Members of the Committee on Economy, Budget, and Finance decided today to propose that Parliament consider, in its first reading, a draft law on type approval and market surveillance of road vehicles, according to the Parliament’s press office.
The legislative initiative was proposed by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development and aims to establish the necessary regulatory framework to harmonize technical requirements, administrative type-approval procedures, and national market surveillance mechanisms with European Union standards and international obligations assumed by the Republic of Moldova.
The bill provides for mandatory type approval of all road vehicles, including cars, trailers, motorcycles, three-wheeled vehicles, and ATVs, as well as auto parts and equipment. This measure aims to improve public safety and strengthen quality control over vehicles and auto parts. At the same time, a national registry of approvals, compatible with other government registries, will be established to ensure traceability and oversight.
Two Types of Type Approval
The draft law regulates two approval procedures—individual and type approval. Individual certification involves a separate assessment of each new, used, or modified vehicle to confirm compliance with minimum technical safety requirements and standards. The procedure consists of three stages: identification and verification of documents, inspection of the vehicle’s certification marks, and conducting the necessary technical inspections. This can be carried out either at designated technical centers or at the competent departments of the Agency for Public Services (APS).
Type certification involves a documentary review by the certifying body to verify the compliance of new vehicles—whether imported or modified in the Republic of Moldova—prior to their market introduction and registration.
Liability
The document also establishes administrative measures and sanctions applicable in cases of non-compliance of vehicles, systems, parts, and equipment placed on the market or used within the framework of certification procedures.
The mechanisms provided for in the draft, including the suspension, restriction, or revocation of certification; suspension or revocation of the designation of technical services; restriction of placing on the market; the application of corrective measures; or other similar administrative measures, do not constitute an offense or criminal sanctions within the meaning of general liability law. They constitute sector-specific administrative measures unique to the certification and market surveillance system, aimed at preventing and eliminating risks to road safety, public health and safety, environmental protection, and ensuring the technical conformity of regulated products. The market surveillance authority will be responsible for verifying the conformity of vehicles placed on the market and for implementing corrective measures.
The draft establishes a harmonized legal and technical framework applicable to parts, components, and equipment placed on the market, including in the aftermarket segment. Thus, technical requirements and conformity assessment mechanisms are established, and the sale of non-compliant parts will be prohibited.
Once adopted, the draft law on the approval and market surveillance of road vehicles will enter into force on January 1, 2029.
According to statistics, there are 1.16 million vehicles registered in the Republic of Moldova. The majority of them—more than 834,000—are passenger cars, including taxis.
