New bills target vehicle market chaos and mileage tampering

Local takataTop Newstransport New bills target vehicle market chaos and mileage tampering Bills To Regulate Vehicle Market, Penalise Mileage Tampering Relevant News Motorcyclist, 39, killed in Latsia traffic collision (photos) 27 July 2026 New bills target vehicle market chaos and mileage tampering 27 July 2026 Government fears “flare-up” over five unresolved labour disputes 27 July 2026 Michalis Hadjivasilis 27 July 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Two bills from the Road Transport Department (RTD) aim to bring order to what had been chaos around vehicle recalls, establishing Approval and Market Surveillance Authorities and, for the first time, formally regulating the vehicle trader profession. The bills follow problems with Takata airbags, poor communication with drivers, and disorder in the used-vehicle trade. In response, the Transport Ministry and the RTD have drawn up two major bills that “tidy up” both the market and the state’s obligations to oversee traders and prevent accidents caused by faulty parts. The first bill will be known as the “Vehicle Market Approval and Surveillance Law of 2026,” and the second as the “Regulation and Registration of the Vehicle Trader Profession Law of 2026.” Recalls, authorities and powers Under the first bill, a “recall” is now defined as any measure aimed at returning a product that has already reached the end user, while a “withdrawal” is any measure aimed at preventing a product still in the supply chain from reaching the market. The bill also designates a “Type-Approval Authority” — the RTD itself — and a “Market Surveillance Authority,” which will be the Department of Electromechanical Services. The Type-Approval Authority has the power, whenever it considers it justified, to enter the premises of economic operators in Cyprus and inspect vehicles, technical units, documents, facilities, equipment or related premises. It can also take any samples of vehicles, systems, components and separate technical units needed for compliance testing. The Authority may appoint technical services and laboratories to carry out the checks and tests required under the relevant orders and regulations, verifying that manufacturers’ production complies with type-approval. Anyone carrying out checks related to vehicle modifications and conversions must hold a degree in mechanical engineering, have five years’ experience, and pass the relevant accreditation exams. The Market Surveillance Authority must draw up an annual overview of its planned surveillance checks, submitted to the forum by March 1 at the latest, and every two years must produce a report on the findings of all compliance checks carried out over the previous two years. Responsibility falls on the importer The bill also sets out obligations for economic operators, importers, agents, manufacturers and distributors. Beyond what’s already required under EU regulations, a company or importer must notify the relevant authorities immediately when a withdrawal or recall process begins involving vehicles, systems, components, mechanical parts, separate technical units, equipment or accessories in Cyprus. They must also take all necessary steps, in coordination with the Market Surveillance Authority, including, where relevant, informing owners or end users promptly about corrective measures or recalls, both for vehicles they are responsible for and vehicles for which they are seeking national individual vehicle approval in Cyprus, as well as vehicles holding EU type-approval. For vehicles covered by EU type-approval, the “economic operator” means the manufacturer, the manufacturer’s authorised representative, or, if that representative isn’t established in Cyprus, the distributor established in Cyprus. For vehicles imported from third countries without EU type-approval or national individual approval, the economic operator is the distributor established in Cyprus, even if they weren’t responsible for distributing that particular vehicle, provided they distribute new vehicles of the same brand or trade name. If none of the above qualifies as established in Cyprus, the end user becomes the economic operator. Breaches of these provisions carry administrative fines ranging from €1,000 to €250,000, depending on the severity of the violation, with an additional fine of €100 to €30,000 for each day the violation continues. When a vehicle is recalled, the bill sets out how importers must notify drivers: a registered letter, a phone call and/or SMS, publishing the chassis number, model, make and manufacture date on the importer’s website, and a media announcement. New framework for traders and importers The second bill establishes, for the first time, a body called the “Vehicle Traders Registration Council,” based in Nicosia. The Council will have the power to: register traders and issue the relevant certificates or licences under the law; maintain the Register of Traders and remove registered traders from it where the law allows; and exercise disciplinary oversight of registered traders, imposing the disciplinary sanctions set out in the law. The Council’s chair will be appointed by the Council of Ministers, with members including the directors of the RTD and of Electromechanical Services, a representative of the Consumer Protection Service, a representative of the Attorney General, two members from the register of new-vehicle traders, and two from the register of used-vehicle traders. The Council will issue an annual licence to practise as a vehicle trader, and no one may act as a vehicle trader without first submitting a valid guarantee letter to the Council, covering their potential liability to compensate a buyer for breaching their legal duty to fully inform them. Most significantly, vehicle traders must inform prospective buyers in writing, in Greek, of everything relating to the vehicle’s physical condition, its origin and registration history, any recall, any defect, and its mileage reading. Because many buyers have been caught out specifically over mileage fraud, the bill sets penalties for that in particular. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Motorcyclist, 39, killed in Latsia traffic collision (photos) Government fears “flare-up” over five unresolved labour disputes Tax reform favours high earners despite fairness goal, study finds Erhürman to meet Holguín today ahead of Guterres visit Battery storage to reach Cyprus by early 2027, minister says Things to do on Monday, July 27 Phedonos rape trial begins today in Paphos Criminal Court Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.