On new requirements for the environmental indicators of agricultural tractors in the Customs Union

BACKGROUND: Decisions of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission No. 127 of October 29, 2021. and No. 89 dated 04/15/2022. amendments have been made to the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union “On the safety of agricultural and forestry tractors and trailers for them” (TR CU 031/2012).

AIMS: Analysis of modern requirements for the environmental indicators of agricultural tractors in the Customs Union.

METHOD: Analytical.

RESULTS: By the decision of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission (October 29, 2021.) amendments have been made to the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union 031/2012, which cover the issues as follows: clarification of the requirements for the emission of harmful substances with exhaust gases from diesel engines, installed on mentioned tractors; introduction (for the first time) of requirements for emissions of harmful substances to dual-fuel engines (i.e. on the gas-diesel process); clarification of similar requirements for spark-ignition engines, operating on gaseous fuel. Environmental requirements for diesel engines correspond to the European level of Stage IIA level for the period up to 09/01/2022 and to the Stage IIIA after the specified period. The requirements for dual-fuel and gas engines are in accordance with those, specified in the technical documentation, until 09/01/2022 and in accordance with those, specified in TR CU 031/2012, after this date.

CONCLUSIONS: Clarification in the Technical Regulations 031/2012 of the regulatory requirements for the emission level of agricultural tractors eliminates the ambiguity in understanding of these requirements.

The replacement of conventional fuel with gaseous fuel theoretically provides a reduction in the emission of harmful substances from the exhaust gases of engines.

The replacement of diesel fuel with natural gas (methane) allows, theoretically, to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide, considered as one of the gases, contributing to the greenhouse effect, by 15%.

In order to ensure the development of the russian economy in the context of sanctions, it is advisa-ble to cancel the coming into force the Stage IIIA level environmental standards for agricultural tractors from 09/01/2022, which is given in the TR CU 031/2012.

These changes concern relate, firstly, to the clarification of the requirements for the emission of harmful substances with exhaust gases from diesel engines installed on these tractors, and secondly, the introduction (for the first time) of the requirements for emissions of harmful substances to dual-fuel engines (i.e. on the gas-diesel process), and thirdly, clarification of similar requirements for spark ignition engines running on gas fuel. Fuel gas refers to compressed natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas. Environmental requirements for diesel engines for the period up to 09/01/2023. correspond to the European level of Stage II, and after the specified period – to the level of Stage IIIA. For dual-fuel and gas engines. requirements for emissions of harmful substances: until 09/01/2023 - in accordance with those specified in the technical documentation, and after the specified period – in accordance with those specified in TR CU 031/2012.