32013R0167

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 lays down rules on safety and environmental protection, along with administrative procedures for the type-approval¹ of tractors² and other agricultural and forestry vehicles.

The specific vehicle categories (R = trailers, S = interchangeable towed equipment, T = wheeled tractors and C = track-laying tractors) and subcategories (R1, R2, etc.) are listed in Article 4 of the regulation.

The regulation has been amended and updated several times:

• Regulation (EU) 2016/1628 (see summary) aligns the legislation on agriculture and forestry vehicles for non-road mobile machinery as regards the specific limit values, test procedures and requirements for pollutant emissions to be met;
• Regulation (EU) 2019/519 clarifies the descriptions of T1 and T2 agricultural wheeled tractors in Regulation (EU) No 167/2013;
• Regulation (EU) 2024/2838 removes previous reporting obligations for EU Member States and the European Commission concerning the application and functioning of the type-approval procedures under the regulation.

KEY POINTS

Scope

The regulation applies to European Union (EU) type-approval of agricultural and forestry tractors, trailers³ and interchangeable towed equipment⁴. However, manufacturers may choose to comply instead with national requirements in the case of track-laying, high-clearance or extra-wide tractors, and trailers and interchangeable towed equipment.

In the case of tractors, this regulation covers all relevant safety requirements, while for trailers, interchangeable towed equipment or any machinery installed on the tractors, Directive 2006/42/EC (see summary) applies for those risks not covered by this regulation.

Manufacturers are responsible for vehicles and components complying with the regulation in terms of safety and minimising the impact on the environment, including, but not limited to:

• structural integrity;
• protection and rollover structures;
• operating space and access to the driving position;
• visibility and controls, including emergency stop;
• lighting, exterior design, tyres, brakes and accessories;
• external and internal noise;
• pollutant emissions.

Manufacturers should also provide dealers and repairers with easy access to repair and maintenance information websites, training material and working tools.

Procedure for type-approval

• Application may be made in stages or for individual components. An information dossier, with data, drawings and photographs, is submitted to the approval authority⁵ of the Member State, followed by conformity testing and the issuing of a certificate.
• The approval authorities of other Member States are notified of successful approvals within a month, while notice of failure or withdrawal of approval should be communicated without delay, as should any finding deemed to be a safety risk.

Checks and penalties

Manufacturers will be checked regularly by a competent authority or designated technical service. Member States will carry out market surveillance and controls of vehicles, systems and components entering the market and will apply penalties if the regulations are infringed.

Delegated and implemented acts

The Commission has adopted the following delegated and implementing acts:

• Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1322/2014 supplementing and amending Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 sets out the technical requirements and test methods required for the construction of agricultural and forestry vehicles to minimise the risk of injury to persons working on or with the vehicles;
• Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/68 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 with regard to vehicle braking requirements sets out the technical requirements and test procedures regarding functional safety with respect to the braking performance of agricultural and forestry vehicles and the systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles;
• Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/208 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 with regard to vehicle functional safety requirements sets out the technical requirements and test procedures regarding functional safety, except with respect to braking performance, for the approval and market surveillance of agricultural and forestry vehicles and the systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles;
• Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/504 implementing Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 lays down uniform conditions for implementing the administrative requirements for the approval of new agricultural and forestry vehicles and the systems, components and separate technical units designed and constructed for such vehicles, and for the placing on the market and entry into service of parts or equipment that may pose a serious risk to the correct functioning of systems that are essential for the safety of the vehicles or for their environmental performance;
• Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/985 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 as regards environmental and propulsion unit performance requirements for agricultural and forestry vehicles and their engines.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

• Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 has applied since 1 January 2016.
• Amending Regulation (EU) 2016/1628 has applied since 1 January 2017.
• Amending Regulation (EU) 2019/519 has applied since 18 April 2019.
• Amending Regulation (EU) 2024/2838 has applied since 27 November 2024.

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

• Vehicle categories (European Commission).

KEY TERMS

1. Type-approval. The procedure whereby an approval authority certifies that a type of vehicle, system, component or separate technical unit satisfies certain prescribed legislative requirements.
2. Tractor. A motorised, wheeled or tracked agricultural or forestry vehicle that can travel at more than 6 km/h, designed for its power to pull, push, carry and actuate equipment or tow trailers.
3. Trailer. Any agricultural or forestry vehicle intended mainly to be towed by a tractor, to carry loads or to process materials.
4. Interchangeable towed equipment. Any vehicle used in agriculture or forestry designed to be towed by a tractor, incorporating tools and appliances that change or add to the tractor’s functions and temporarily storing any materials produced or needed during work.
5. Approval authority. The authority established by a Member State with competence for all aspects of vehicle type-approval.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 February 2013 on the approval and market surveillance of agricultural and forestry vehicles (OJ L 60, 2.3.2013, pp. 1–51).

Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/985 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 on environmental and propulsion unit performance requirements for agricultural and forestry vehicles and their engines.

See consolidated version.

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/504 implementing Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 on administrative requirements for the approval and market surveillance of agricultural and forestry vehicles.

See consolidated version.

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/208 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 on vehicle functional safety requirements for the approval of agricultural and forestry vehicles.

See consolidated version.

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/68 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 on vehicle braking requirements for the approval of agricultural and forestry vehicles.

See consolidated version.