Colombia has taken a significant step towards cleaner air by adopting Euro VI emission standards for diesel vehicles. Law No. 1972, passed in July 2019, mandates that all diesel vehicles imported or manufactured within the country must meet Euro VI standards from January 1, 2023. This legislation also includes an unprecedented clause requiring all diesel vehicles operating in Colombia to comply with Euro VI standards by 2035. While this move signals a strong commitment to reducing emissions, the specifics of the law have raised concerns and ambiguities that require further clarification.
Key Aspects of Colombia’s Euro VI Regulation
The new law outlines several key requirements for vehicle emissions in Colombia:
- Euro VI for New Diesel Vehicles: As of January 1, 2023, all new land-based mobile sources with diesel engines must adhere to Euro VI, or equivalent or superior emission limits. This primarily targets newly manufactured and imported diesel vehicles.
- Nationwide Euro VI Compliance by 2035: A more unique and potentially impactful aspect of the law is the mandate for all diesel-powered vehicles in circulation across Colombia to meet Euro VI emission standards by January 1, 2035. This suggests a phasing out of older, more polluting diesel vehicles over time.
- Euro 3 for New Motorcycles: Starting January 1, 2021, all new motorcycles must meet Euro 3 emission standards, or their equivalent. Furthermore, a plan is to be developed to ensure all motorcycles in circulation meet Euro 3 standards by 2030.
- On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) for Diesel Vehicles: Within two years of the law’s passage, regulations are to be finalized requiring diesel vehicles to be equipped with OBD systems, enhancing emissions monitoring and control.
- Zero-Emission Public Transport Targets: By January 1, 2030, at least 20% of the fleets of Integrated Mass Transportation Systems and other public transport systems must consist of zero-emission vehicles. This promotes the adoption of cleaner technologies in public transportation.
- Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel: The regulation mandates a reduction in diesel fuel sulfur content to 10-15 ppm by January 1, 2023, aligning fuel quality with the requirements of advanced emission control technologies used in Euro VI vehicles.
Ambiguities and Potential Challenges
While the intent of Law No. 1972 is clear – to improve air quality by adopting stricter Euro emission standards in Colombia – the text contains several ambiguities and potential implementation challenges:
- Conflicting Emission Standards Definitions: The law references Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 to define Euro VI limits for various vehicle categories. However, this EU regulation primarily applies to light-duty vehicles and not heavy-duty vehicles like N3 and M3. Additionally, the law specifies emissions testing over the World Harmonized Transient Cycle (WHTC), which is typically used for heavy-duty engine testing. This apparent mix-up between light-duty and heavy-duty vehicle emission requirements creates confusion regarding the precise standards to be met.
- Scope of “Land-Based Mobile Sources”: The wording “land-based mobile sources with a diesel engine” is broad and could be interpreted to include not only on-road vehicles but also non-road mobile machinery. The law uses the term “Euro VI, their equivalent or superior emission limits,” which might be intended to address this ambiguity, potentially allowing for Stage IV/V or Tier 4 engines (non-road standards) to be considered equivalent to Euro VI. However, this requires clarification.
- Diesel Fuel Sulfur Regulation Uncertainty: The diesel fuel sulfur limits, as written, could be misinterpreted to mean that supplying diesel with less than 10 ppm sulfur between 2023 and 2025 would be illegal. This is likely an oversight and not the intended outcome, as the goal is to promote lower sulfur fuels.
- Retroactive Vehicle Emission Standards and Social Impact: The most unusual and potentially contentious aspect is the requirement for all in-use diesel vehicles to meet Euro VI standards by 2035. This effectively means older vehicles not meeting these standards could be rendered illegal to operate. Such a retroactive measure is unprecedented at a national level and could disproportionately affect lower-income populations who cannot afford newer vehicles. This could lead to social and economic challenges, drawing parallels to movements like the French “gilets jaunes” if not carefully managed.
The Path Forward for Euro VI in Colombia
The VERT Association, in a press release, indicated that Colombia is considering implementing a periodic technical inspection (NPTI) program using particle counting instruments to monitor emissions from in-use vehicles. While not explicitly mentioned in Law 1972, such a program could be introduced through separate regulations to support the enforcement of the new emission standards.
Law No. 1972 appears to be a foundational step, setting the legislative direction for cleaner vehicle emissions in Colombia. It is expected that Resolution 910 of 2008, which currently governs mobile source emissions, will be revised to incorporate the Euro VI requirements and address the ambiguities present in the new law. Clearer and more detailed regulatory acts will be crucial to ensure the effective and equitable implementation of Euro emission standards in Colombia, maximizing environmental benefits while minimizing potential social and economic disruptions.
Source: VERT | Library of Congress
