Stage V engines like Kubota engine are making their way into equipment

The European Rental Association (ERA) has welcomed the European Commission's approval of the request from the industry to postpone the transition deadlines related to Stage V emission limits of engines in non-road mobile machinery.

The request came as the COVID-19 outbreak has caused interruptions in the supply of parts and components, leaving manufacturers with stocks of engines and unfinished products.

On 11 May 2020, several associations representing non-road mobile machinery manufacturers wrote to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to request an urgent resolution to their repeated requests to defer the dates for the production and placing on the market of non-road machines and tractors with transition engines.

The postponement of the deadline aims to lower the consequences of this pandemic disruption on the industry in order to prevent further economic damage.

The length of the postponement proposed by the Commission is 12 months and concerns the 2020 deadlines of the corresponding regulation.

Before adoption, it will be discussed in the Council of the EU and European Parliament in an accelerated legislative procedure.

ERA notes that if adopted, the postponement will provide rental companies with extended availability of compatible engines for existing machines in the rental fleets in case of breakdown and replacement of such engines. "The availability of replacement engines on the EU market is crucial for sustaining the lifetime of previously purchased equipment and, therefore, the postponement is in line with the reuse principle of the circular economy," according to an association statement.

The Stage V regulation does not require rental companies to replace engines or equipment already in operation that are still working.

In their appeal for a delay, the industry organisations (CECE, CEMA, EGMF, EUnited Municipal Equipment & Cleaning, Europgen and FEM) asked for a moratorium on the application of 2020 and 2021 deadlines for Stage V exhaust emissions.

The group explained that "the COVID-19 outbreak is causing complete interruptions of supply of parts and components".

"This was the case from China for several weeks and is now starting for other components from Italy and other member states. Indeed, as the pandemic is progressing, further interruptions - including because of government-imposed lockdowns - are being put in place, planned or expected in Europe and in the US.

"Without essential parts like tyres, axles, hydraulics, lighting and electronic equipment, manufacturers are effectively prevented from completing the construction of the machines by the imposed deadlines. As a result, they will not be able to place the machines on the market with the transition engines they had already acquired. Since it will be no longer possible to use them, these engines will have to be scrapped, which will lead to avoidable economic damage and unnecessary waste of raw materials and resources."