Some new pan-European wide legislation comes into force next month that is set to affect those who work at all levels within the mobile catering trade.

Set to go live at the tail end of October, the Individual Vehicle Approval Scheme marks a substantial change when compared to laws that are currently in place. Because of this, operators are being warned by numerous agencies to actively plan ahead in order to ensure that their vehicles meet the required standards or safety.

If trucks and vans fail to comply, then there is a strong chance that insurance could be considered invalid.

“All commercial food and events operators should be aware of this and anyone towing a trailer will have to demonstrate roadworthiness with this new Individual Vehicle Approval Scheme,” said one industry insider.

One South West firm has already been involved in helping a couple of their customers prepare for the changes, and are expecting a flurry of phone calls in the near future.

“We have completed the first tested legal conversion of an old retro American Airstream trailer under the latest scheme,” the company said.

“[It] passed with flying colours at the new Avonmouth VOSA DVA test station…[which is purposefully] kitted out for testing specialist vehicles, trailers and other vehicles [this] scheme applies to.”

Once this mandatory legislation comes into force on October 28^th, vehicles which fail to comply with the legislation could be taken off the road until they passed the new IVA inspection and are subsequently classed as safe by the authorities.

picture: Robert Soar – used under CC