Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Tyre Labelling Regulations (S.I. 342 of 2012) set out the national rules for implementing Regulation (EC) No. 1222/2009 on the labelling of tyres. These regulations are in place to ensure consumers are provided with information on the fuel efficiency, wet grip and external rolling noise of the tyre. This information is provided in the form of a label which, since 1 November 2012, must be displayed on or in close proximity to the tyre at the point of sale.

Under the Regulations, it is the responsibility of the tyre supplier (manufacturer or EU importer) to produce a label in the correct format for each tyre. Technical documentation must also be produced for the tyre to verify the accuracy of the information contained in the label for inspection purposes. No independent assessment is required for the production of the label. Compliance with the Tyre Labelling Regulations is monitored by national Market Surveillance Authorities (MSAs) which, for the purposes of tyre labelling, is located in my Department . My Department's market surveillance programme for 2014 – 2015, which also includes the Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Regulations, has been published in Ireland’s biennial national market surveillance programme compiled by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. Through this programme, which includes an awareness, inspection, testing and enforcement regime, my Department is committed to ensuring that levels of compliance improve.

Promoting and raising awareness, especially among retailers and distributors, is essential to ensuring compliance and in June 2013 my Department wrote to tyre suppliers and distributors informing them of their responsibilities. A training programme has also been put in place whereby, in advance of a formal inspection, each retailer receives a pre-inspection visit by an Authorised Officer to provide advice and assist them in meeting their obligations. We have also engaged the assistance of the Irish Tyre Industry Association. My Department's market surveillance programme will see 200 inspections of retail outlets carried out and a number of risk-based testing campaigns completed. It is expected that approximately one quarter of these surveillance activities will focus specifically on the Tyre Labelling Regulations.