G/TBT/N/GBR/116

30 March 2026

(26-2506)

Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade

Original: English

2.

Agency responsible:

Department for Transport

3.

Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [ ], 5.6.2 [ ], 5.7.1 [ ], 3.2 [ ], 7.2 [ ], Other:

4.

Products covered (HS codes or national tariff lines. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):

8701 - Tractors (other than tractors of heading 8709)

8702 - Motor vehicles for the transport of ten or more persons, including the driver

8703 - Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons (other than those of heading 8702), including station wagons and racing cars

8704 - Motor vehicles for the transport of goods

8705 - Special purpose motor vehicles, other than those principally designed for the transport of persons or goods (for example, breakdown lorries, crane lorries, fire fighting vehicles, concrete-mixer lorries, road sweeper lorries, spraying lorries, mobile workshops, mobile radiological units)

5.

Details of notified document(s) (title, number of pages and languages, means of access):

Automated Vehicles (Marketing Restrictions) Regulations 2026; (2 page(s), in English)

Link to notified document(s) and/or contact details for agency or authority which can provide copies upon request:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6835d53a9c2ff625fff69338/draft-market-standards-the-automated-vehicles-marketing-restrictions-regulations.pdf

6.

Description of content:

These Regulations set out a list of restricted terms for the purposes of section 78 of the Automated Vehicles Act 2024 ("the Act"). That section provides that restricted terms may be used in connection with road vehicles only if used in connection with authorised automated vehicles.

Subject to potential defences provided for by section 78 of the Act, a person commits an offence by using a restricted term in connection with the promotion or supply to Great Britain of a road vehicle, or of a product intended for use as equipment of a road vehicle, if the road vehicle is not an authorised automated vehicle. An authorised automated vehicle is a road vehicle authorised under section 3 of the Act for use as an automated vehicle.

7.

Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable:

The law sets out an authorisation process to determine whether a vehicle can safely drive itself without being controlled or monitored by a human. This process would be undermined if businesses are able to claim that their vehicles are self-driving without getting the vehicles authorised.

Such marketing is also dangerous: it can mislead drivers into thinking that they do not need to pay attention to the road. As more manufacturers offer high-end driver assistance systems, misleading marketing risks worsening road safety.

A specific restriction on the use of particular terms is necessary over and above the general prohibition on communications that are likely to confuse as to the autonomous capability of a road vehicle.

This is important to help bring clarity to public understanding by protecting certain marketing terms, so that they can only be used in connection with authorised vehicles and help build public trust in the technology.

Pilots of commercial self-driving vehicles may begin in GB in 2026, highlighting the importance of a clear distinction between self-driving and advanced driver-assistance systems.

Prevention of deceptive practices and consumer protection; Protection of human health or safety

8.

Relevant documents:

• Consultation on the Automated Vehicles (Marketing Restrictions) Regulations 2026

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/automated-vehicles-protecting-marketing-terms/automated-vehicles-protecting-marketing-terms

• Automated Vehicles Act 2024

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2024/10/contents

9.

Proposed date of adoption: Q2 2026

Proposed date of entry into force: Q4 2026

10.

Provision of comments

Final date for comments: 29 May 2026

[X] 60 days from notification

Contact details of agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification:

UK TBT Enquiry Point

Department for Business and Trade

Old Admiralty Building,

London

SW1A 2DY

Email: TBTEnquiriesUK@businessandtrade.gov.uk