, accurate and reproducible laboratory testing, to enable end-users to compare different tyres and so as to limit testing costs for manufacturers.

(24)Compliance with the provisions on tyre labelling by suppliers and distributors is essential in order to ensure a level playing field in the Union. Member States should therefore monitor such compliance through market surveillance and regular ex-post controls, in line with Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council 20 .

(25)In order to facilitate the monitoring of compliance, provide a useful tool to end-users and allow alternative ways for dealers to receive product information sheets, tyres should be included in the product database established under Regulation (EU) 2017/1369. Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(26)Without prejudice to Member States' market surveillance obligations and to suppliers' obligations to check product conformity, suppliers should make the required product compliance information available electronically in the product database.

(27)In order for end-users to have confidence in the tyre label, other labels that mimic it should not be allowed. Additional labels, marks, symbols or inscriptions that are likely to mislead or confuse end-users with respect to the parameters covered by the tyre label should not be allowed for the same reason.

(28)The penalties applicable to infringements of this Regulation and delegated acts adopted pursuant thereto should be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.

(29)In order to promote energy efficiency, climate change mitigation and environmental protection, Member States should be able to create incentives for the use of energy efficient products. Member States are free to decide on the nature of such incentives. Such incentives should comply with Union State aid rules and should not constitute unjustifiable market barriers. This Regulation does not prejudice the outcome of any future state aid procedure that may be undertaken in accordance with Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) in respect of such incentives.

(30)In order to amend the content and format of the label, to introduce requirements with respect to re-treaded tyres, abrasion and mileage, and to adapt the Annexes to technical progress, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level, and that those consultations be conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-Making of 13 April 2016 21 . In particular, to ensure equal participation in the preparation of delegated acts, the European Parliament and the Council should receive all documents at the same time as Member States' experts, and their experts should systematically have access to meetings of Commission expert groups dealing with the preparation of delegated acts.

(31)Tyres which were already placed on the market before the date of application of the requirements contained in this Regulation should not need to be re-labelled.

(32)In order to reinforce confidence in the label and to ensure its accuracy, the declaration that suppliers make on the label regarding the values for rolling resistance, wet grip and noise should be subject to the type approval process under Regulation (EC) No 661/2009.

(33)The Commission should carry out an evaluation of this Regulation. Pursuant to paragraph 22 of the Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on Better Law-Making of 13 April 2016, that evaluation should be based on the five criteria of efficiency, effectiveness, relevance, coherence and EU value added and should provide the basis for impact assessments of possible further measures.

(34)Since the objectives of this Regulation, namely to increase the safety and economic and environmental efficiency of road transport by providing information to end-users to allow them to choose more fuel efficient, safer and less noisy tyres, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States because it requires harmonised information for end users but can rather, by reason of a harmonised regulatory framework and a level playing field for manufacturers, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. A Regulation remains the appropriate legal instrument as it imposes clear and detailed rules which preclude divergent transposition by Member States and thus ensures a higher degree of harmonisation across the Union. A harmonised regulatory framework at Union rather than at Member State level reduces costs for suppliers, ensures a level playing field and ensures the free movement of goods across the internal market. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives.

(35)Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009 should therefore be repealed.

HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1
Aim and subject matter

1.The aim of this Regulation is to increase the safety, health protection, and the economic and environmental efficiency of road transport by promoting fuel-efficient and safe tyres with low noise levels.

2.This Regulation establishes a framework for the provision of harmonised information on tyre parameters through labelling, allowing end-users to make an informed choice when purchasing tyres.

Article 2
Scope

1.This Regulation applies to C1, C2 and C3 tyres.

2.This Regulation shall also apply to re-treaded tyres once a suitable testing method to measure the performance of such tyres is added to the Annexes by a delegated act pursuant to Article 12.

3.This Regulation does not apply to:

(a)off-road professional tyres;

(b)tyres designed to be fitted only to vehicles registered for the first time before 1 October 1990;

(c)T-type temporary-use spare tyres;

(d)tyres whose speed rating is less than 80 km/h;

(e)tyres whose nominal rim diameter does not exceed 254 mm or is 635 mm or more;

(f)tyres fitted with additional devices to improve traction properties, such as studded tyres;

(g)tyres designed only to be fitted on vehicles intended exclusively for racing.

Article 3
Definitions

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:

(1)‘C1, C2 and C3 tyres’ means the tyre classes defined in Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 661/2009;

(2)‘re-treaded tyre’ means a used tyre reconditioned by replacing the worn tread with new material;

(3)‘T-type temporary-use spare tyre’ means a temporary-use spare tyre designed for use at inflation pressures higher than those established for standard and reinforced tyres;

(4)‘label’ means a graphic diagram, either in printed or electronic form, including in the form of a sticker, which includes symbols in order to inform end-users about the performance of a tyre or batch of tyres, in relation to the parameters set out in Annex I;

(5)‘point of sale’ means a location where tyres are displayed or stored and offered for sale to end-users, including car show rooms in relation to tyres offered for sale to end-users which are not fitted on the vehicles;

(6)‘technical promotional material’ means documentation, in printed or electronic form, produced by the supplier to supplement advertising material with at least the technical information in accordance with Annex V;

(7)‘product information sheet’ means a standard document containing the information as set out in Annex IV, in printed or electronic form;

(8)‘technical documentation’ means documentation sufficient to enable market surveillance authorities to assess the accuracy of the label and the product information sheet of a product, including the information as set out in Annex III;

(9)‘product database’ means the database established under Regulation (EU) 1369/2017 and which consists of a consumer-oriented public part, where information concerning individual product parameters is accessible by electronic means, an online portal for accessibility and a compliance part, with clearly specified accessibility and security requirements;

(10)‘distance selling’ means the offer for sale, hire or hire purchase by mail order, catalogue, internet, telemarketing or by any other method by which the potential end-user cannot be expected to see the product displayed;

(11)‘manufacturer’ means any natural or legal person who manufactures a product, or has a product designed or manufactured and places that product on the market under his name or trademark;

(12)‘importer’ means any natural or legal person established in the Union who places a product from a third country on the Union market;

(13)‘authorised representative’ means any natural or legal person established in the Union who has received a written mandate from a manufacturer to act on his behalf in relation to specified tasks;

(14)‘supplier’ means a manufacturer established in the Union, an authorised representative of a manufacturer who is not established in the Union, or an importer, who places a product on the Union market;

(15)‘distributor’ means any natural or legal person in the supply chain, other than the supplier, who makes a product available on the market;

(16)‘making available on the market’ means the supply of a product for distribution or use on the Union market in the course of a commercial activity, whether in return for payment or free of charge;

(17)‘placing on the market’ means the first making available of a product on the Union market;

(18)‘end-user’ means a consumer, a fleet manager or a road transport undertaking, that buys or is expected to buy a tyre;

(19)‘parameter’ means a tyre parameter as set out in Annex I, such as rolling resistance, wet grip, external rolling noise, snow, ice, mileage or abrasion, that has a significant impact on the environment, road safety or health during use;

(20)‘tyre type’ means a version of a tyre of which all units share the same technical characteristics relevant for the label and the product information sheet and the same model identifier.

Article 4
Responsibilities of tyre suppliers

1.Suppliers shall ensure that C1, C2 and C3 tyres that are placed on the market are accompanied:

(a)for each individual tyre, with a label complying with Annex II in the form of a sticker, indicating the information and class for each of the parameters set out in Annex I, and with a product information sheet as set out in Annex IV;

(b)for each batch of one or more identical tyres, with a label complying with Annex II in printed format indicating the information and class for each of the parameters set out in Annex I, and with a product information sheet as set out in Annex IV.

2.In relation to tyres sold on the internet, suppliers shall ensure that the label is displayed in proximity to the price and that the product information sheet can be accessed.

3.Suppliers shall ensure that any visual advertisement for a specific type of tyre, including on the internet, shows the label.

4.Suppliers shall ensure that any technical promotional material concerning a specific type of tyre, including on the internet, meets the requirements of Annex V.

5.Suppliers shall ensure that the values, the related classes and any additional performance information they declare on the label for the essential parameters set out in Annex I have been subject to the type approval process under Regulation (EC) No 661/2009.

6.Suppliers shall ensure the accuracy of the labels and product information sheets that they provide.

7.Suppliers shall make technical documentation in accordance with Annex III available to the authorities of Member States on request.

8.Suppliers shall cooperate with market surveillance authorities and take immediate action to remedy any case of non-compliance with the requirements set out in this Regulation, which falls under their responsibility, at their own initiative or when required to do so by market surveillance authorities.

9.Suppliers shall not provide or display other labels, marks, symbols or inscriptions that do not comply with the requirements of this Regulation, if doing so would be likely to mislead or confuse end-users with respect to the essential parameters.

10.Suppliers shall not supply or display labels that mimic the label provided for under this Regulation.

Article 5
Responsibilities of tyre suppliers in relation to the product database

1.With effect from 1 January 2020, suppliers shall, before placing a tyre on the market, enter into the product database the information set out in Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2017/1369.

2.Where tyres are placed on the market between [please insert the date of entry into force of this Regulation] and 31 December 2019, the supplier shall, by 30 June 2020, enter in the product database the information set out in Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 in relation to those tyres.

3.Until the information referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 has been entered in the product database, the supplier shall make an electronic version of the technical documentation available for inspection within 10 days of a request received from market surveillance authorities.

4.A tyre for which changes are made that are relevant for the label or the product information sheet shall be considered to be a new tyre type. The supplier shall indicate in the database when it no longer places on the market units of a tyre type.

5.After the final unit of a type of tyre has been placed on the market, the supplier shall keep the information concerning that type of tyre in the compliance part of the product database for a period of five years.

Article 6
Responsibilities of tyre distributors

1.Distributors shall ensure that:

(a)tyres, at the point of sale, bear the label in accordance with Annex II in the form of a sticker provided by suppliers in accordance with point (a) of Article 4(1) in a clearly visible position;

(b)before the sale of a tyre, belonging to a batch of one or more identical tyres, the label referred to in point (b) of Article 4(1) is shown to the end-user and is clearly displayed in the immediate proximity of the tyre at the point of sale.

2.Distributors shall ensure that any visual advertisement for a specific type of tyre, including on the internet, shows the label.

3.Distributors shall ensure that any technical promotional material concerning a specific type of tyre, including on the internet, meets the requirements of Annex V.

4.Distributors shall ensure that where tyres offered for sale are not visible to the end-user, they provide end-users with a copy of the label before the sale.

5.Distributors shall ensure that any paper-based distance selling must show the label and that the end-user can access the product information sheet through a free access website, or request a printed copy of that sheet.

6.Distributors using telemarketing-based distance selling shall specifically inform end-users of the classes of the essential parameters on the label, and that they can access the full label and the product information sheet through a free access website, or by requesting a printed copy.

7.In relation to tyres sold directly on the internet, distributors shall ensure that the label is displayed in proximity to the price and that the product information sheet can be accessed.

Article 7
Responsibilities of vehicle suppliers and vehicle distributors

Where end-users intend to acquire a new vehicle, vehicle suppliers and distributors shall, before the sale, provide them with the label for the tyres offered with the vehicle, as well as the relevant technical promotional material.

Article 8
Testing and measurement methods

The information to be provided under Articles 4, 6 and 7 on the parameters indicated on the label shall be obtained by applying the testing and measurement methods referred to in Annex I, and the laboratory alignment procedure referred to in Annex VI.

Article 9
Verification procedure

Member States shall assess the conformity of the declared classes for each of the essential parameters indicated in Annex I in accordance with the procedure set out in Annex VII.

Article 10
Obligations of Member States

1.Member States shall not impede the placing on the market or putting into service, within their territories, of tyres which comply with this Regulation.

2.Member States shall not provide incentives with regard to tyres below class B with respect to either fuel efficiency or wet grip within the meaning of Annex I, Parts A and B respectively. Taxation and fiscal measures do not constitute incentives for the purposes of this Regulation.

3.Member States shall lay down the rules on penalties and enforcement mechanisms applicable to infringements of this Regulation and the delegated acts adopted pursuant thereto, and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that they are implemented. The penalties provided for shall be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.

4.Member States shall, by 1 June 2020, notify the Commission of the rules referred to in paragraph 3 that have not previously been notified to the Commission, and shall notify the Commission, without delay, of any subsequent amendment affecting them.

Article 11
Union market surveillance and control of products entering the Union market

1.[Articles 16 to 29 of Regulation (EC) No 765/2008/Regulation on compliance and enforcement proposed under COM(2017)795] shall apply to products covered by this Regulation and by the relevant delegated acts adopted pursuant thereto.

2.The Commission shall encourage and support cooperation and the exchange of information on market surveillance relating to the labelling of products between national authorities of the Member States that are responsible for market surveillance or in charge of the control of products entering the Union market, and between them and the Commission, in particular by involving more closely the 'Administrative Cooperation for Market Surveillance' Expert group on Tyre Labelling.

3.Member States' general market surveillance programmes established pursuant to [Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 765/2008/Regulation on compliance and enforcement proposed under COM(2017)795] shall include actions to ensure the effective enforcement of this Regulation.

Article 12

Delegated acts

The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 13 in order to:

(a)introduce changes to the content and format of the label;

(b)introduce parameters or information requirements to the Annexes in particular for mileage and abrasion, provided suitable testing methods are available;

(c)adapt to technical progress the values, calculation methods and requirements of the Annexes.

Where appropriate, when preparing delegated acts, the Commission shall test the design and content of the labels for specific product groups with representative groups of Union customers to ensure their clear understanding of the labels.

Article 13
Exercise of delegation

1.The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article.

2.The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 12 shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of five years from [please insert the date of entry into force of this Regulation]. The Commission shall draw up a report in respect of the delegation of power not later than nine months before the end of the five-year period. The delegation of power shall be tacitly extended for periods of an identical duration, unless the European Parliament or the Council opposes such extension not later than three months before the end of each period.

3.The delegation of power referred to in Article 12 may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.

4.Before adopting a delegated act, the Commission shall consult experts designated by each Member State in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making.

5.As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council.

6.A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 12 shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.

Article 14
Evaluation and report

By 1 June 2026, the Commission shall carry out an evaluation of this Regulation and present a report to the European Parliament, the Council and the European Economic and Social Committee.

That report shall assess how effectively this Regulation and the delegated acts adopted pursuant thereto have allowed end-users to choose higher performing tyres, taking into account its impacts on business, fuel consumption, safety, greenhouse gas emissions and market surveillance activities. It shall also assess the costs and benefits of independent and mandatory third party verification of the information provided in the label, taking also into account the experience with the broader framework provided by Regulation (EC) No 661/2009.

Article 15
Amendment to Regulation (EU) 2017/1369

In Article 12(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1369, point (a) is replaced by the following:

"(a)    to support market surveillance authorities in carrying out their tasks under this Regulation and the relevant delegated acts, including enforcement thereof, and under Regulation (EU) [insert reference to the present regulation]".

Article 16
Repeal of Regulation (EC) No 2009/1222

Regulation (EC) No 2009/1222 is repealed.

References to the repealed Regulation shall be construed as references to this Regulation and read in accordance with the correlation table in Annex VIII.

Article 17
Entry into force

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 1 June 2020.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels,

LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

1.    FRAMEWORK OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE

   1.1.    Title of the proposal/initiative

   1.2.    Policy area(s) concerned in the ABM/ABB structure

   1.3.    Nature of the proposal/initiative

   1.4.    Objective(s)

   1.5.    Grounds for the proposal/initiative

   1.6.    Duration and financial impact

   1.7.    Management mode(s) planned

2.    MANAGEMENT MEASURES

   2.1.    Monitoring and reporting rules

   2.2.    Management and control system

   2.3.    Measures to prevent fraud and irregularities

3.    ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE

   3.1.    Heading(s) of the multiannual financial framework and expenditure budget line(s) affected

   3.2.    Estimated impact on expenditure

   3.2.1.    Summary of estimated impact on expenditure

   3.2.2.    Estimated impact on operational appropriations

   3.2.3.    Estimated impact on appropriations of an administrative nature

   3.2.4.    Compatibility with the current multiannual financial framework

   3.2.5.    Third-party contributions

   3.3.    Estimated impact on revenue

LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

1.FRAMEWORK OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE

1.1.Title of the proposal/initiative

1.2.Policy area(s) concerned in the ABM/ABB structure 22

1.3.Nature of the proposal/initiative

The proposal/initiative relates to the extension of an existing action.

1.4.Objective(s)

1.4.1.The Commission’s multiannual strategic objective(s) targeted by the proposal/initiative

1.4.2.Specific objective(s) and ABM/ABB activity(ies) concerned

1.4.3.Expected result(s) and impact

1.4.4.Indicators of results and impact

1.5.Grounds for the proposal/initiative

1.5.1.Requirement(s) to be met in the short or long term

1.5.2.Added value of EU involvement

1.5.3.Lessons learned from similar experiences in the past

1.5.4.Compatibility and possible synergy with other appropriate instruments

1.6.Duration and financial impact

Proposal/initiative of unlimited duration

implementation with a start-up period from 2019;

followed by full-scale operation.

1.7.Management mode(s) planned 23

Direct management by the Commission

by its departments, including its staff in the Union delegations.

Comments

2.MANAGEMENT MEASURES

2.1.Monitoring and reporting rules

Management and control system

2.1.1.Risk(s) identified

2.1.2.Information concerning the internal control system set up

2.2.Measures to prevent fraud and irregularities

3.ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE

3.1.Heading(s) of the multiannual financial framework and expenditure budget line(s) affected

Existing budget lines

In order of multiannual financial framework headings and budget lines.

New budget lines requested

In order of multiannual financial framework headings and budget lines.

3.2.Estimated impact on expenditure

3.2.1.Summary of estimated impact on expenditure

EUR million (to three decimal places)

EUR million (to three decimal places)

EUR million (to three decimal places)

3.2.2.Estimated impact on operational appropriations

The proposal/initiative requires the use of operational appropriations, as explained below:

Commitment appropriations in EUR million (to three decimal places)

3.2.3.Estimated impact on appropriations of an administrative nature

3.2.3.1.Summary

The proposal/initiative requires the use of appropriations of an administrative nature, as explained below:

EUR million (to three decimal places)

The appropriations required for human resources and other expenditure of an administrative nature will be met by appropriations from the DG that are already assigned to management of the action and/or have been redeployed within the DG, together if necessary with any additional allocation which may be granted to the managing DG under the annual allocation procedure and in the light of budgetary constraints.

3.2.3.2.Estimated requirements of human resources

The proposal/initiative requires the use of human resources, as explained below:

Estimate to be expressed in full time equivalent units

The human resources required will be met by staff from the DG who are already assigned to management of the action and/or have been redeployed within the DG, together if necessary with any additional allocation which may be granted to the managing DG under the annual allocation procedure and in the light of budgetary constraints.

Description of tasks to be carried out:

3.2.4.Compatibility with the current multiannual financial framework

The proposal/initiative is compatible with the current multiannual financial framework.

3.2.5.Third-party contributions

The proposal/initiative does not provide for co-financing by third parties.

3.3.Estimated impact on revenue

The proposal/initiative has no financial impact on revenue.

(1)    Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the labelling of tyres with respect to fuel efficiency and other essential parameters, OJ L 342 of 22.12.2009, p.46

(2)    Commission Regulation (EU) No 228/2011 of 7 March 2011 amending Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to the wet grip testing method for C1 tyres and Commission Regulation (EU) No 1235/2011 of 29 November 2011 amending Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to the wet grip grading of tyres, the measurement of rolling resistance and the verification procedure.

(3)    Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 concerning type-approval requirements for the general safety of motor vehicles, their trailers and systems, components and separate technical units intended therefor, OJ L 200 of 31.7.2009, p.1

(4)    OJ L 218, 13.8.2008, p. 30–47. See Commission proposal COM(2017)795 for a Regulation laying down rules and procedures for compliance with and enforcement of Union harmonisation legislation on products which will replace Regulation 765/2008.

(5)    OJ L 198, 28.7.2017, p. 1–23

(6)    https://ec.europa.eu/info/consultations/public-consultation-evaluation-and-review-eu-tyres-labelling-scheme_en

(7)    https://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/documents/Study%20in%20support%20of%20the%20Review%20of%20the%20Tyre%20Labelling%20Regulation_final.pdf

(8)    For more information, see http://www.mstyr15.eu/index.php/en/

(9)    OJ C […], […], p. […].

(10)    OJ C […], […], p. […].

(11)    COM(2017) 658 final

(12)    Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the labelling of tyres with respect to fuel efficiency and other essential parameters (OJ L 342 of 22.12.2009, p. 46).

(13)    Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 concerning type-approval requirements for the general safety of motor vehicles, their trailers and systems, components and separate technical units intended therefor (OJ L 200, 31.7.2009, p. 1).

(14)    Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 June 2002 relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise (OJ L 189, 18.7.2002, p. 12).

(15)    OJ L307, 23.11.2011, p.3

(16)    COM(2018) 28 final

(17)    Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2017 setting a framework for energy labelling and repealing Directive 2010/30/EU (OJ L 198, 28.7.2017, p. 1).

(18)    COM(2017)279

(19)    Reference to be added once the proposal is adopted

(20)    Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 setting out the requirements for accreditation and market surveillance relating to the marketing of products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 339/93 (OJ L218, 13.8.2008, p. 30).

(21)    OJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 1.

(22)    ABM: activity-based management; ABB: activity-based budgeting.

(23)    Details of management modes and references to the Financial Regulation may be found on the BudgWeb site: http://www.cc.cec/budg/man/budgmanag/budgmanag_en.html

(24)    Diff. = Differentiated appropriations / Non-diff. = Non-differentiated appropriations.

(25)    EFTA: European Free Trade Association.

(26)    Candidate countries and, where applicable, potential candidate countries from the Western Balkans.

(27)    Year N is the year in which implementation of the proposal/initiative starts.

(28)    Technical and/or administrative assistance and expenditure in support of the implementation of EU programmes and/or actions (former ‘BA’ lines), indirect research, direct research.

(29)    Year N is the year in which implementation of the proposal/initiative starts.

(30)    Outputs are products and services to be supplied (e.g. number of student exchanges financed, number of km of roads built, etc.).

(31)    Year N is the year in which implementation of the proposal/initiative starts.

(32)    Technical and/or administrative assistance and expenditure in support of the implementation of EU programmes and/or actions (former ‘BA’ lines), indirect research, direct research.

(33)    AC= Contract Staff; AL = Local Staff; END= Seconded National Expert; INT = agency staff; JED= Junior Experts in Delegations.

(34)    Sub-ceiling for external staff covered by operational appropriations (former ‘BA’ lines).

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels,17.5.2018

COM(2018) 296 final

ANNEXES

to the

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council

on the labelling of tyres with respect to fuel efficiency and other essential parameters and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009

{SEC(2018) 234 final}
{SWD(2018) 188 final}
{SWD(2018) 189 final}

ANNEX I
Testing, grading and measurement of tyre parameters

Part A: Fuel efficiency classes

The fuel efficiency class shall be determined and illustrated on the label on the basis of the rolling resistance coefficient (RRC) according to the ‘A’ to ‘G’ scale specified below and measured in accordance with Annex 6 to UNECE Regulation No 117 and its subsequent amendments and aligned according to the procedure laid down in Annex VI.

If a tyre type is approved for more than one tyre class (e.g. C1 and C2), the grading scale used to determine the fuel efficiency class of this tyre type shall be that which is applicable to the highest tyre class (e.g. C2, not C1).

Part B: Wet grip classes

1.The wet grip class shall be determined and illustrated on the label on the basis of the wet grip index (G) according to the ‘A’ to ‘G’ scale specified in the table below, calculated in accordance with point 2 and measured in accordance with Annex 5 to UNECE Regulation 117.

2.Calculation of wet grip index (G)

G = G(T) - 0,03

where:

G(T) = wet grip index of the candidate tyre as measured in one test cycle

Part C: External rolling noise classes and measured value

The external rolling noise measured value (N) shall be declared in decibels and calculated in accordance with Annex 3 to UNECE Regulation No 117.

The external rolling noise class shall be determined and illustrated on the label on the basis of the limit values (LV) set out in Part C of Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 as follows.

N in dB

External rolling noise class

N ≤ LV - 6

LV - 6 < N ≤ LV - 3

N > LV - 3

Part D: Snow grip

The snow performance shall be tested in accordance with Annex 7 to UNECE Regulation No 117.

A tyre which satisfies the minimum snow index values set out in UNECE Regulation No 117 shall be classified as a snow tyre and the following icon shall be included on the label.

Part E: Ice grip:

The ice performance shall be tested in accordance with ISO 19447.

A tyre which satisfies the minimum ice index value set out in ISO 19447 shall be classified as an ice tyre and the following icon shall be included on the label.

ANNEX II
Format of the label

1.Labels

1.1.The following information shall be included in the labels in accordance with the illustrations below.

I.    Supplier's name or trademark;

II.    Supplier’s model identifier, where ‘model identifier’ means the code, usually alphanumeric, which distinguishes a specific tyre type from other type with the same trade mark or supplier’s name;

III.    QR code;

IV.    Fuel efficiency;

V.    Wet grip;

VI.    External rolling noise;

VII.    Snow grip;

VIII.    Ice grip.

2.Label design

2.1.The design of the label shall be as in the figure below:

2.2.The label shall be at least 90 mm wide and 130 mm high. Where the label is printed in a larger format, its content shall nevertheless remain proportionate to the specifications above.

2.3.The label shall conform to the following requirements:

(a)Colours are CMYK - cyan, magenta, yellow and black - and are given following this example: 00-70-X-00: 0 % cyan, 70 % magenta, 100 % yellow, 0 % black;

(b)The numbers listed below refer to the legends indicated in point 2.1.:

(1)Label border: stroke: 1,5 pts - colour: X-10-00-05;

(2)Calibri regular 8 pts;

(3)European flag: width: 15 mm, height: 10 mm;

(4)Banner: width: 51,5 mm, height: 13 mm;

Text "BRAND": Calibri regular 15 pts, 100 % white;

Text "Model Number": Calibri regular 13 pts, 100 % white;

(5)QR code: width: 13 mm, height: 13 mm;

(6)‘A’ to ‘F’ scale:

Arrows: height: 5,6 mm, gap: 0,78 mm, black stroke: 0,5 pt - colours:

–A: X-00-X-00;

–B: 70-00-X-00;

–C: 30-00-X-00;

–D: 00-00-X-00;

–E: 00-30-X-00;

–F: 00-70-X-00.

(7)Line: width: 88 mm, height: 2 pts - Colour: X-00-00-00;

(8)Pictogram external rolling noise:

Pictogram as supplied: width: 25,5 mm, height: 17 mm - colour: X-10-00-05;

(9)Arrow:

Arrow: width: 20 mm, height: 10 mm, 100 % black;

Text: Helvetica Bold 20 pts, 100 % white;

Unit text: Helvetica Bold 13 pts, 100 % white;

(10)Pictogram ice:

Pictogram as supplied: width: 15 mm, height: 15 mm – stroke: 1,5 pts - colour: 100 % black;

(11)Pictogram snow:

Pictogram as supplied: width: 15 mm, height: 15 mm – stroke: 1,5 pts - colour: 100 % black;

(12)‘A’ to ‘G’: Calibri regular 13 pts – 100% black;

(13)Arrows:

Arrows: width: 11,4 mm, height: 9 mm, 100 % black;

Text: Calibri Bold 17 pts, 100 % white;

(14)Pictogram fuel efficiency:

Pictogram as supplied: width: 19,5 mm, height: 18,5 mm - colour: X-10-00-05;

(15)Pictogram wet grip:

Pictogram as supplied: width: 19 mm, height: 19 mm - colour: X-10-00-05.

(c)The background shall be white.

2.4.The tyre class shall be indicated on the label in the format prescribed in the illustration in point 2.1.

ANNEX III
Technical documentation

The technical documentation referred to in Article 4(7) shall include the following:

(a)the name and address of the supplier;

(b)identification and signature of the person empowered to bind the supplier;

(c)trade name or trade mark of the supplier;

(d)the tyre model,

(e)the tyre dimension, load index and speed rating;

(f)the references of the measurement methods applied.

ANNEX IV
Product information sheet

The information in the product information sheet of tyres shall be included in the product brochure or other literature provided with the product and shall include the following:

(a)supplier's name or trade mark;

(b)supplier's model identifier;

(c)fuel efficiency class of the tyre in accordance with Annex I;

(d)wet grip class of the tyre in accordance with Annex I;

(e)external rolling noise class and decibels in accordance with Annex I;

(f)whether the tyre is a snow tyre;

(g)whether the tyre is an ice tyre.

ANNEX V
Information provided in technical promotional material

1.Information on tyres included in technical promotional material shall be provided in the order specified as follows:

(a)the fuel efficiency class (letter ‘A’ to ‘F’);

(b)the wet grip class (letter ‘A’ to ‘G’);

(c)the external rolling noise class and measured value (dB);

(d)whether the tyre is a snow tyre;

(e)whether the tyre is an ice tyre.

2.The information provided in point 1 shall meet the following requirements:

(a)be easy to read;

(b)be easy to understand;

(c)if different grading is available for a given tyre type depending on dimension or other parameters, the range between the least and best performing tyre is stated.

3.Suppliers shall also make the following available on their websites:

(a)a link to the relevant Commission webpage dedicated to this Regulation;

(b)an explanation of the pictograms printed on the label;

(c)a statement highlighting the fact that actual fuel savings and road safety depend heavily on the behaviour of drivers, and in particular the following:

–eco-driving can significantly reduce fuel consumption;

–tyre pressure needs to be regularly checked to optimise wet grip and fuel efficiency performance;

–stopping distances must always be strictly respected.

ANNEX VI
Laboratory alignment procedure for the measurement of rolling resistance

1.Definitions

For the purposes of the laboratory alignment procedure, the following definitions shall apply:

1.‘reference laboratory’ means a laboratory that is part of the network of laboratories the name of which have been published for the purpose of the alignment procedure in the Official Journal of the European Union, and is able to achieve the accuracy of test results determined in Section 3 with its reference machine;

2.‘candidate laboratory’ means a laboratory participating in the alignment procedure that is not a reference laboratory;

3.‘alignment tyre’ means a tyre that is tested for the purpose of performing the alignment procedure;

4.‘alignment tyres set’ means a set of five or more alignment tyres for the alignment of one single machine;

5.‘assigned value’ means a theoretical value of the Rolling Resistance Coefficient (RRC) of one alignment tyre as measured by a theoretical laboratory which is representative of the network of reference laboratories that is used for the alignment procedure;

6.‘machine’ means every tyre testing spindle in one specific measurement method. For example, two spindles acting on the same drum shall not be considered as one machine.

2.General provisions

2.1.Principle

The measured (m) Rolling Resistance Coefficient in a reference laboratory (l), (RRCm,l), shall be aligned to the assigned values of the network of reference laboratories.

The measured (m) Rolling Resistance Coefficient obtained by a machine in a candidate laboratory (c), RRCm,c, shall be aligned through one reference laboratory of the network of its choice.

2.2.Tyre selection requirements

A set of five or more alignment tyres shall be selected for the alignment procedure in compliance with the criteria below. One set shall be selected for C1 and C2 tyres together, and one set for C3 tyres.

(a)The set of alignment tyres shall be selected so as to cover the range of different RRCs of C1 and C2 tyres together, or of C3 tyres. In any event, the difference between the highest RRCm of the tyre set, and the lowest RRCm of the tyre set shall be, before and after alignment, at least equal to:

(i)    3 kg/t for C1 and C2 tyres; and

(ii)    2 kg/t for C3 tyres.

(b)The RRCm in the candidate or reference laboratories (RRCm,c or RRCm,l) based on declared RRC values of each alignment tyre of the set shall be distributed evenly.

(c)Load index values shall adequately cover the range of the tyres to be tested, ensuring that the rolling resistance force values also cover the range of the tyres to be tested.

Each alignment tyre shall be checked prior to use and replaced when:

(a)it shows a condition which makes it unusable for further tests; and/or

(b)there are deviations of RRCm,c or RRCm,l greater than 1,5 per cent relative to earlier measurements after correction for any machine drift.

2.3.Measurement method

The reference laboratory shall measure each alignment tyre four times and retain the three last results for further analysis, in accordance with paragraph 4 of Annex 6 of UNECE Regulation No 117 and its subsequent amendments and applying the conditions set out in paragraph 3 of Annex 6 of UNECE Regulation No 117 and its subsequent amendments.

The candidate laboratory shall measure each alignment tyre (n + 1) times with n being specified in Section 5 and retain the n last results for further analysis, in accordance with paragraph 4 of Annex 6 of UNECE Regulation No 117 and its subsequent amendments and applying the conditions set out in paragraph 3 of Annex 6 of UNECE Regulation No 117 and its subsequent amendments.

Each time an alignment tyre is measured, the tyre/wheel assembly shall be removed from the machine and the entire test procedure specified in paragraph 4 of Annex 6 of UNECE Regulation No 117 and its subsequent amendments shall be followed again from the start.

The candidate or reference laboratory shall calculate:

(a)the measured value of each alignment tyre for each measurement as specified in Annex 6, paragraphs 6.2 and 6.3, of UNECE Regulation No 117 and its subsequent amendments (i.e. corrected for a temperature of 25 °C and a drum diameter of 2 m);

(b)the mean value of the three (in the case of reference laboratories) or n (in the case of candidate laboratories) last measured values of each alignment tyre; and

(c)the standard deviation (σm) as follows:

where:

i is the counter from 1 to p for the alignment tyres;
j is the counter from 2 to n+1 for the n last repetitions of each measurement of a given alignment tyre
n+1 is the number of repetitions of tyre measurements (n+1=4 for reference laboratories and n+1 ≥4 for candidate laboratories);
p is the number of alignment tyres (p ≥ 5).

2.4.Data formats to be used for the computations and results

–The measured RRC values corrected from drum diameter and temperature shall be rounded to 2 decimal places.

–Then the computations shall be made with all digits: there shall be no further rounding except on the final alignment equations.

–All standard deviation values shall be displayed to 3 decimal places.

–All RRC values will be displayed to 2 decimal places.

–All alignment coefficients (A1l, B1l, A2c and B2c) shall be rounded and displayed to 4 decimal places.

3.Requirements applicable to the reference laboratories and determination of the assigned values

The assigned values of each alignment tyre shall be determined by a network of reference laboratories. Every second year the network shall assess the stability and validity of the assigned values.

Each reference laboratory participating in the network shall comply with the specifications of Annex 6 of UNECE Regulation No 117 and its subsequent amendments and have a standard deviation (σm) as follows:

(a)    not greater than 0,05 kg/t for class C1 and C2 tyres; and

(b)not greater than 0,05 kg/t for class C3 tyres.

The sets of alignment tyres, conforming to the specification of Section 2.2 shall be measured in accordance with Section 2.3 by each reference laboratory of the network.

The assigned value of each alignment tyre is the average of the measured values given by the reference laboratories of the network for this alignment tyre.

4.Procedure for the alignment of a reference laboratory to the assigned values

Each reference laboratory (l) shall align itself to each new set of assigned values and always after any significant machine change or any drift in machine control tyre monitoring data.

The alignment shall use a linear regression technique on all individual data. The regression coefficients, A1l and B1l, shall be calculated as follows:

where:

RRC is the assigned value of the rolling resistance coefficient;

RRCm,l is the individual measured value of the rolling resistance coefficient by the reference laboratory “l” (including temperature and drum diameter corrections).

5.Requirements applicable to candidate laboratories

Candidate laboratories shall repeat the alignment procedure at least once every second year for every machine and always after any significant machine change or any drift in machine control tyre monitoring data.

A common set of five different tyres, conforming to the specification of Section 2.2 shall be measured in accordance with Section 2.3 firstly by the candidate laboratory and later on by one reference laboratory. More than five alignment tyres may be tested at the request of the candidate laboratory.

The alignment tyre set shall be provided by the candidate laboratory to the selected reference laboratory.

The candidate laboratory (c) shall comply with the specifications of Annex 6 of UNECE Regulation No 117 and its subsequent amendments and preferably have standard deviations (am) as follows:

(a)not greater than 0,075 kg/t for C1 and C2 tyres; and

(b)not greater than 0,06 kg/t for C3 tyres.

If the standard deviation (σm) of the candidate laboratory is higher than the above values with four measurements, the last three ones being used for the computations, then the number n+1 of measurement repetitions shall be increased as follows for the entire batch:

n+1 = 1+(σm/γ)2, rounded up to the nearest higher integer value

where:

γ = 0,043 kg/t for Class C1 and C2 tyres

γ = 0,035 kg/t for Class C3 tyres

6.Procedure for the alignment of a candidate laboratory

One reference laboratory (i) of the network shall calculate the linear regression function on all individual data of the candidate laboratory (c). The regression coefficients, A2c and B2c, shall be calculated as follows:

where:

RRCm,l is the individual measured value of the rolling resistance coefficient by the reference laboratory (i) (including temperature and drum diameter corrections)

RRCm,c is the individual measured value of the rolling resistance coefficient by the candidate laboratory (c) (including temperature and drum diameter corrections)

If the coefficient of determination R² is lower than 0,97, the candidate laboratory shall not be aligned.

The aligned RRC of tyres tested by the candidate laboratory is calculated as follows:

ANNEX VII
Verification procedure

The conformity with this Regulation of the declared fuel efficiency, wet grip and external rolling noise classes, as well as the declared values, and any additional performance information on the label, shall be assessed for each tyre type or each grouping of tyres as determined by the supplier, according to one of the following procedures:

(a)a single tyre or tyre set is tested first:

1.if the measured values meet the declared classes or external rolling noise declared value within the tolerance defined in Table 1, the test is successfully passed;

2.if the measured values do not meet the declared classes or external rolling noise declared value within the range defined in Table 1, three more tyres or tyre sets are tested. The average measurement value stemming from the three tyres or tyre sets tested is used to assess conformity with the declared information within the range defined in Table 1;

(b)where the labelled classes or values are derived from type approval test results obtained in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 661/2009, or UNECE Regulation No 117 and its subsequent amendments, Member States may make use of measurement data obtained from conformity of production tests on tyres.

Assessment of the measurement data obtained from the conformity of production tests shall take into account the allowances defined in Table 1.

Table 1

ANNEX VIII
Correlation table