To which vehicles new safety standards will be applied?

The decision to stop the import of vehicles without antilock braking system (ABS) and airbags to Azerbaijan from May 1 does not apply to cars that are already in use, director of the National Center for Metrology under the State Committee on Standardization, Metrology and Patents of Azerbaijan, Namig Tagiyev, told reporters on Wednesday.

"Vehicles that are in use will be taken out from the market step by step," Mr Tagiyev said.

Intervention in this case, in his opinion, would be an infringement of consumer rights, so the issue is not being considered.

In accordance with the requirements of national standard AZS 635-2012 "Procedure of certification of wheeled vehicles, their equipment and parts", from May 1, 2012 road vehicles (except for four-wheel drives) imported into Azerbaijan or produced within the country, must have ABS and at least one airbag. No permission will be issued for the manufacture and import of such vehicles.

"Decision on the adoption of this standard has been endorsed by the Ministry of Transport, State Customs Committee, and other state agencies," Mr Tagiyev said.

He stated the main reason for the introduction of this standard was to ensure safety standards in vehicles in accordance with international standards.

In Azerbaijan, as in any rapidly developing country, all industries must comply with international standards, including those in this field," said Mr Tagiyev.

However, the decision to ban the import of vehicles without ABSs and airbags to Azerbaijan from May 1 will not apply to VAZ-2121 Niva and UAZ cars.

"This issue was raised several times in Russia. In 2002, the question of equipping Lada cars with ABS and airbags was considered very seriously, despite the fact that Russia itself manufactures these cars, and the enterprise plays an important role in the country's economy," Mr Tagiyev said.

As of early 2012, about one million cars, of which 400,000 do not meet safety standards, have been registered in the country.


/Trend/