2020/0096/DK
EC/EFTA
DK Dänemark
  • B30 - Umwelt
2020-05-28
2020-03-04

In 2018, Denmark notified regulations (amendments to the Environmental Protection Act) relating to stricter requirements in the four Danish low-emission zones (2018/607/DK). Consolidation Act - the Environmental Protection Act is attached as BASIC. In 2019, the rules were tightened for lorries and buses - and environmental zone requirements will be introduced for vans - from 1 July 2020.

This draft law determines the detailed rules for enforcement in environmental zones. From 1 July 2020, the enforcement will take place with automatic number plate recognition to check whether the vehicle meets the material requirements on the first registration date or fitted particulate filter.

In relation to Notification 2020/25/DK, the new notification includes an advance by six months of the date of entry into force for requirement step 2 for heavy vehicles. Requirement step 2 for heavy vehicles will apply from1 January 2022 and step requirement 2 requires all heavy vehicles to have particulate filters or the vehicle’s first registration date must be 1 January 2015 or later.

Act amending the Environmental Protection Act and the Act on Sund og Bælt Holding A/S (digital enforcement of low-emission zones)

The purpose of the bill is to tighten enforcement in low-emission zones by introducing automated checks based on digitally reading number plates. The bill is a follow-up to the previously notified bill 2018/607/DK, which tightened the Danish rules on low-emission zones.

With the elimination of the physical EcoSticker labels on windscreens, it is proposed that checks going forward shall be based on digitally reading number plates in conjunction with information in the national vehicle register (the so-called DMR).

The bill proposes to assign Sund & Bælt Holding A/S the task of digitally reading number plates for the enforcement of low-emission zones. Sund & Bælt Holding A/S is proposed because through its operation of the fixed links over the Great Belt and Oresund amongst others, it has gained competences in relation to the charging and collection of tolls and the performance of checks for enforcement thereof.

At the same time, it is proposed that Sund & Bælt Holding A/S be authorised to automatically register number plates, retrieve information from national vehicle registers, and build vehicle databases in association with the company’s tasks relating to the low-emission zone scheme.

Additionally, in order to ensure a targeted solution to the task, it is proposed that the Danish Environmental Protection Agency have some enforcement responsibilities, including the ability to issue administrative fine notifications. A legal basis will be introduced so that for the first three months after 1 July 2020 information will be disseminated regarding the rules instead of fine notices for vehicles that do not fulfil the environmental zone requirements, which are to be observed in the environmental zones.

Requirement step 2 for heavy vehicles will apply from 1 January 2022. From this date, all heavy vehicles must have particulate filters mounted or the vehicle must be registered the first time on 1 January 2015 or later.

An exception will also be introduced for lorries and buses registered for the first time before 1 October 2009 and which comply with the Euro V standard with regard to step 1, which is applicable as of 1 July 2020. The exemption also applies to enhanced environmentally friendly vehicles (EEVs). Euro V and EEV vehicles are covered by the particulate filter requirement a year and a half later than previously.

Foreign vehicles, which do not comply with the requirement for the first registration date must be registered either by complying with the Euro V standard/EEV (which can be done up to 1 January 2022) or registering that the vehicle has a particulate filter mounted. The vehicle must be registered online on the same day that the vehicle is driven into the environmental zone. Registration must include a vehicle registration certificate, and if the Euro standard is not stated, then a certificate on the Euro standard, or a certificate on a mounted particulate filter.