Member states need to take responsibility for poor enforcement of operating standards, rather than raising quality standards across the board, the FTA has told the European Commission.

Responding to the EC Consultation on the revision of Community and Legislation on the Access to the Road Transport Market and the Admission to the Occupation of Road Transport Operator, the FTA said higher quality standards for road operators’ entry and conduct in the industry were not required. Instead, member states need to implement appropriate systems,

not simply add burdens to the industry in states that enforce regulations and achieve a high compliance rate, it said.

The consultation asked whether higher qualitative requirements should be imposed relating to insurance, financial standing, personnel qualifications, vehicle maintenance, operating conditions and related matters.

But while the FTA said it supports measures to improve standards, it believes that higher qualitative requirements would not necessarily lead to improved standards within the EU market.

It said, these indeed, could present additional unnecessary barriers, would be disproportionately burdensome for industry and would be contrary to the Commission's targets to simplify procedures and avoid excessive complexity.

Responding to the Davidson Review on implementation of EU legislation in the UK, the FTA also criticised domestic regulations that interpret the EU requirement to demonstrate available capital and reserves as “cash in the bank” or “overdraft facilities”.

Immobilisation of funds is not sound business practice and this interpretation is extremely inflexible when compared to all other member states except for Luxembourg, it said.

The association has been invited to meet with the Cabinet Office to discuss the issue further.

It suggested that member states should be required to establish an EU-linked information database to assist effective enforcement operations in every member state, such as is used in the UK.