Bodyshops get Fixed Penalty Notice warning

Bodyshops that do not conform with environmental regulations will be hit with fixed penalty notices, or on the spot fines, before the end of the year, Bodyshop.ie has learned.

Bodyshop.ie has learned that fixed payment notices (FPN) of €500 will be issued to bodyshops that do not comply with regulations, while FPN of €1,000 will be introduced for persons found to be selling paints, varnishes or vehicle refinishing products with VOC content above the limit value or products that are not labelled in accordance with the regulations.

The introduction of fixed payment notices has taken longer than anticipated as technical amendments to the legislation were required to allow for both FPNs and the existing structure of summary prosecutions at District Court level to work in tandem.

This process has now been completed. The new regulations will as before also allow for certified exception on the use of products with a VOC content above the legal limit for vintage vehicles. However, this can only be used with the express permission of the local authority.