Correct as at 12th April 2024. It may be superseded at any time.

Extract taken: from Vehicle Inspection Portal > VIRMs > Entry certification > Technical bulletins > Exhaust emissions standard compliance

28 Exhaust emissions standard compliance


Vehicle inspection requirements manual references

This bulletin gives guidance to vehicle inspectors in applying the following requirements in the VIRM: Entry certification:

Application

Under Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Exhaust Emissions 2007, when a vehicle undergoes entry-level certification in New Zealand, proof that the vehicle was manufactured to meet an approved emissions standard is required.

This technical bulletin applies to all vehicles being certified for entry into New Zealand that are required to meet approved exhaust emissions standards.

Definition of Euro 4

Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Exhaust Emissions 2007 defines Euro 4 as follows:
Euro 4
(a) means:

  1. UN/ECE Regulation No. 83, uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the emission of pollutants according to engine fuel requirements (E/ECE/324E/ECE/TRANS/505/Rev.1/Add.82/Rev.2) incorporating the 05 series of amendments, as per the limit values in row B of the table to clause 5.3.1.4; or
  2. Council Directive 70/220/EEC as amended by Council Directive 98/69/EC as per the limit values in row B of the table to clause 5.3.1.4 of Annex I of 98/69/EC…

This definition does not necessarily require the vehicle to be formally certified as Euro 4. The two elements required to meet this definition are:

  1. The vehicle must be certified to UN/ECE Regulation 83.05 or EC Directive 70/220/EEC as amended by 98/69/EC (or a later amendment), and
  2. The declared emissions values on that certification must be within the specified limits set out in Row B of the quoted table (the Euro 4 emissions limits)
Clarification

In practice, it is possible for a vehicle to be formally certified in Europe as a Euro 3 vehicle, but for it to comply with the Row B emissions limits required for Euro 4. Such vehicles are certified to UN/ECE Regulation 83.05 or 98/69/EC, or later amendment, (which contain both Euro 3 and Euro 4 requirements)
In cases like this, despite being formally certified as Euro 3, the vehicle meets the Emissions Rule definition as a Euro 4 vehicle and can be accepted as such.

Acceptable proof of exhaust emissions rule compliance for used vehicles from any country
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 3’ and ‘Euro 4’ 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 to be used only on statements of compliance issued by the MIA representatives of the vehicle manufacturers.

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 type.

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.

Acceptable proof of exhaust emissions rule compliance for used vehicles from Japan

a) For vehicles border checked for entry into New Zealand before 1 February 2008, an original Japanese de-registration, export or completion inspection certificate with an emissions code as a prefix (ie before a hyphen) at the beginning of the industry model code (see circled area on Figure 28-1-1).

b) For vehicles border checked for entry into New Zealand on or after 1 February 2008, an original de-registration, export or completion inspection certificate with an acceptable emissions code listed in Table 1 or Table 2. This code is known as as a prefix (ie before a hyphen) at the beginning of the industry model code (see circled area on Figure 28-1-1).

c) Proof of compliance letters issued by VTNZ can be accepted as proof of emissions compliance (see Reference material 81).

The VIA (formerly IMVIA) ceased issuing exhaust emission compliance certificates from 28 December 2018. Should any VIA emission certificates be presented with issue dates later than 28 December 2018 or for vehicles that may have been imported after that date, please contact Waka Kotahi (vehicles@nzta.govt.nz) before accepting them. See Reference material 77 for a sample of the certificate.
Recording the information

This emissions code information must be recorded on the vehicle checksheet and entered into 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.

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 approved Japanese emissions code as shown in Table 1 or Table 2 below, or

d) A Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) technical letter listing UN/ECE Regulation 83.05 or 98/69/EC [or later amendment] as the emissions test method , and containing a set of quoted emissions values that fall below the limits set out in Table 28-1-1, as applicable to the vehicle’s gross vehicle mass. If “96/69/EC” is listed as the emissions test method, the quoted emissions values cannot be used and additional evidence of emissions standards compliance must be provided .

Note: Vehicles of the types below may be accepted for the given emissions requirements based on their first registration dates. 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 new or used light vehicles with ADR plates showing approval for  Australia

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

Date on ADR plate

Petrol

Diesel

01/2007–06/2010

Not proven to be compliant

ADR 79/01 (Euro 4)

07/2010 onwards

ADR 79/02 (Euro 4)

ADR 79/01 (Euro 4)

Acceptable proof of exhaust emissions rule compliance for new or used heavy vehicles with ADR plates showing approval for Australia

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

Date on ADR plate

Petrol

Diesel

01/2008 – 12/2010

ADR 80/02

ADR 80/02

01/2011 onwards

ADR 80/03

ADR 80/03

Acceptable proof of exhaust emissions rule compliance for vehicles from Europe

1. If the vehicle is border checked for entry into New Zealand before 1 February 2008:

a) an EEC whole vehicle approval plate. The EEC whole vehicle approval number must be recorded on the vehicle checksheet, or

b) a UN/ECE compliance plate listing an approved emissions standard. The emissions standard identified on the plate must be recorded on the vehicle checksheet.

2. If the vehicle is border checked for entry into New Zealand on or after 1 February 2008:

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

b) a UN/ECE compliance plate listing an approved emissions standard or one of the UN/ECE regulations shown in Table B, 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, Note 2

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 28-1-1

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.

Acceptable proof of exhaust emissions rule compliance for vehicles from the United Kingdom
Table A. Translation information for EC Directives
EC Directive Corresponds to
Euro standard …
Light vehicles (Note 1)
1998/69B/EC Euro 4
1998/77B/EC
1999/102B/EC
2001/1B/EC
2001/100B/EC
2002/80B/EC
2003/76B/EC
2005/21/EC
2006/81B/EC 
2006/96B/EC (Note 3)
715/2007/A-M/EC Euro 5 (Note 2)
692/2008/A-M/EC
566/2011/A-M/EC
459/2012/A-M/EC
630/2012/A-M/EC
143/2013/A-M/EC
171/2013/A-M/EC
195/2013/A-M/EC
715/2007/N-ZZ/EC Euro 6 (Note 2)
566/2011/N-ZZ/EC
459/2012/N-ZZ/EC
630/2012/N-ZZ/EC
143/2013/N-ZZ/EC
171/2013/N-ZZ/EC
195/2013/N-ZZ/EC
136/2014/N-ZZ/EC
45/2015/N-ZZ/EC
427/2016/N-ZZ/EC
646/2016/N-ZZ/EC
1151/2017/N-ZZ/EC
1221/2017/N-ZZ/EC
1832/2018/N-ZZ/EC
Heavy vehicles (Note 1)
1999/96/B1 or B or C/EC Euro IV 
2001/27/B1 or B or C/EC
2005/55/B1 or B or C/EC
2005/78/B1 or B or C/EC
2006/51/B1 or B or C/EC
2006/81/B1 or B or C/EC
2006/96/B1 or B or C/EC)
1999/96/B2 or D-G and C (EEV) or H-K/EC Euro V 
2001/27/B2 or D-G and C (EEV) or H-K/EC
2005/55/B2 or D-G and C (EEV) or H-K/EC
2005/78/B2 or D-G and C (EEV) or H-K/EC
2006/51/B2 or D-G and C (EEV) or H-K/EC
2006/81/B2 or D-G and C (EEV) or H-K/EC
2006/96/B2 or D-G and C (EEV) or H-K/EC
2008/74/B2 or D-G and C (EEV) or H-K/EC
595/2009 Euro VI
582/2011
133/2014
136/2014
627/2014
1242/2019
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.

Decoding EC emissions system approval numbers

An EC emissions system approval number will be in the following format:

e4*70/220*2003/76B*1234*01

The different parts of an approval number can be decoded as follows:

e4 The lower case ‘e’ indicates compliance with an EC directive, and the number (‘4’ in this case, but it will vary) denotes the country in which the approval was issued
70/220 The number 70/220 signifies the base EC Emissions Directive and indicates that the approval is for exhaust emissions. This number will be present in all EC emissions approval numbers
2003/76B This number indicates the version of the EC emissions directive to which the vehicle complies. Reference this number against the above table to determine the emissions level. The ‘/EC’ or ‘/EEC’ suffixes used in the table will not appear in the EC approval number
1234 This is the model-specific approval number. It is not important for determining emissions level and will vary
01 This is the number of the extension to the emissions approval. It is not important for determining emissions level and will vary
Table B. Translation information for UN/ECE regulations

UN/ECE regulation

Corresponds to Euro standard ...

Light vehicles

UN/ECE regulation 83.05 Indeterminate – the default emissions level is Euro 3 unless otherwise indicated on the compliance documentation

UN/ECE regulation 83.05B or stage 2

Euro 4

UN/ECE regulation 83.06 Euro 5 (eg E11 - 85R - 062439 - J)

Heavy vehicles

UN/ECE regulation 49.05

Row B1 (as indicated by character B or C) = Euro 4 (eg  E11 - 49RC – 052439, or 49.05C)

Row B2 or C (as indicated by character D or higher) = Euro 5 (eg E11 – 49RD – 052439, or 49.05D)

Interpretation of various light duty emissions numbers

Example of Emissions type approval number

Interpretation of Euro emissions level

e2*70/220/EEC*2003/76/EC (B)

70/220 followed by letter “B” signifies Euro 4 compliance

70/220*2006/96B

70/220 followed by letter “B” signifies Euro 4 compliance

e4*715/2007*692/2008A*0001*00

715/2007 followed by “A” signifies Euro 5a compliance

e1*715/2007*595/2009C*0004*02

715/2007 followed by “C” signifies Euro 5a compliance

ECE83 as last amended by 05 stage 2

(UN)ECE 83.05 stage 2 signifies Euro 4 compliance

(UN)ECE83.05 B

(UN)ECE 83.05 B approval signifies Euro 4 compliance

Decoding UN/ECE emissions system approval numbers

A UN/ECE emissions system approval number will be in one of the following formats:

Format 1:

E13*83R00*83R05*1234*01

This format is more likely to be used on statements of compliance.

The different parts of an approval number can be decoded as follows:

E4 The Upper case ‘E’ indicates compliance with an EC directive, and the number (‘4’ in this case, but it will vary) denotes the country in which the approval was issued
83R00 The number 83R00 signifies the original UN/ECE Emissions Regulation and indicates that the approval is for exhaust emissions. This number will be present in all UN/ECE emissions approval numbers
83R05 This number indicates the version of the EC emissions directive to which the vehicle complies. Reference this number against the above table to determine the emissions level. In this case, ‘83R05’ indicates that the vehicle complies with UN/ECE Regulation 83.05, with ‘83R04’ denoting Regulation 83.04 and so on
1234 This is the model-specific approval number. It is not important for determining emissions level and will vary
01 This is the number of the extension to the emissions approval. It is not important for determining emissions level and will vary
Format 2:

E11 83RI – 052439

This format is more likely to be used on UN/ECE compliance plates.

The different parts of the approval number can be decoded as follows:

E11

The Upper case ‘E’ indicates compliance with an EC directive, and the number (‘11’ in this case, but it will vary) denotes the country in which the approval was issued

83RI The number 83 preceding the ‘R’ shows that the vehicle complies with UN/ECE regulation 83 for emissions. The roman numerals (I or II) after the ‘R’ may not be present but can, in combination with the first two digits of the following number, describe the emissions level (see below)
05

The first two digits of the next section indicate the amendment of UN/ECE R83 that the vehicle complies with (ie If it is ‘04’ the vehicle complies with UN/ECE Regulation 83.04)

Special case for light vehicles: If this number is ‘05’ and the numeral immediately following the ‘R’ is ‘I’, the vehicle complies with Euro 3 limits. If the numeral immediately following the ‘R’ is ‘II’, the vehicle complies with Euro 4 limits.

Special case for heavy vehicles: If this number is ‘03’ or ‘04’ and the numeral immediately following the ‘R’ is ‘I’, the vehicle complies with Euro 3 limits. If the numeral immediately following the ‘R’ is ‘II’ or ‘III’, the vehicle complies with Euro 4 limits.

2439 The last 4 digits make up the model-specific approval number
Acceptable proof of exhaust emissions compliance for used vehicles imported from the United States

1. If the vehicle is border checked for entry into New Zealand before 1 February 2008, a FMVSS plate 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. If the vehicle is border checked for entry into New Zealand on or after 1 February 2008, 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.’ The ‘YYYY’ must be the same as or later than a 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 light petrol vehicle. This would be entered in LANDATA as meeting US2004.

Table C. Translation information for US standards

Terminology

Refers to US standards ...

US Federal/EPA Tier 1

US 96

US 98D/98P

US Federal/EPA Tier 2

US 2001

US 2004

Proof of exhaust emissions rule compliance for new vehicles
Determining if a vehicle is certified to this new standard

The low volume certifier will issue a F001 (LVV Statement of Compliance Certificate). This form will list the standards that the vehicle has been certified to and will include exhaust gas emissions 90–10. At this point in time there will be no information on the LVV plate (Note 3).

Some manufacturers are directly notifying the NZTA of the emission standards for the models of heavy vehicles that they are 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.

Note 1

Does not apply to vehicles of class AB, LA, LB, LC, LD, LE or a low-volume vehicle powered by a two-stroke engine.

Note 2

For details of the emissions standards requirements, see Table 11-2-4 Approved exhaust emission standards for new petrol, CNG and LPG powered vehicles and Table 11-2-5 Approved exhaust emission standards for new diesel-powered vehicles in Inspection and certification pages 11-2-4 and 11-2-5.

Note 3

The LANDATA test regime code for a vehicle certified to the LVV emissions standard is ‘LZZZZZ’.

Action

If the vehicle does not have evidence of compliance with an approved emissions standard, the entry inspector must fail the vehicle and refer the vehicle owner to the NZTA’s Vehicles Unit (phone 0800 699 000; Private Bag 6995, Wellington 6145) for further advice.

Re-powering heavy vehicles

If a heavy vehicle complies with all standards except exhaust emissions, it may be re-powered with a compliant engine in accordance with Reference material 61. Please contact a heavy vehicle engineer (chassis) for more information.

Table 1. Acceptable exhaust emissions codes for petrol, LPG or CNG powered vehicles from Japan

Emission standard

Description

Complying to ...

Acceptable emissions codes

Japan 05

Japan Safety Regulations for Road Vehicles, Article 31 – Emission Control Device, as revised by the Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport Notification No. 1317 of 26 September 2003.

2005 Regulations

Any three digit emissions code

for example ‘AAA’, ‘ABA’, ‘DAA’

Table 2. Acceptable exhaust emissions codes for diesel-powered vehicles from Japan

Emission standard

Description

Complying to ...

Acceptable emissions codes

Japan 05

Japan Safety Regulations for Road Vehicles, Article 31 – Emission Control Device, as revised by the Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport Notification No. 1317 of 26 September 2003.

2005 Regulations

Any three digit emissions code

For example ‘AAA’, ‘ABA’, ‘DAA’

Japan 09   2009 Regulations Any three digit emissions code starting with:
L,F,M,Q or R
Japan 10   2010 Regulations Any three digit emissions code starting with:
S or T
Japan 16 2016 Regulations 
Table 3. Test regime codes for exhaust emissions standards from 1/1/2012

Emission standard type

Description

Test regime code

Japan 05

Means Japan Safety Regulations for Road Vehicles, Article 31 – Emission Control Device, as revised by the Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport Notification No. 1317 of 26 September 2003

J05/07

Japan 2008   JC08
Japan 2009 means Japan Safety Regulations for Road Vehicles, Article 31 - Emission Control Device, as revised by the Ministry of Land J2009
Japan 2010   J2010
Japan 2016 J2016

Euro IV or 4

European IV or 4

EUR4

Euro V or 5

European V or 5

EUR5

Euro VI or 6

European VI or 6

EUR6

2006/96/EEC

Adaptation of certain Directives in the field of free movement of goods, by reason of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania

E06096

2006/96A/EC

EU Directives Amendment

E06096

2006/96B/EC

EU Directives Amendment

E06096

2003/76B/EC

EU Directives Amendment

E03076

2002/80B/EC

EU Directives Amendment

E02080

2001/100B/EC

EU Directives Amendment

E01100

2001/1B/EC

EU Directives Amendment

E01001

1999/102B/EC

EU Directives Amendment

E99102

98/77B/EC

Amendment of Directive 70/220/EEC Amendment of Directive 70/220/EEC

E98077

98/69B/EC

Amendment of Directive 70/220/EEC

E98069

715/2007/EC

 

E71507

692/2008/EC

 

E69208

692/2008A/EC

 

E6928A

595/2009

 

E59509

UN/ECE 83

UN/ECE Regulations

ECE83

UN/ECE 49

UN/ECE Regulations

ECE49

UN/ECE 24

UN/ECE Regulations

ECE 24

Australian ADR 79/01

Emission Control for Light Vehicles

A79/01

Australian ADR 79/02

Emission Control for Light Vehicles

A79/02

Australian ADR 80/02

Emission Control for Heavy Vehicles

A80/02

Australian ADR 80/03

Emission Control for Heavy Vehicles

A80/03

Australian ADR 30/01

Smoke Emission Control for Diesel Vehicles

A30/01

Australian

May be specified as having been tested to a European test.
See entries for EURO I -VI

 

US2004

Federal Regulation 40
CFR Part 86, Subpart 86.1811-04, Emission standards for light-duty vehicles, light-duty trucks and medium-duty passenger vehicles; OR
CFR Part 86, Subpart 86.004-11, Emission standards for 2004 and later model year diesel heavy duty engines; OR

Title 13, California Code of Regulations in force December 2004

US2004

US2007

Federal Regulation 40, CFR Part 86, Subpart A 40 86.008-11

US2007

US2008

Federal Regulation 40, CFR Part 86, Subpart A 40 CFR 86.008-10, Emission standards for 2008 and later model year otto-cycle heavy-duty engines and vehicles

US2008


Table 28-1-1. Euro 4 light vehicle emissions limits
Light vehicles with a GVM of 2500kg or lessLight vehicles with a GVM greater than 2500kg

Petrol  (g/km)

Diesel  (g/km)

Petrol  (g/km)

Diesel  (g/km)

CO

1.0

0.5

2.27 0.74

HC

0.1

n/a

0.16 n/a

NOx

0.08

0.25

0.11 0.39

HC+NOx

n/a

0.3

n/a 0.46

PM

n/a

0.025

n/a 0.06

Note: For the avoidance of doubt, if emissions values are being used to determine compliance, these are to be the official certification values (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 has previously issued some individual exemptions to vehicles having 96/69/EC as the Emissions Test method. No further emissions exemptions will be issued to such vehicles border checked after 1 December 2016.

Figure 28-1-1. De-registration certificate (Japan)

De-registration certificate (Japan)

Page amended 20 July 2023 (see amendment details)

Page updated 11 July 2022 (see details)