{"id":"F2011L02015","name":"Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 79/03 — Emission Control for Light Vehicles) 2011","slug":"vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-79-03-emission-control-for-light-vehicles-2011","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":87420,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2011L02015-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"0.1","sectionType":"part","heading":"NAME OF STANDARD [see Note 1]","content":"# 0.1 NAME OF STANDARD \\[see Note 1\\]\n\n0.1.1 This Standard is the Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 79/03 — Emission Control for Light Vehicles) 2011.\n\n0.1.2 This Standard may also be cited as ADR 79/03.","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"0.2","sectionType":"part","heading":"COMMENCEMENT [see Note 1]","content":"# 0.2 COMMENCEMENT \\[see Note 1\\]\n\n0.2.1 This Standard commences on the day after it is registered.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"part","heading":"SCOPE","content":"# 1 SCOPE\n\n1.1 This vehicle standard prescribes the exhaust and evaporative emissions requirements for light vehicles in order to reduce air pollution.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"part","heading":"APPLICABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION","content":"# 2 APPLICABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION\n\n2.1 This vehicle standard is applicable to all M and N category vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Mass less than or equal to 3.5 tonnes, notwithstanding the reference mass provisions of paragraph 1.1 of Appendix A.\n\n2.2 This vehicle standard applies from 1 November 2013 in relation to new model vehicles produced on or after 1 November 2013.\n\n2.3 For the purposes of clause 2.2, a “new model vehicle” is a vehicle of a model first produced with a ‘Date of Manufacture’ on or after 1 November 2013.\n\n2.4 To the extent of any inconsistency, the applicability date specified in clause 2.2 applies in lieu of any dates specified in Appendix A.\n\n2.5 Vehicles which comply with ADR 79/04 need not comply with this vehicle standard.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"part","heading":"DEFINITIONS","content":"# 3 DEFINITIONS\n\n3.1 For the purposes of clause 2.3, “date of manufacture” means the date the vehicle is available in Australia in a condition which will enable an identification plate to be lawfully affixed to the vehicle.","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"part","heading":"REQUIREMENTS","content":"# 4 REQUIREMENTS\n\n4.1 Vehicles which comply with the emissions limits and technical requirements of Appendix A of this vehicle standard, including all the applicable tests specified in paragraph 5.2 of Appendix A, and as varied by Part 5 of this vehicle standard, will be accepted as complying with this vehicle standard.","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"part","heading":"EXEMPTIONS AND ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES","content":"# 5 EXEMPTIONS AND ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES\n\n5.1 The following provisions of Appendix A do not apply to this vehicle standard:\n\nSection 3 Application for Approval\n\nSection 4 Approval\n\nSection 6 Modifications of the vehicle type\n\nSection 8 Conformity of production\n\nSection 9 In-service conformity\n\nSection 10 Penalties for non-conformity of production\n\nSection 11 Production definitely discontinued\n\nSection 12 Transitional provisions\n\nSection 13 Names and addresses of technical services responsible for conducting approval tests, and of administrative departments\n\nAppendix 1 Procedure for verifying the conformity of production requirements if the production standard deviation given by the manufacturer is satisfactory\n\nAppendix 2 Procedure for verifying the conformity of production requirements if the production standard deviation given by the manufacturer is either not satisfactory or not available\n\nAppendix 3 In-service conformity check\n\nAppendix 4 Statistical procedure for in-service conformity check\n\nAppendix 5 Responsibilities for in service conformity\n\nAnnex 1 Engine and vehicle characteristics and information concerning the conduct of tests\n\nAnnex 2 Communication\n\nAnnex 3 Arrangements of the Approval Mark\n\n5.2 In section 5 of Appendix A, the entire text and table regarding small volume manufacturers immediately following the heading “5. Specifications and tests” is deleted.\n\n5.3 Notwithstanding that Section 8 and 9 and Appendices 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of Appendix A have been declared not applicable in clause 5.1 of this vehicle standard, the requirements and procedures set out in these appendices are deemed acceptable for the purposes of demonstrating compliance with the conformity requirements of this vehicle standard.\n\n5.4 The test procedures for measuring particulate mass emissions in Annex 4 of Appendix A of ADR 79/02 may be used in lieu of the test procedures for measuring particulate mass emissions in Annex 4a of Appendix A of this vehicle standard, and in that case a particulate mass emissions limit of 5mg/km will apply in lieu of the particulate mass emissions limit values specified in column L5 of Table 1 of paragraph 5.3.1.4 of Appendix A.\n\n5.5 Vehicles which operate on diesel are not required to comply with the limit values for the number of particles from compression ignition engines specified in column L6 of Table 1 of paragraph 5.3.1.4 of Appendix A.\n\n5.6 For the purposes of the Type VI test specified in paragraph 5.3.5 of Appendix A, flex fuel ethanol vehicles are only required to perform the Type VI test on the petrol (E5) reference fuel specified in the table to paragraph 2 of Annex 10 of Appendix A.\n\n5.7 In the on-board diagnostics (OBD) threshold limits table in paragraph 3.3.2 of Annex 11 of Appendix A, footnote 2 is amended to read “PM threshold limit of 80 mg/km shall apply to vehicles of categories M and N with a reference mass greater than 1,760kg.”\n\n5.8 Vehicles which operate on petrol are not required to comply with the requirement for monitoring the reduction in the efficiency of the catalytic converter with respect to NOx emissions specified in paragraph 3.3.3.1 of Annex 11 of Appendix A.\n\n5.9 In Appendix 1 of Annex 11 of Appendix A, the entire text of paragraph 7 regarding \nin-use performance requirements for OBD systems is deleted.","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"part","heading":"ALTERNATIVE STANDARDS","content":"# 6 ALTERNATIVE STANDARDS\n\n6.1 The technical requirements of United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation No. 83 Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the emissions of pollutants according to engine fuel requirements, Revision 4, incorporating the 06 series of Amendments, are deemed to be equivalent to the technical requirements of this vehicle standard.\n\n> Notes to the Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 79/03 — Emission Control for Light Vehicles) 2011\n\n> Note 1\n\n> Note: The Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 79/03 — Emission Control for Light Vehicles) 2011 (in force under section 7 of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989) as shown in this compilation is amended as indicated in the Tables below.\n\n> Note: > Note: Table of Instruments\n\n| Title | Date of FRLI Registration | Date ofcommencement | Application, saving ortransitional provisions |\n| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------- | ------------------- | --------------------------------------------- |\n| Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 79/03 — Emission Control for Light Vehicles) 2011 | 4 Oct 2011 (see F2011L02015) | 5 Oct 2011 | |\n| Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 79/03 — Emission Control for Light Vehicles) 2011 Amendment 1 | 15 May 2012 (see F2012L01038) | 16 May 2012 | — |\n\n> Note: > Note: Table of Amendments\n\n```html\n

ad. = added or inserted am. = amended rep. = repealed rs. = repealed and substituted

Provision affected

How affected

C. 5.6....................

rs. F2012L01038

\n```","sortOrder":7}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument does not change the category of vehicles covered: it applies to M and N category vehicles with GVW ≤3.5 tonnes and to models first produced on or after 1 November 2013. The text adjusts testing, conformity and approval procedures and provides exemptions and alternative compliance routes, but does not broaden or narrow the defined vehicle scope in this document."},"complexity_factors":["Extensive cross-references to Appendix A with many deletions and targeted variations (see cl.4.1; cl.5.1).","Different obligations and exceptions by fuel type and vehicle reference mass (see cl.5.5, cl.5.8, cl.5.7).","Multiple alternative test procedures and an explicit equivalence to UNECE Reg.83, creating route-choice for compliance (see cl.5.4; cl.6.1).","Declaration that key conformity and in-service approval procedures are ‘not applicable’ while simultaneously deeming them acceptable for demonstrating compliance — potential for interpretive and administrative inconsistency (see cl.5.1; cl.5.3).","Transitional timing rules and the definitional hinge of ‘new model’ tied to ‘date of manufacture’ affect when obligations apply (see cl.2.2–2.3; cl.3.1).","Targeted amendments to OBD thresholds and deletion of specific in-use performance text create technical detail that manufacturers and testers must track (see cl.5.7; cl.5.9)."],"plain_english_summary":"Mechanically, this standard sets exhaust and evaporative emissions limits and test procedures for light M and N vehicles with Gross Vehicle Mass ≤3.5 tonnes, requires compliance for new models produced on or after 1 November 2013, and allows specified exemptions, alternative test methods and equivalence to UNECE Regulation No.83. It affects vehicle manufacturers and approval authorities: manufacturers pay for testing and compliance and may use the permitted alternative procedures, while authorities decide acceptance. The stated aim is to reduce air pollution; the rules shift testing burdens and introduce fuel- and mass-based exceptions."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation appears consistent with its original intent. It implements emission control requirements for light vehicles by adopting and modifying international (UNECE) standards for the Australian context. The various exemptions and alternative procedures in Part 5 represent deliberate tailoring of the international standard rather than scope creep."},"complexity_factors":["Heavy reliance on incorporated external document (UNECE Regulation 83, Revision 4 with 06 series amendments) which is not reproduced in the text","Numerous specific cross-references to annexes, appendices, paragraphs, tables and footnotes of the external regulation (e.g., 'column L6 of Table 1 of paragraph 5.3.1.4 of Appendix A')","Selective disapplication of entire sections and appendices from the incorporated standard (Section 3, 4, 6, 8-13 and Appendices 1-5 declared not applicable in clause 5.1)","Nested conditional logic: exemptions that apply 'notwithstanding' other provisions (clause 5.3), and alternative procedures that apply 'in lieu of' standard requirements (clause 5.4)","Technical terminology requiring specialised automotive engineering knowledge (Type VI test, OBD threshold limits, reference mass, flex fuel ethanol vehicles, particulate mass emissions)","Amendment structure creates version control complexity - the standard has been amended once (Amendment 1 in 2012) with substitution of clause 5.6","Interaction with parallel standards (ADR 79/02, ADR 79/04) creates a matrix of compliance pathways"],"plain_english_summary":"This rule sets Australian limits on exhaust and evaporative emissions and requires on‑board diagnostics for new passenger and light commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes (first manufactured from 1 Nov 2013). It adopts UNECE Regulation 83’s technical tests but drops European-style approval and conformity procedures and allows alternative particulate tests and some fuel‑type exemptions.\n\nIt affects manufacturers and importers supplying the Australian market, reducing vehicle pollution to protect health and the environment while giving industry practical compliance flexibility."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-79-03-emission-control-for-light-vehicles-2011","history":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-79-03-emission-control-for-light-vehicles-2011/history","analysis":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-79-03-emission-control-for-light-vehicles-2011/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-79-03-emission-control-for-light-vehicles-2011/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-79-03-emission-control-for-light-vehicles-2011/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-79-03-emission-control-for-light-vehicles-2011/documents"}}