EU to Establish Program to Check Compliance with Tire Regulations

According to Rubber & Plastics News (subscription required), the European Union plans to set up a market surveillance program to assess compliance with tire legislation. One task of the program will be to investigate levels of polycyclic-aromatic-hydrocarbon oils in tires made, sold and imported into the EU. High-PAH oils have been banned in tires in the region since January 2010, but early evidence suggests that some importers, notably from China, are not adhering to the law, the EU said.

Philippe Jean, head of the Automotive Industry Unit within the Directorate for Enterprise and Industry told an audience of tire professionals that the study would be the second in the EU, and be set up later this year. The first such project would cover the motorcycle market in Italy where up to 30 percent of motorcycles and scooters are believed to be illegal, he said.