The European Commission's impact assessment and policy objectives papers realeased on Wednesday 22nd July, was given a cautious welcome by the UK Parts Distributors' trade body, the Automotive Distribution Federation, and described as 'a move in the right direction'. However, the Federation feels that there is still a great deal of work to secure the independent aftermarket's future.

The ADF has been in the forefront of the campaign to ensure that Block Exemption Regulation provisions which support the independent vehicle parts and service industry remain in force after the Regulation expires in May 2010. The Commision's assessment includes proposals to maintain those provisions in a new framework after the expiry date.

"We are really pleased to see specific statements from the Commision on protecting competition for repairing vehicles, for supply of parts and for access to information and tools, " said ADF Chief executive Brian Spratt.

However, Mr. Spratt pointed out that the Commision had not confirmed what form the new aftermarket-related rules would take. "We need a legal certainty with whatever is put in place, " he said, "and there is always a danger that 'guidelines' will prove ineffective. Consequently, we will be urging the Right to Repair Campaign groups here in the UK and in Brussels to persist in seeking the proper legal framework." The ADF was one of the founders of the Right to Repair Campaign in the UK.

"There's still work to be done!" was Mr Spratt's concluding comment.

Source: ADF News ebulletin