Government proposes amendments to legislation on non-road mobile machinery and vehicles

On 27 August 2026, the Government submitted to Parliament a proposal to supplement the national implementation of the EU framework Regulation on non-road mobile machinery and the Euro 7 Regulation. The Regulations are related to vehicle approval, market surveillance and environmental requirements. At the same time, certain other national provisions would be laid down to amend the vehicle legislation.

The EU framework Regulation on non-road mobile machinery lays down EU-wide rules for approval and market surveillance system for example for excavators, wheel loaders and other non-road mobile machinery circulating on public roads. Uniform rules improve road safety and facilitate the sale of machinery to other EU countries. Phased application of the framework Regulation will begin in January 2028.

In the future, Finnish manufacturers will be able to use EU approval of non-road mobile machinery alongside national approvals in Finland. The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom would be designated as the competent type approval and market surveillance authority. Traficom would also have powers to impose penalty payments for breaches of obligations laid down in the Regulation.

Provisions on road vehicle emission limits and battery durability are laid down in the EU Euro 7 Regulation. The aim is to reduce exhaust and brake system emissions and to promote the transition towards zero-emission transport. The EU Euro 7 Regulation will be applied in stages from November 2026 onwards.

The Government proposal would update the penalties regulation of the Vehicles Act to correspond to the new obligations of the Euro 7 Regulation and specify the references in the car and vehicle tax legislation. These amendments are mainly technical in nature.

As a result of the central government productivity programme, the government proposal includes certain other legislative changes. To reduce costs, the first part of the paper registration certificate for heavy vehicles would no longer be automatically printed in connection with the registration. To facilitate supervision, legal entities would be required to register a designated person responsible for the use of vehicles in the Transport Register. The inspection supervision fee would be increased by 40 cents bringing it to EUR 2,60 so that the fee would better cover the costs incurred in supervision.

In addition, the proposal would introduce legislative amendments to reflect developments in vehicle technology The provisions would clarify the driver’s responsibility when using highly advanced driver assistance systems. An authorisation requirement would be laid down for repairs to new electric EBTS braking systems in heavy vehicles, as is currently the case for pneumatic brakes.

What’s next?

Parliament will begin to process the proposal with a referral debate in a plenary session. The proposal will then proceed to a committee reading. Following the committee report, the debate will continue in a plenary session.

The aim is that most parts of the proposed acts enter into force on 29 November 2026, when the first requirements of the Euro 7 Regulation are to be applied.

Inquiries:

Esa Aaltonen, Senior Adviser, tel. +358 29 534 2107, [email protected]

Anu Aavamäki-Tortosa, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 29 534 2026, [email protected]