THE Government has announced revised regulations for grey imports that have not been type-approved in the UK. The new regulations relax the volume limits for imports, but impose stricter safety and environmental conditions.

From March 2000 the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions will replace the Single Vehicle Approval scheme's 50 per year model limit with a monthly quota on the total number of vehicles which can be approved. In March 2000 this quota will be 1,000 vehicles, increasing by 1,000 per month until it is lifted completely in December 2000.

But the grey imports will have to meet stiffer standards for: emissions, including carbon dioxide; noise; anti-theft immobilisers; braking systems; seatbelt anchorages; protective steering and frontal impact and side impact. Newer vehicles will have to comply with the Euro-2 drive-cycle test for emissions.