Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 30/01 – Smoke Emission Control for Diesel Vehicles) 2006

Administered by Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

Legislation au F2006L01280 In force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content


 

 

 

Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 30/01 — Smoke Emission Control for Diesel Vehicles) 2006

made under Section 12 of the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018

Compilation No. 2

Compilation date:  20/11/2025

Includes amendments: Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule) Amendment Instrument No. 2 of 2025

Volume 1 contains Clauses 0.1–6 and the Endnotes

Volume 2 contains Appendix A

Prepared by: Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 79/05 – Emission Control for Light Vehicles) 2024 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 20/11/2025 (the compilation date).

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.

Uncommenced amendments

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Register (www.legislation.gov.au).

Application, saving and transitional provisions

If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.

Modifications

If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. Any modifications affecting the law are accessible on the Register.

Selfrepealing provisions

If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

 

Contents

0.1 NAME OF STANDARD

1   SCOPE

2   APPLICABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION

3   DEFINITIONS

4   REQUIREMENTS

5   EXEMPTIONS AND ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES

6   ALTERNATIVE STANDARDS

ENDNOTES

 


0.1 NAME OF STANDARD

0.1.1 This Standard is the Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 30/01 – Smoke Emission Control for Diesel Vehicles) 2006.

0.1.2 This Standard may also be cited as ADR 30/01.

1   SCOPE

1.1 This vehicle standard prescribes the smoke emission requirements for diesel fuelled vehicles in order to reduce air pollution.

2   APPLICABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION

2.1 This vehicle standard applies to all M and N category vehicles with an engine that operates on diesel as provided in clause 2.2.

2.2  This vehicle standard applies:

2.2.1 from 1 January 2002 in relation to new model vehicles produced on or after 1 January 2002; and

2.2.2 from 1 January 2003 in relation to all vehicles produced on or after 1 January 2003, other than new model vehicles specified in clause 2.2.1.

2.3 For the purpose of clause 2.2.1, a “new model vehicle” is a vehicle of a model first produced with a date of manufacture on or after 1 January 2002.

2.4  To the extent of any inconsistency, the applicability dates specified in clause 2.2 apply in lieu of any dates specified in Appendix A.

2.5 This standard is not applicable to:

2.5.1 M and N category vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Mass less than or equal to 3.5 tonnes, which comply with the technical requirements of Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 79/04 — Emission Control for Light Vehicles) 2011, or a later series of this vehicle standard, or,

2.5.2 M and N category vehicles, with a Gross Vehicle Mass greater than 3.5 tonnes, which comply with the technical requirements of Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 80/03 — Emission Control for Heavy Vehicles) 2006, or a later series of this vehicle standard.

.

3   DEFINITIONS

3.1 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.

4   REQUIREMENTS

4.1 Vehicles complying with the technical requirements of Appendix A of this vehicle standard, as varied by Part 5 of this vehicle standard, will be accepted as complying with this vehicle standard.

5   EXEMPTIONS AND ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES

5.1 Any provision related to the administrative processes for obtaining a UN ECE or US EPA approval do not apply to this vehicle standard.

6   ALTERNATIVE STANDARDS

6.1 The technical requirements of UN ECE Regulation 24:

Uniform Provisions Concerning:

I. The approval of compression ignition (C.I.) engines with regard to the emission of visible pollutants

II.  The approval of motor vehicles with regard to the installation of C.I. engines of an approved type

III.  The approval of motor vehicles equipped with C.I. engines with regard to the emission of visible pollutants by the engine

IV.  The measurement of power of C.I. engine

incorporating the 03 series of amendments, are deemed to be equivalent to the technical requirements of this vehicle standard.

6.2 For M and N category vehicles with a GVM greater than 3.5 tonnes, the technical requirements for the Opacity of Smoke Emission of the USA Code of Federal Regulations, Part 86 – Control of Air Pollution from new and in-use motor vehicles and new and in-use motor vehicle engines certification and test procedures – Subpart A 40CFR 86.098-11 Emission standards for 1998 and later model year diesel heavy-duty engines and vehicles; and Subpart I – Emission Regulations for new diesel heavy-duty engines: smoke exhaust test procedure, are deemed to be equivalent to the technical requirements of this vehicle standard.

ENDNOTES

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.

The following endnotes are included in every compilation:

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

Abbreviation key—Endnote 2

The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.

Legislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4

Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.

The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.

The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.

Misdescribed amendments

A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe how an amendment is to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, then the misdescribed amendment can be incorporated through an editorial change made under section 15V of the Legislation Act 2003.

If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is not incorporated and “(md not incorp)” is added to the amendment history.

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

ad = added or inserted

orig = original

am = amended

p = page(s)

amdt = amendment

para = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s)

C[x] = Compilation No. x

/subsubparagraph(s)

ch = Chapter(s)

pres = present

cl = clause(s)

prev = previous

cont. = continued

(prev…) = previously

def = definition(s)

pt = Part(s)

Dict = Dictionary

r = regulation(s)/Court rule(s)

disallowed = disallowed by Parliament

reloc = relocated

div = Division(s)

renum = renumbered

exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have

rep = repealed

effect

rs = repealed and substituted

gaz = gazette

s = section(s)/subsection(s)

LA = Legislation Act 2003

/rule(s)/subrule(s)/order(s)/suborder(s)

LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003

sch = Schedule(s)

(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment

SLI = Select Legislative Instrument

cannot be given effect

SR = Statutory Rules

mod = modified/modification

sub ch = SubChapter(s)

No. = Number(s)

sub div = Subdivision(s)

Ord = Ordinance

sub pt = Subpart(s)

 

underlining = whole or part not

 

commenced or to be commenced

Endnote 3—Legislation history

 

Name

Registration

Commencement

Application, saving and transitional provisions

Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 30/01 — Smoke Emission Control for Diesel Vehicles) 2006

[F2006L01280]

21/03/2006

22/03/2006

 

Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule) Amendment Instrument 2021 (No.2)[F2021L01629]

29/11/2021

30/11/2021

 

Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule) Amendment Instrument No. 2 of 2025
[F2025L01404]

19/11/2025

20/11/2025

 

Endnote 4—Amendment history

 

Provision affected

How affected

Amending legislation/instrument

cl 0.2

rep

Legislation Act 2003 – section 48D

cl 0.3

rep

Legislation Act 2003 – section 48C

cl 2.5

ad

Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule) Amendment Instrument 2021 (No.2)

Appendix A

rs

Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule) Amendment Instrument 2021 (No.2)

cl 2.5

am

Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule) Amendment Instrument No. 2 of 2025

 

Overview

The Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 30/01 – Smoke Emission Control for Diesel Vehicles) 2006, enacted under the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018, was introduced to address the issue of air pollution caused by diesel vehicles. This legislative instrument was established by the Australian Parliament and aims to reduce the emission of smoke from diesel vehicles. The standard specifies the smoke emission requirements for diesel-fuelled vehicles to ensure that they comply with certain technical standards, thereby mitigating the environmental impact of air pollution. The regulation applies to M and N category vehicles produced from 1 January 2002 and 1 January 2003, respectively, excluding those that meet the requirements of other relevant vehicle standards for light and heavy vehicles. This legislative instrument includes provisions on the scope, applicability, definitions, requirements, exemptions, and alternative standards for smoke emission control in diesel vehicles. It also outlines the technical requirements and the deemed equivalence to international standards such as UN ECE Regulation 24 and the USA Code of Federal Regulations. The legislative instrument has undergone amendments to align with evolving environmental standards and technological advancements, as evidenced by the updates in 2021 and 2025.

Scope and Application

The Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 30/01 — Smoke Emission Control for Diesel Vehicles) 2006 applies to all M and N category vehicles with an engine that operates on diesel, with specific implementation dates set for new model vehicles and all other vehicles produced on or after 1 January 2002 and 1 January 2003 respectively. This standard aims to reduce air pollution by prescribing smoke emission requirements. It does not apply to M and N category vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) less than or equal to 3.5 tonnes, which must comply with the technical requirements of the Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 79/04 — Emission Control for Light Vehicles) 2011, or a later series, and similarly, it does not apply to M and N category vehicles with a GVM greater than 3.5 tonnes, which must comply with the technical requirements of the Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 80/03 — Emission Control for Heavy Vehicles) 2006, or a later series. The standard extends its application through subordinate instruments and deems the technical requirements of certain international standards, such as UN ECE Regulation 24 and USA Code of Federal Regulations, as equivalent to its own technical requirements for specified vehicle categories.

Key Provisions

The Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 30/01 – Smoke Emission Control for Diesel Vehicles) 2006, as amended, outlines the requirements for smoke emission control for diesel-fuelled vehicles to reduce air pollution. This legislative instrument applies to all M and N category vehicles with diesel engines, with specific implementation dates for new model vehicles and all other vehicles. Notably, vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Mass of less than or equal to 3.5 tonnes and those greater than 3.5 tonnes are subject to different standards if they comply with the technical requirements of other specific vehicle standards. The Act imposes obligations on manufacturers to ensure their diesel vehicles meet the specified smoke emission standards. Vehicles must adhere to the technical requirements outlined in Appendix A of the vehicle standard, as modified by Part 5. Exemptions from certain administrative processes for obtaining UN ECE or US EPA approval are explicitly stated. Additionally, the technical requirements of UN ECE Regulation 24 and the USA Code of Federal Regulations are deemed equivalent to the Australian standards for the purposes of compliance. Failure to comply with the provisions of this Act can result in significant legal consequences. Penalties for non-compliance are not explicitly detailed in the legislative instrument, but they may include fines, vehicle recalls, or other enforcement actions under the overarching Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018. The specific penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, as well as any relevant state or territory laws. The legislative framework provides a robust system for ensuring that diesel vehicles on Australian roads meet stringent emission standards, thereby protecting public health and the environment.

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Environmental Law
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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.