THE RULE banning imported auto parts that are not compliant with Euro 4 emissions standards has once again been deferred, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.
The rule will not apply during the public health emergency and up to a year after the emergency has been lifted, the DTI said in a statement Monday.
A department order initially set to take effect in 2019 prohibited the entry of truck engines and auto parts that do not meet European emissions standards. But the provision was deferred due to a shortage of skilled technicians and limited Euro 4 training at the time.
Accredited truck rebuilders will continue to be granted certificates allowing them to import parts for assembly that are not compliant with the standard, according to a DTI circular signed in March.
This second deferral was granted “in consideration of the disruptions brought about by the pandemic, and the challenges of implementing a face-to-face training program in light of the strict observance of health protocols throughout the country.”
The extension can be cut short if the department finds that enough personnel have been trained.
European vehicle emission standards are set by the European Union, with Euro 4 directives implemented in 2005.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte in March 2020 declared a public health emergency due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. — Jenina P. Ibañez