WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/Notif.99/568
19 November 1999
(99-5025)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   CANADA
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):           
2. Agency responsible:   Department of Transport
Agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification shall be
indicated if different from above:   National Enquiry Point
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ X], 2.10.1 [    ], 5.6.2 [    ], 5.7.1 [    ], other:           
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading.
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):   Low-speed vehicles
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Proposed Amendment
to the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (pages 3370-3380;  in English and French)
6. Description of content:  This amendment proposes to introduce a new class of vehicle,
namely low-speed vehicles (LSVs), and introduces their minimum safety requirements
under Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (MVSS) 500.  This amendment proposes that LSVsbe defined as four-wheeled electric vehicles  which have a minimum attainable speed of
32 km/h and a maximum top speed of 40 km/h.  To ensure that LSVs remain distinct from
other vehicle classes, the definitions of pa ssenger cars and multipurpose passenger vehicles
will also be amended.  In addition, sections 6 and 12 of the Motor Vehicle Safety
Regulations (MVSRs) specifying the labellin g requirements will be amended in accordance
with the new LSV vehicle class.
MVSS 500 will incorporate by reference Technical Standards Document (TSD) Number 500,
which specifies the minimum safety requirements that LSVs will be required to meet.  As a
minimum, LSVs will be required to be equipped wi th headlamps, tail lamps, turn signals, stop
lamps, reflex reflectors, an exterior mirror, a parking brake, a windshield, a 17 digit vehicle
identification number (VIN) and seat belts.  The VIN must meet the requirements of
section 15 of the MVSRs and the seat belts in stalled on LSVs must meet the requirements of
section 209 of the MVSRs.
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
Protection of the environment
8. Relevant documents:   Canada Gazette, Part I, 13 November 1999
9. Proposed date of adoption:
Proposed date of entry into force: }Not stated
10. Final date for comments:   12 January 2000
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ X] or address, e-mail and telefax
number of the other body:           