Five years of lobbying bears fruit

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AUSTRALIA'S peak caravanning body has welcomed new laws which it claims will transform the industry.

The new Road Vehicle Standards Act (RVSA) ‒ which will come into force next year ‒ has navigated its final hurdle through the Senate after five years of lobbying by the Caravan Industry Association of Australia.

Chief executive Stuart Lamont said it would result in safer caravanning products and provide better conditions for industry businesses burdened with having to compete with cheap imported products flouting tough Australian standards and design rules.

• The association has released information explaining what the new rules will mean for industry businesses:
  
  All manufacturers and importers (over four units annually) will be required to obtain an approval from the Federal Government to supply RV product under 4.5 tonne to the market.
  
  All products manufactured or imported (first supplied to market – new or used and above four units annually) within three weight ranges will be required to be covered by a model approval.
  
  All products supplied to market (below four units per made) will be required to be physically inspected by a Government approved facility against Federal compliance.
  
  All products manufactured or imported will be required to be logged onto a Register of Approved Vehicles (an electronic database) prior for individual products will be able to be registered through a state based registration system. This database will be able to be searchable by Government authorities and consumers alike.
  
  The Federal Department will have increased powers which include removing approval to supply to market, fines or the issuing of a recall (which includes for non-safety related matters).
  
  The rules and logistics which sit below the legislation are still being worked out through consultative groups, which Caravan Industry Association of Australia is an active participant within.
  
  Caravan Industry Association of Australia will work with state associations and industry businesses to ensure that industry is both fully aware of their obligations and are compliant by the time the law comes into effect. It will also continue to provide information as it comes to hand of the rules which sit below the legislation.

To see more comments from the Caravanning Industry Association of Australia, go our our main page by clicking here.