The government has approved the regulation on self-service, setting clear operating conditions for car workshops, starting with the minimum technical equipment, the quality of services and the management of waste resulting from repairs, IPN reports.

For the first time, the way in which workshops can carry out maintenance, repair, adjustment or dismantling of vehicles is regulated, as more than 75% of Moldova’s car fleet consists of cars more than ten years old. According to the authorities, lack of proper maintenance and compliant repairs can lead to high emissions and road safety problems.

Registration in the Register of Related Activities and compliance with the technical requirements will become mandatory for all economic operators offering self-service. Workshops will have 12 months from the publication of the ruling to comply, and those already notified will have an additional one year.

The aims of the regulation include reducing the risk of accidents caused by faulty repairs, preventing the use of counterfeit parts and minimising pollution caused by toxic waste generated in the repair process. The new requirements include equipping workshops with modern equipment and requiring certification of service quality, where applicable.

Enforcement of the new regulation will be monitored by the National Motor Transport Agency, which will collect data on compliance with the new requirements, the quality of the work carried out and respect for consumer rights.