§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many power lawnmowers have been checked by the officers appointed by his Department to establish whether the noise they make is consistent with the Lawnmowers (Harmonisation of Noise Emission Standards) Regulations; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Robert AtkinsThe Lawnmowers (Harmonisation of Noise Emission Standards) Regulations 1986 do not make provision for appointing officers to carry out checks to establish whether the noise powered lawnmowers make is consistent with them.
The regulations came into force on 18 November 1986 and introduce into United Kingdom law the European Community article 100 directive on the approximation of the laws of member states relating to the permissible sound power level of lawnmowers (84/538/EEC). The directive has to be applied as from 1 July 1987 and our regulations were introduced in advance of that date in order to give manufacturers and importers opportunity to obtain reports on the tests carried out on each type of lawnmower for the purpose of self-certification in readiness for marketing on or after 1 July 1987. I am aware that some of the nine appointed test laboratories have been making such reports for some time, but as the manufacturers apply direct to the test laboratory my Department does not get involved or record the numbers involved.
The regulations empower the Secretary of State to carry out checks on the manufacturers continuing production, but no such checks have as yet been made.