European governments agree to real world emissions test The limits of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from diesel cars have been upon by EU governments, and have been announced to be double the Euro 6 levels agreed back in 2007.æ The EU has also agreed to delay the implementation of new limits for all new cars until 2019. MEPs recently called on the EC and member states to introduce a real-world testing programme for diesel vehicles, in order to ensure the level of diesel emissions are in line with current Euro 6 limits.æ Following on from this decision, all new cars from 2021 will be allowed to exceed 50 per cent for NOx than the current Euro 6 limit of 80mg/km National experts in the Technical Committee on Motor Vehicles (TCMV) agreed the new limits, which will now be sent into three-way negotiations between the Ministers for the Environment and the European Commission.æ From September 2017, new car models will have to pass the new emissions test if they're to meet type approval. EU Comissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska said: "The EU is the first and only region in the world to mandate these robust testing methods." Louise Duprez, senior policy officer for air pollution at the European Environmental Bureau, said: 'With the Volkswagen scandal fresh in their minds, MEPs had a major opportunity to right a wrong and take action to clean up Europe's air. In the weeks and months ahead, they have a major responsibility to secure an outcome that is going to prevent the further loss of human life.î This year, the Commission started infringement procedures against a number of countries (including the UK, Germany, France and Spain) for failing to meet NO2 standards.
