
1 

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 and shall come into operation on 20th April 1999.
(2) In these Regulations—
 “EC certificate of conformity” and “light passenger vehicle” have the same meaning as in Article 31(A)(7) of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981;
 “the principal Regulations” means the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1989.
2 
After regulation 83A of the principal Regulations there shall be inserted the following—“
83B 

(1) This regulation applies to every light passenger vehicle first used on or after 20th April 1999 in respect of which an EC certificate of conformity has effect.
(2) No person shall use or cause or permit to be used on a road any vehicle to which this regulation applies unless any mechanical coupling device which is attached to it complies with the relevant technical and installation requirements of Annexes I, V, VI and VII of Community Directive 94/20 and is marked in accordance with sub-paragraphs 3.3.4 to 3.3.5 of Annex I to that Directive.
(3) For the purposes of this regulation, in a case where a vehicle is drawing a trailer a mechanical coupling device shall not be regarded as being attached to that vehicle if it forms part of the trailer.
(4) In this regulation “mechanical coupling device” shall be construed in accordance with paragraph 2.1 of Annex I to Community Directive 94/20.”.
3 
In Table 1 of Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations, after item 67, there shall be inserted the following item—“
67A 94/20 30.5.94 L195, 29.7.94, p. 1 Mechanical coupling devices of motor vehicles and their trailers  ”.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of the Environment on
J. Ritchie
Assistant Secretary
9th March 1999.