Minister confirms: Serbia will ban import of older cars, and here's when

Serbian Environment Minister Goran Trivan says Serbia will ban imports of obsolete used cars with Euro 3 and Euro 4 engines to protect citizens and the environment.

"Serbia will keep up with the world and will ban the import of cars with the worst engines, that Europe is phasing out to protect the population and the environment. Banning the import of used cars with Euro 3 or Euro 4 engines is not just a matter of transport and the economy, and should not be seen as a social issue alone, because the economy cannot take precedence over protecting health and the environment," said Trivan.

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His assessment is that halfway through next year we will be able complete the documents required for this.

Addressing a round table in the Serbian Chamber of Commerce - on the topic of "Environmental Impact of Transport in the Republic of Serbia, Problems and Possible Solutions" - he said that the worrying, steady increase in the import of used vehicles with the lowest quality engines must be stopped because of environmental pollutants due to emissions, and because they represent potentially hazardous waste, which, when no longer used, must be processed.

"Serbia doesn't currently have the capacity to process this type of waste, and that is why we are preparing a solution to build such plants next year, because the situation is made more difficult by the fact that the EU is likely to ban the export of such waste from 2021," Trivan said.

According to his cabinet, he said that air pollution is a worldwide problem that affects urban residents the most.

He cited global statistics that said over 90 percent of the world’s population is inhaling polluted air, which is endangering urban areas the most, and forecasts that 70 percent of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050.

In particular, Trivan pointed out that according to the World Health Organization, more than 6,500 people die in Serbia annually from effects of air pollution.

He recalled that the oldest vehicles are the least safe and that if the statistics were used showing which vehicles are involved in traffic accidents in Serbia, it might be discovered that they are the worst offenders.

Representatives of a number of ministries and media organizations and the Trade Association took part in the round table organized in the Chamber of Commerce at the initiative of authorized importers of vehicles and auto parts, the statement said.

(Telegraf Biznis/Tanjug)