In December 2014, FEM adopted its official position on the revision of Directive 97/68/EC on engine emissions from non-road mobile machinery. The legislation impacts on 4 families of materials handling equipment: industrial trucks, telehandlers, mobile cranes and mobile elevating work platforms.
FEM generally welcomes the proposal, and notably the proposed limit values, schedule for application and the principle of a new transition scheme. Some specific issues have also been adequately been taken into account (e.g. separate shipments, ATEX engines, field testing of engines). However, two important aspects must be addressed during the decision-making process. First, the transition period must be increased by one year (and two in the special case of mobile cranes) to give materials handling manufacturers (who do not produce their engines) enough time to adapt their machines. Second, a provision on replacement engines must be introduced so that failed engines can be replaced by new ones without changing the whole machine.
FEM will now defend its position with decision-makers in Brussels and in the Member States.
