RV FEATURE |
When compliance problems
are identified, education and
advice is provided to the
manufacturer involved.
“It was necessary for the
industry to accept some
responsibility for oversight of
behaviour as, while the federal
government has regulatory
responsibility for the industry,
the ability of product to get
to market through a self-
declaration process has
caused some concern for
industry associations and
businesses wanting to do the
right thing,” Stuart Lamont,
CEO of the Caravan Industry
Association of Australia, said.
The industry is therefore
lobbying the federal
government concerning
proposed changes to the
Motor Vehicle Standards
Act. According to Mr Lamont,
the proposed changes
would require every RV
manufacturer to be registered
on a database, with pre-
and ongoing certification
requirements. This new
legislation would give the
government the ability to
enforce sanctions against
non-compliant manufacturers.
“For the sake of the
reputation of the industry,
and to provide a competitive
environment for industry
businesses doing the right
thing, this legislation review is
long overdue,” Mr Lamont said.
GROWING INSPECTIONS
Each year since its inception,
more RVMAP inspections
have occurred than the year
before. In 2016, more than
700 RVs were inspected.
As for manufacturers who
don’t participate in RVMAP,
their products are inspected
at RV shows. In 2016,
there was a 40 per cent
improvement in the number
of compliance issues
identified. Additionally,
comparative inspections at
RV shows in 2016 and so far
in 2017 between RVMAP-
accredited manufacturers
and those outside of the
program have shown a 40
per cent difference in the
amount of compliance
issues, in favour of RVMAP-
accredited businesses.
THE STATE OF VICTORIA
About 90 per cent of all
new RVs are built in Victoria.
Therefore, we asked Rob
Lucas, the CEO of the
Caravan Industry Association
of Victoria, how matters of
manufacturing compliance
could be improved.
Caravan Industry Association of Australia CEO Stuart Lamont speaks at the opening of the National Training
College. Seated are CIAV CEO Rob Lucas (far left) and president Nat Schiavello.
gorv.com.au
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