The EU Parliament has voted not to introduce an MOT-style test for tractors and trailers.

Following trilogue talks between the European Parliament, Council and Commission at the end of last year, MEPs in Strasbourg announced on Tuesday (11 March) that they would abandon proposals to introduce an MOT-style test foe agricultural vehicles.

The plans, which formed part of the EU's wide-ranging 'Roadworthiness Package', would have introduced new MOT-style testing for many agricultural vehicles including tractors and all livestock trailers. Originally all 'O2' graded trailers, such as a normal livestock trailer towed behind a four wheel drive vehicle, would have been subject to testing.

Costs would have been borne by farmers, and agricultural unions lobbied against the proposals. On Tuesday the NFU, which opposed the plans, calling the road safety measures "disproportionate… prescriptive and onerous," welcomed the Parliament's vote. MEPs, backed by the EU Council, voted against testing of all livestock trailers.

On tractor testing the NFU also argued that requiring the same level of testing as is required for HGVs is unreasonable, due to the multiple uses of agricultural machinery and the fact they spend less time on the road in general (in the UK).

NFU Vice President Guy Smith commented, "This is a fantastic result following the lobbying efforts by the NFU's office in Brussels. We worked hard to explain to MEPs that imposing MOT tests on standard tractors and livestock trailers, used by thousands of farmers, would mean more needless red tape as well as increased costs in return for little safety benefit."

The measures, set out by the European Commission, were initially backed by the Parliament in summer 2013. The Resolution on Road Safety, of which they formed a part, aims to slash the number of deaths on Europe's roads by the end of the current decade.  

However, the NFU came under fire for lobbying to weaken health and safety regulations last year. Environment writer George Monbiot lambasted the union as "selfish, grasping and antisocial" and suggested people would "Remember [its lobbying work], next time someone is killed because a tractor's brakes fail." Despite the increased efforts of health and safety regulators and voluntary industry initiatives, farming remains the UK's most dangerous industry.

On Tuesday, Ed Morrow, a spokesperson for road safety charity Brake, said, "We are disappointed that these proposals have been abandoned, and would have been happy to support them. It is essential that all vehicles that use our roads are properly maintained so that they do not pose a danger to other road users."

Before the new road safety rules are fully passed the European Parliament must agree on a joint position with member states' transport ministers.