New Zealand - Bikers saddle up against trade law

OFF THE WIRE
In one of the stranger political couplings, hundreds of bikers yesterday joined members of labour federation Cosatu outside parliament's gates to protest against a government policy that could force importers of motorcycles out of business.

Compulsory specifications for motorcycles, gazetted by Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies in May 2011, require the testing of imported motorcycles before they can be registered.

This is to ensure that buyers get safe, quality products.

But the Parallel Importers of Motor Cycles Traders' Association says that this requirement will drive small motorcycle importers out of business.

The association's spokesman, Trevor Davids, said testing facilities were owned by big overseas franchises, which gave quality and safety certificates only to big South African businesses that imported direct from them.

"Most bike importers will not be able to function. It means that they will have to shed jobs and, more important, bikers will not be able to access quality products at a lower price," said Davids.

"Since 1993, the number of bikers using the road every day has increased. That is going to diminish as people will not be able to go into a shop and get a good bike for a good price."

The Department of Trade and Industry will meet association representatives today to discuss the policy.

Cosatu's Western Cape general secretary, Tony Ehrenreich, said South Africa had lost too many jobs and could not afford to shed more.

"A lot of our clothes are imported from China and India and they replace [local] products.

"The parallel importers, the labour movement and the government agree that we want to make sure that the consumers' interests are taken care of and that the product sold is safe.

"But there is not a facility that is able to test the products inside South Africa and they will not be able to take it to the market."

http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2013/03/18/bikers-saddle-up-against-trade-law