RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC — The European Aftermarket Forum, a peer group of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), has said defining terms in the European Union (EU) block exemption regulations for automotive aftermarket manufacturers trying to gain access to EU markets will be one of its top priorities.
The AASA European Aftermarket Forum is a peer group for discussion of aftermarket commercial business issues and actions. Its quarterly meetings are open to aftermarket executives heading their businesses’ European operations.
Representatives from CLEPA, the European Association of Automotive Suppliers, addressed the group regarding the regulations at the Forum’s May 11 meeting in Brussels. Under the 1995 exemption to EU free market regulations, dealers and service providers were required to use original equipment parts and materials. The exemptions were relaxed in 2002, giving aftermarket suppliers more market access.
CLEPA and the Forum agreed to work cooperatively, with CLEPA handling legislative matters and EAF handling commercial issues. CLEPA’s CEO will be a member of the Forum meetings and the Forum chairman will sit on the CLEPA aftermarket work group.
Other top issues slated for discussion include combating counterfeit parts and intellectual property rights violations and OE tooling use by parts manufacturers.
The next AASA European Aftermarket Forum meeting is set for Wednesday, Aug. 25, at the Sheraton Hotel – Brussels Airport.
For more information about the Forum and AASA, contact Paul Foley, 919-406-8840 or [email protected].
For more information about MEMA, go to: www.mema.org.
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