"the ECMT Council" means the Council of Ministers of the European Conference of Ministers of Transport;

(a) between the United Kingdom and other member countries of the European Conference of Ministers of Transport;

(b) between the United Kingdom and certain states with whom bilateral agreements or arrangements have been concluded;

(c) in transit through Austria ("Ecopoints");

(d) in Switzerland.

The Regulations prescribe, in regulations 3(1), 3(2), 3(3)(a) and 3(4) fees higher than those charged previously under the 2000 Regulations in relation to, respectively, the issue of an ECMT licence, Ecopoints, a journey permit for a single outward and inward journey, and a removals authorisation as follows:

old fee	new fee
£74	£107
£18.50	£27
£2	£3
£4	£6
£9	£14

The Ecopoints system was created by an Agreement concluded on 30th November 1992 and taking effect on 1st January 1993 between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Austria on the transit of goods by road and rail ("the Transit Agreement") (OJ No. L373, 21.12.1992, p. 6). Under the Transit Agreement the number of Ecopoints required by a road vehicle if it is to travel through Austria is determined according to the level of nitrogen oxide which it emits. The prescribed fee (r.3(2)) is payable for the issue of Ecopoints covering one journey through Austria, whether outward, inward or transit.

In relation to the issue of journey permits other than for a single (outward and inward) journey, regulation 3(b) and (c) prescribes rates for journey permits of 4 journeys to Turkey (£11, previously £8) and 15 journeys to Morocco (£41, previously £28).

From 1st January 2001 to 31st December 2004, access to Switzerland by Community heavy goods vehicles (laden weight over 34 tonnes and up to 40 tonnes) is controlled by means of quotas of Swiss permits, as allocated to the Community by Switzerland. European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No. 2888/2000 ("the EC Regulation") establishes the rules governing the management and distribution of the permits among Member States.

Regulation 3(5) prescribes the fee (£6, previously £4) payable for the issue of a Swiss permit. These permits fall into two types: (1) full-weight permits which are required by the Swiss authorities and authorise the operation of heavy goods vehicles with a laden weight of over 34 tonnes and up to 40 tonnes on journeys in Switzerland; and (2) empty permits for heavy goods vehicles which are empty or transporting light loads.

Empty permits are available on a quotas basis for the purpose of securing reduced charges for use of Swiss motorways. Since reductions in Swiss motorway charges for heavy goods vehicles are only available for vehicles with an empty or laden weight between 7.5 and 28 tonnes, this weight band is in effect taken to be a light load.

No reduction in Swiss motorway charges is available for heavy goods vehicles in excess of 28 tonnes but less than 34 tonnes in weight, hence no Swiss permit is either required or issued for this category.

No distinction is made between the two types of Swiss permit for purposes of the fee charged, but they are subject to separate quota arrangements set out in the EC Regulation.

ECMT publications may be obtained from the OECD Publications Service, 2 Rue André Pascal, 75775 Paris Cedex 16, France.

A Regulatory Impact Assessment has been carried out and a copy placed in the library of both Houses of Parliament. Copies can be obtained from the Road Freight Operations Policy Division, Zone 2/22, Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, Great Minister House, 76 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DR (telephone 020 7944 2776).