STATUS OF USED VEHICLE STANDARDS IN AFRICA presented by Veronica Ruiz-Stannah from UNEP

The global fleet of automobiles has been growing since the start of the century and will continue till the 2050s.

The UN Environment Assembly resolution 11 of 2022 requests UNEP with its partners to support Member states to collect information about and promote cleaner fuels and vehicles, including used vehicles for environmental and health reasons.

According to the Netherlands exporter perspective report on the Quality of used vehicles exported in 2020: many used vehicles are old, have high mileage and they have no road worthiness certificate. Around 80% of tested petrol vehicles have a working emission reduction system. Most exported vehicles are older than 10 years. From 2015-2020, around 23 million used light duty vehicles were exported to 208 countries and territories – around 60% to LMICs

In regulations ranking: 146 countries surveyed and of these 66 have weak or very weak regulations, 62 countries have good or very good measures and 18 countries ban used vehicle imports for their national use.

Phase I and II Safer and Cleaner Used Vehicles

Phase I – Africa (Southern and Central Africa)

Phase II – Roll out in Africa (Southern and Central Africa) and Asia (Cambodia & Mongolia)

Objective of the Phases: The objectives of this project are

• To put in place regulations, standards, and processes to ensure that importing countries will only receive quality vehicles
• That exporting countries agree to minimum requirements for the trade of used vehicles (roadworthiness certificate / certificate of conformity)

These objectives are to promote goals 3 (good health), 11 (sustainable cities) and 13 (climate action) of the sustainable development goals.

Activities of the Phases

1. Develop action plans and roadmaps with used vehicles requirements for sub-regions and countries in Africa and Asia
2. Analyze policy impacts on the trade of used vehicles
3. Develop policy regulations for sub-regions and countries
4. Support the implementation and enforcement, including the development of a global agreement and uniform labelling
5. Trainings and communications, to support inspection and maintenance, implementation of compliance systems, and track data and impact

Impact of the first project phase

• Visibility of project was made for regional and international actors (Africa importers and exporters at a COP 26 side event)
• UN Environment Assembly 5/11 resolution on circularity now includes used vehicles
• 22 countries of EAC and ECOWAS adopted regionally harmonized vehicle standards
• ECOWAS commission to regularly report updates to the Council on Ministers
• EAC countries to update national standards by December 2022
• EC (European Commission) is revising the End-of-Life Vehicle Directive to take used vehicles into consideration
• Significant impact on road safety by ensuring a minimum set of operational safety features leads to a 30% reduction in mobility and morbidity
• Will reduce vehicle emissions by 40-90% and have major climate benefits

Project Progress in West Africa

• In September 2020, ECOWAS council of Minister adopted regionally harmonised fuel and vehicle standards.
• A total of 15 member states
• New and used vehicles standards at Euro 4 vehicle emission standards
• Used vehicle age restrictions- 5 year limit for LDVs (low duty vehicles) and 10 years for HDVs (high duty vehicles). To be implemented in 10 years
• A vehicle type approval certificate from the vehicle manufacturer
• Compliance and enforcement procedures to be developed & implemented by all countries
• Independent inspection system at point of entry for random audits
• Periodic revision by ECOWAS
• Countries to adopt and publish regulations into national

Project Progress in East Africa

• 7 Partner States
• 2016 Low sulphur fuel standards (actual 10-15 ppm)
• Kenya and Rwanda already adopted Euro 4/IV vehicles standards – implementation ongoing
• May 2022 East Africa Community Council of Ministers adopted regionally harmonised Euro 4/IV vehicles standards
• After the EAC standard was gazetted early July, countries have 6 months to adopt standard as national law by Dec 2022

Recommendations

UNEP’s recommendation to African countries is to regulate the import of used vehicles as follows:

1. only import Euro 4/IV or better vehicles
2. introduce an age limit of 5, or maybe 8 years maximum
3. Exported / imported used vehicles should have a valid road worthiness certificate
4. special incentives should be introduced for used low and no emissions vehicles (including HEV, PHEV and EVs)