SECURE COMPLIANCE LABELS / SECURITY LABELS

Sub-program A: Reducing the Cost of Theft

Approach A1: Improving the Standard of Vehicle and Component Identification.

Background

Australian Design Rule (ADR) 43/01 requires the fitting of a compliance plate to all new vehicles sold in Australia. The plate certifies compliance with current design requirements and, because it bears the vehicle's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), has over time become a vehicle’s key identifier. At present most manufacturers use an aluminium identification plate which is affixed to the vehicle by pop rivets. The ease with which these plates can be removed, replaced and copied assists the vehicle re-birthing process.

In 2001 the Department of Transport and Regional Services amended ADR 43/01, clearing the way for vehicle manufacturers to use label technology as an alternative to aluminium identification plates. The NMVTRC has subsequently worked with vehicle manufacturers to promote the implementation of a high-tech, low cost label as the baseline to supplement other identifiers such as VIN-based microdots and enable registration authorities and police to identify legitimate vehicles and detect fake or altered labels by simple visual inspection.

Work Program

Assessing the Options for Secure Compliance Labels - 2001

Technical and cost issues of introducing secure compliance labels were reviewed by a joint NMVTRC and Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) working party. The working party was chaired by the NMVTRC and comprised senior representatives of Daewoo/Kia, Ford, Holden, Nissan and Toyota.

To assist the working party, Emanar Consultants (whose principal, Bob Gardner, has an extensive background in vehicle engineering and certification issues) was engaged to undertake analyses of the available options. The resulting report examines the available label technology and associated technical and cost implications for vehicle manufacturers, concluding that it is feasible to introduce affordable secure labels.

Click here for a copy of the Secure Compliance Labels: Assessment of Options (2001) report.

Development of a Technical Specification – 2002

The Assessment’s recommendations received broad support from stakeholders. Subsequently, a performance standard based on the report’s preferred options and accommodating manufacturer suggestions regarding label size and function was developed.

Click here for a copy of the Technical Specification: Secure Compliance Labels and Vehicle Security Labels, March 2004   (The document has been revised in format only to align it with other NMVTRC vehicle identification related publications.  The technical elements of the specification are unchanged from the October 2002 version.)

Label Implementation – 2003 onwards

In 2002-03 the NMVTRC and the FCAI concluded their joint development of a performance specification for a new single purpose vehicle security label. The same technology is also capable of providing a secure compliance label in place of the existing aluminium plate.

The NMVTRC views the adoption of the security label as the baseline in improved vehicle identification as absolutely imperative. As such, an expert panel of transport agency and police personnel has been established to rate the practicality and effectiveness of candidate lables.

To date, no label has met the NMVTRC's performance specification. The NMVTRC and expert panel continue to work with interested label manufacturers.

The first vehicles bearing the NMVTRC's preferred label technology are expected to enter the market as early as June 2006.