Technical bulletins

Acceptable proof of exhaust emissions rule compliance for vehicles from any country

For a vehicle imported from any country, an acceptable statement of compliance including an approved, or a more recent version or a higher emissions standard is acceptable evidence of compliance (see section 3-1-1 for other SoC requirements). The emissions standard provided in the statement of compliance must be recorded on the vehicle checksheet.

• A Statement of Compliance containing one of the the following statements is also acceptable as proof for Euro 4 only:
  • “This vehicle has been certified to UN/ECE Regulation 83.05 and complies with the limit values specified in Row B of the table to clause 5.3.1.4”, or
  • “This vehicle has been certified to 70/220/EC as amended by 98/69/EC [or later amendment if applicable] and complies with the limit values specified in Row B of the table to clause 5.3.1.4 of Annex 1”
• An emission certificate produced by TÜV SÜD or DEKRA which confirms the vehicle is compliant with an approved, more recent version or higher Euro emissions standard is also acceptable. Each individual vehicle is required to have an approved Exhaust Emissions Compliant Certificate. TÜV SÜD certificates can be issued by SOC NZ (until February 2017 Autohub issued the certificates) and DEKRA certificates can be issued by VTNZ. For a TÜV SÜD sample certificate see Reference Material 73c; for a DEKRA sample Certificate, see Reference Material 73b.
  
  SOC NZ Limited may be able to supply TÜV SÜD full statements of compliance and emission certificates via socnz.co.nz, or emailing: karen@socnz.co.nz or joe@socnz.co.nz.
  
  VTNZ certificates (DEKRA) can be ordered by contacting Paul Deans or David Thomson at technical@vtnz.co.nz .
  
  The certifier must keep the original certificate in their vehicle certification file.
  

  An emailed copy of a TÜV SÜD or DEKRA certificate can be accepted providing they are emailed directly to a KSDP email address.

Statements of compliance from Motor Industry Association manufacturers’ representatives

Statements of compliance from the Motor Industry Association of New Zealand (MIA) manufacturers’ representatives can use an abbreviated format to refer to emissions standards. In particular, this involves using the terms Euro 4, Euro 5 and Euro 6d and so on, instead of quoting the relevant UN/ECE regulation or EC directive in full, subject to the following conditions:

a) This terminology is only acceptable on statements of compliance issued by the MIA representatives of the vehicle manufacturer.

b) By using the abbreviated term, the person signing the statement of compliance is certifying that the vehicle has been formally homologated to the UN/ECE regulation or EC Directive for exhaust emissions that is appropriate to the vehicle.

c) The issuer of the statement of compliance must be able to provide, on request, the relevant certification documentation as set out in declaration 2 of the standard statement of compliance.

NZ new heavy vehicles imported by Motor Industry Association manufacturers’ representatives

Some manufacturers are directly notifying NZTA of the emission standards for the models of heavy vehicles that they're importing into New Zealand.

Therefore, if a new heavy vehicle is presented for certification and the emissions code (test regime) fields in LANDATA are already populated, additional documentation proving compliance with an approved emissions standard is not needed.

• The manufacturer and distributor must be listed on the New heavy motor vehicles – statements of compliance contact details list.
• The vehicles can be identified in LANDATA by the manufacturer/distributor's name displaying on the bottom right of the VIN screen.  It won't be visible once the Certifier ID field is entered.

Acceptable proof of exhaust emissions rule compliance for vehicles from Japan

An original Japanese de-registration, export or completion inspection certificate with a 3 digit emissions code as listed in the appropriate table below, relevant to its import status, class, fuel type and date.  The emissions code is the prefix (ie before the hypen) at the beginning of the Industry Model code, see the circled area on Figure 28-1-1.

If the industry model code recorded on the de-registration, export or completion inspection certificate does not include an emissions prefix or the code is not listed in the appropriate table below, other evidence of compliance with an approved exhaust emissions standard, such as a statement of compliance or appropriate compliance plates, must be provided.

• Table 28-1-1 Used vehicles – Class MA, MB, MC, MD1, MD2, and NA (except used-import disability vehicles)
• Table 28-1-2 New vehicles – Class MA, MB, MC, MD1, MD2, and NA
• Table 28-1-3 Used vehicles – Class MD3, MD4, ME, NB, and NC
• Table 28-1-4 New vehicles – Class MD3, MD4, ME, NB, and NC
• Table 28-1-5 Used-import disability vehicles – Class MA, MB, MC, MD1, MD2, and NA
• Table 28-1-6 New and used vehicles – Class LA, LB, LC, LD, and LE

Recording the information

This emissions code information must be recorded on the vehicle checksheet and the industry model code and test regime must be recorded in LANDATA.

Enter the full industry model code from the de-registration, export or completion inspection certificate, including the emissions code characters, into the ‘industry model code’ field.

For vehicles requiring a Fuel Consumption Statement the emissions test regime is entered by the Fuelsaver system.

For vehicles not requiring a Fuel Consumption Statement (such as heavy vehicles and motorcycles, from 1 May 2025) enter the emissions test regime code into LANDATA in the VCAAS screen.  The test regime code to be recorded in LANDATA is determined by adding a ‘J’ to the beginning of the emissions code prefix (eg the emissions code prefix DBA is recorded as test regime code JDBA).

If the test regime code is not recognised by LANDATA (error 60803 Emission Standard (Test Regime) is not valid) email vehicleemissions@nzta.govt.nz including a copy of the export, completion or de-registration certificate.

Acceptable proof of exhaust emissions rule compliance for used vehicles imported from Singapore

Standards compliance for vehicles imported from Singapore can be demonstrated using the following documents:

a) a Singapore de-registration certificate, and

b) an outcome notification letter from an entry certifier head office advising that the Singapore LTA technical letter is acceptable documentation, and

either

c) if the vehicle is a used Japanese domestic vehicle , a Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) technical letter listing an acceptable Japanese emissions code as shown in the Japanese tables, or

d) a Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) technical letter listing an approved, more recent or higher emissions standard.

Vehicles that can be accepted based on date of registration

Some vehicles may be accepted as complying with emissions standards, and might meet a higher standard, based on their registration date.

Vehicles registered before these dates require further evidence of emissions compliance.

Note: As of 1 January 2017, the Singapore emissions exemptions document, a Waka Kotahi list of exemption-eligible vehicles, ceased to be valid. The above advice replaces the previous exemptions procedure.

Acceptable proof of exhaust emissions rule compliance for  vehicles imported from Australia

Vehicles recorded on the Register of Approved Vehicles

See Technical bulletin 48 Verification of compliance with Australian Design Rules (ADRs).

Light vehicles with an ADR plate

Which version of ADR 79 that a vehicle complies with can be determined using the date on the ADR compliance plate as follows:

• If there is no emissions standard on the plate, the compliance plate approval number must be recorded on the vehicle checksheet.
• Some vehicles may comply up to a year in advance of these dates (and up to 2 years in the case of petrol vehicles complying with ADR 79/02). In these cases, it may be possible to confirm compliance via the vehicle manufacturer's official representative for vehicle compliance. The certifier must keep such correspondence in the vehicle certification file.
• Diesel vehicles must also comply with ADR 30. If a diesel vehicle has an ADR compliance plate and can be established as complying with the appropriate ADR 79, it also complies with ADR 30.

Heavy vehicles with an ADR plate

Which version of ADR 80 that a vehicle complies with can be determined using the date on the ADR compliance plate as follows:

• If there is no emissions standard on the plate, the compliance plate approval number must be recorded on the vehicle checksheet.
• Some new model vehicles may comply up to a year in advance. In these cases, it may be possible to confirm compliance via the vehicle manufacturer's official representative for vehicle compliance. The certifier must keep such correspondence in the vehicle certification file.
• Diesel vehicles must also comply with ADR 30. If a diesel vehicle has an ADR compliance plate and can be established as complying with the appropriate ADR 80, it also complies with ADR 30.

Acceptable proof of exhaust emissions rule compliance for vehicles from the United Kingdom

Any light vehicle (except a motorcycle or moped) ex-UK that is presented for entry certification, that has a valid Certificate of permanent export, V5C, V308 or VX302 registration certificate (see Reference material 59, 67 and 68) showing that it was first registered as new in the UK:

• on or after 1 October 2007 may be accepted as complying with the Euro 4 emissions standard and might meet a higher standard
• on or after 1 January 2011 will be certified to the Euro 5 emission requirements and might meet a higher standard
• on or after 1 January 2015 will be certified to the Euro 6 emission requirements.

If an acceptable emission code (such as Euro 5) for the vehicle is listed on a valid Certificate of permanent export, V5C, V308 or VX302 registration document of a vehicle first registered as new in the UK, it may be accepted as proof of emissions compliance.

Acceptable proof of exhaust emissions rule compliance for vehicles from Europe

a) A statement of compliance listing an approved emissions standard, or an appropriate EC directive or UN/ECE regulation as shown in Table 28-1-7, or

b) A UN/ECE compliance plate listing an approved emissions standard or one of the UN/ECE regulations shown in Table 28-1-7, or

c) An EC Certificate of Conformity (CoC) issued by the vehicle manufacturer for individual vehicles that have undergone European Commission Whole Vehicle Type Approval (EC WVTA). The CoC is linked to the EC Whole Vehicle Approval Plate – if a vehicle has a CoC, it will also have a Whole Vehicle Approval Plate. A sample CoC is shown in Reference material 49. The emissions standard information is recorded in item 46.1 or 48 of the CoC, or

d) An EC whole vehicle approval plate. Refer to Reference material 29.

e) An EC Certificate of Conformity showing an EC Whole Vehicle Approval number of 2001/116 or later, and with all emissions values (quoted in section 48) falling below the limit values set out in Table 28-1-8, may be accepted as complying with the Euro 4 emissions standard, or

f) An Irish Certificate of registration (see Reference material 83) showing it was first registered as new on or after 1 February 2008 may be accepted as complying with the Euro 4 emissions standard and might meet a higher standard.

Decoding EC Directive and UN/ECE Regulation emissions system approval numbers

Refer to Table 28-1-9.

Acceptable proof of exhaust emissions compliance for used vehicles imported from the United States

1.  Vehicles border checked for entry into New Zealand before 1 February 2008 with an FMVSS plate may be accepted if presented together with either:

a) an EPA plate (see Reference material 35); or

b) proof that the vehicle was first registered in the United States or was built for the United States market (indicating the vehicle would have been built to United States vehicle emissions requirements).

This is because a FMVSS and CMVSS plate does not actually refer to a vehicle emissions standard.

If the vehicle has an EPA plate, then the emissions standard identified on the EPA plate must be recorded on the vehicle checksheet; otherwise ‘FMVSS’ or 'CMVSS' and the date of the FMVSS or CMVSS plate must be recorded on the vehicle checksheet.

2.  Vehicles border checked for entry into New Zealand on or after 1 February 2008 with an FMVSS or CMVSS plate and an EPA decal (see Reference material 35) showing model year the same as or later than the year for which the vehicle must meet an emissions standard.

The EPA decal will contain a statement ‘This vehicle conforms to US EPA regulations applicable to YYYY model year.’  To be accepted, the ‘YYYY’ must be the same as or later than the applicable standard shown in VIRM: Entry certification section 11-2 as acceptable for certification in New Zealand.

For example, a decal showing model year 2005 would be acceptable for a used light petrol vehicle. This would be entered in LANDATA as meeting US2004.

• Note Statements of compliance for US vehicles often refer to emissions standards using the terminology ‘EPA Federal Tier 1’ or ‘EPA Federal Tier 2’ or similar. The terminology used in Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Exhaust Emissions 2007 for US standards ( ‘US2004’ etc) is not used by the vehicle industry. Use the below table to translate.

Translation information for US standards

Emissions test regime codes to be keyed to LANDATA

For vehicles requiring a Fuel Consumption Statement, the emissions test regime is entered in LANDATA by the Fuelsaver system.

For vehicles not requiring a Fuel Consumption Statement, enter the emissions test regime code into LANDATA in the VCAAS screen.

If the test regime code is not recognised by LANDATA (error 60803 Emission Standard (Test Regime) is not valid) email vehicleemissions@nzta.govt.nz including a copy of the documentation for emissions.

Japanese vehicles complied using the 3-digit emissions code on export, completion or de-registration certificate

See Acceptable proof of exhaust emissions rule compliance for vehicles from Japan.

All other vehicles

• All 0s in test regime codes are numbers, not letters.
• Where a specific exemption has been granted, the word EXEMPT will be entered in the test regime field.

Table 28-1-2 New vehicles – Class MA, MB, MC, MD1, MD2, NA

Table 28-1-3 Used vehicles – Class MD3, MD4, ME, NB, and NC

Table 28-1-4 New vehicles – Class MD3, MD4, ME, NB, and NC

Table 28-1-5 Used-import disability vehicles – Class MA, MB, MC, MD1, MD2, and NA

Table 28-1-6 New and used vehicles – Class LA, LB, LC, LD, and LE

Table 28-1-7 Translating Euro standards, EC Directives and UN/ECE Regulations

Refer to Reference material 80 for old EC directives.

Note 1

Some light vehicles may come with heavy compliance codes due to the differences between New Zealand and European classifications.

Note 2

Euro 5 and Euro 6 light vehicle codes that do not have an associated letter may be assumed to be Euro 5 and recorded as such.

Note 3

Any reference to 2006/96 must include the letter B and if it is referenced alongside 96/69 is not acceptable as evidence of emissions compliance.

Table 28-1-8 Euro 4 light vehicle emissions limits

Note: For the avoidance of doubt, if emissions values are being used to determine compliance, these are to be the official certification values from the applicable test cycle or cycles (ie not derived from an in-service emissions test). Emissions values for all gases/particulates must be below the limit values set out in the table.

Waka Kotahi is unlikely to approve an exemption application requesting acceptance of a vehicle with 96/69/EC as the emissions test method.

Table 28-1-9 Decoding EC Directive and UN/ECE Regulation emissions system approval numbers

Figure 28-1-1 Japanese export certificate