Tachographs Workshop

Approval is granted to individuals, partnerships and legal entities (i.e. registered companies) when the conditions of approval are fully met. The conditions for approval are prescribed in the document named “Minimum criteria for workshops approval” dated 15.11.2005 (see “Related Documents”). As the criteria for approval are prescriptive, it is strongly recommended the prospective applicants to contact the Department for seeking advice before proceeding with any expenses.

The criteria for approval are the following:

• If the applicant is a registered company, shall have an employer’s registration from the Social Insurance Services;
• The applicant shall have a registration number from the Inland Revenue Department;
• The applicant shall have a registration number from the Value Added Tax (VAT) Service;
• The application shall be accompanied with a declaration from a tachograph manufacturer that the workshop is capable to conduct Tachograph work on vehicle units to an acceptable level (Appendix II);
• The application shall be accompanied with a declaration from the workshop for the nomination of a responsible person for the tachograph cards, compliance with the relevant legislation and procedures, etc (Appendix III);
• The workshop shall be independent of proprietary professional carriage of goods or passengers. The workshop and staff shall be free from any commercial, financial or otherwise commitment to others that can affect to any extent the judgment or the quality of work to be undertaken. It cannot also undertake activities that may impair the independence, impartiality and integrity of its judgment regarding the tachograph work.

• Premises:

The workshop shall have adequate covered areas for smooth, safe and unhindered completion of its activities. The minimum spaces required are:

• • Inspection/calibration area: Surrounded with walls and a roof. The floor area and the height shall be such to accommodate buses and trucks of the M and N categories, depending on the vehicle categories that will be served by the workshop, plus a clear space of approximately 1.5 meters around the vehicle in each direction;
  • Linear measuring track (for calculation of coefficients «w» and “I”): Approximately 35 meters long, the 20 meters of which shall be horizontal and in straight line, paved with asphalt or concrete. The width shall be such that the technician who performs the relevant work can comfortably move around the vehicle;
  • Reception area: A suitably designed space or room separate from the calibration area, to function as a waiting area;
  • Storage of special equipment: A separate lockable room and limited access only to those working in the workshop;
  • Office area: A suitable room with adequate facilities for performing the workshop’s administrative activities;
  • Toilet and washroom;
  • Parking area for one vehicle.

• Instrumentation and equipment:

As a minimum, a set of tools, instruments and equipment are required so that all tachograph work can be performed at a satisfactory level:

• • Tools of general use: a workbench, a set of workshop tools (such as wrenches, screwdrivers, etc.), a pulse measuring device (multimeter), air compressor, portable chocks and an inspection lamp of 24volts DC;
  • Special equipment for tachographs: System of Hand Test Computer and Mobile Test Computer, with necessary fittings and wiring for tachograph calibrations, a card reader or magnifying lens, a clock tester, a wheel circumference gauge, a pulse counter, a download tool, an antistatic pad (for repairs). Optionally, if a linear measuring track is not available, a double roller set may be used, which is capable to handle vehicle axle loads similar to those vehicles that will be served by the workshop.

• Personnel qualifications:

The workshop shall prove that it employs on a permanent basis at least a skilled technician specialized in tachographs, with the following qualifications:

• • a university degree in the field of Mechanical or Electrical or Electronic engineering, plus 2 years of experience as an automotive mechanic/electrician; or
  • a college degree of 2 years studies in Automotive engineering, plus 2 years of experience as an automotive mechanic/electrician; or
  • a diploma of Technician Engineer of 3 years studies in the fields of Mechanical or Electrical or Electronic engineering, plus 3 years of experience as an automotive mechanic/electrician; or
  • a certificate from a Technical/Vocational school in one of the the fields of automotive mechanic/electrical/systems, plus 4 years of relevant experience.

In addition to the above, the technician must possess a certificate for specialized training on tachographs of minimum duration 2 days, which was awarded from a tachograph manufacturer or another certified instructor who was previously authorized by the Department of Electrical and Mechanical Services.

The application for authorization of a workshop approval for the installation, calibration, check, inspection, repair and decommissioning of tachographs on vehicles can be submitted either through the PSC Cyprus, or directly to the competent authority, by hand, mailed, faxed or e-mail, addressed to:

Director,
Electrical and Mechanical Services Department,
Ministry of Communications and Works,
Agiou Ilarionos Avenue, 1426 Nicosia – Cyprus
P.O. Box 29669, 1722 Nicosia – Cyprus,
Tel. +357 22800301,
Fax. +357 22348202
E-mail: director@ems.mcw.gov.cy
Website: http://www.mcw.gov.cy/ems

1. Any application must be accompanied with supporting documentation and information to prove compliance with the conditions of approval, such as:

   • Appendix I – Applicants I.D.:
     • If the applicant is an individual:
       • Copy of the applicant identity card;
       • Copy of the last payment to the Social Insurance (as evidence of practicing as an individual).
     • If the applicant is a registered company:
       • Copy of the Certificate of Incorporation;
       • Copy of the Certificate for the company Shareholders;
       • Copy of the Certificate for the company Director(s) and Secretary;
       • Copy of the Certificate for the company registered address.

   The above certificates are issued by the Department of Registrar of Companies and Official Receiver.

   • • If the applicant is a registered company, an evidence for the employer’s registration from the Social Insurance Services;
     • An evidence from the Inland Revenue Department for the applicant’s registration number;
     • An evidence from the Value Added Tax (VAT) Service for the applicant’s registration number;
     • Appendix II – A declaration from a tachograph manufacturer that the workshop is capable to conduct tachograph work on vehicle units to an acceptable level;
     • Appendix III – A declaration from the workshop for the nomination of a responsible person for the tachograph cards, compliance with the relevant legislation and procedures, etc.;
     • A declaration from the workshop that is independent of proprietary professional carriage of goods or passengers;
     • A declaration from the workshop and its staff that they are free from any commercial, financial or otherwise commitment to others that can affect to any extent the judgment or the quality of work to be undertaken.
   • Premises
     • If the applicant is the site owner, copies of documents confirming the ownership of the proposed premises, e.g. copy of real estate registration;
     • If the applicant is not the site owner, evidence that the applicant has the right of exclusive use of the premises, in the form of lease, rental agreement or licence; or
     • A declaration from the owner for use of the premises for the purpose for which approval is requested;
     • Evidence of a Town planning permission (or exemption) and a building license; or written confirmation from the Local Authority that the existing planning permission covers use of the site for tachograph work;
     • Site plans in scale 1:100, showing the premises, the location of the linear measuring track, and access from a public road to the premises and the parking area. Additionally, dimension drawings showing the proposed inspection/calibration area, the location of the reception area, the secure room for the equipment to be used for calibrations, the toilet, the location and dimensions of the entry/exit doors, as well as the location of the notice board, the fire extinguishers, the medical board etc;
     • Supporting evidence to demonstrate that the applicant has satisfactory office facilities and arrangements (e.g. telephone, fax, e-mail and access to internet) for performing the workshop’s administrative activities.
   • Technician qualifications:
     • Copy of a degree, diploma, etc as evidence of the applicant qualifications and proof of relevant experience;
     • Copy of a certificate for specialized training on tachographs and information for the training provider, the training duration, content, etc.;
     • The applicant shall demonstrate that it has satisfactory arrangements for the provision of suitable technical support and information from a tachograph manufacturer or a manufacturer’s local representative.
   • Instrumentation, tools and manuals:
     • Technical details of the instruments, equipment and tools to be used for the calibrations together with copies of their manuals;
     • Instruction / technical manuals and other supportive evidence to demonstrate that the applicant has the necessary technical information available for the relevant work on tachographs.

    

There are no fees applicable.

Administrative Action against a Competent Authority’s Decision

Any person may file an Administrative Action at the Administrative Court against a decision, act, or omission of any competent authority or body.

Pursuant to Article 146 of the Constitution, an Administrative Action may be lodged within 75 days from the date of the decision or act or omission or from the day when such decision or act or omission was notified to the applicant.

The Administrative Court acts as a cassation Court and not as a substantive Court. In other words, the Administrative Court may:
I. Dismiss the Administrative Action
II. Annul wholly or partially the contested decision or act
III. Compel the relevant authority or body to take a certain action

After a decision is annulled, the authority and/or public body must reverse things back to the state prior to when the concerned decision and/or act was executed and reexamine.

Appeal Information

An Appeal may be filed against the Administrative Court’s first-instance decision within a period of 42 days from the date such a decision was given.

At the Supreme Court (Court of Appeal Section) hearing, the contested issue of the appeal remains the legality of the decision or act already adjudicated. However, such a revision of the legality of the decision or act is solely examined on the matters and the extent that the two parties have limited the reasons in the relevant notice of appeal.

The decision adopted by the Supreme Court is considered final in relation to the matter that has been judged.

• ‘Authorization of Workshops and Issuance of Vehicle Unit Cards Law of 2004 (192(I)/2004)’
• ‘Authorization of Workshops and the Issuance of Tachograph Cards (Amendment) Law of 2023 (16(I) of 2023)’
• Regulation (EU) No 165/2014

Approved tachograph workshops are obliged to comply with the provisions of the Law 192(I)/2004, and the Minimum criteria for workshops approval dated 15/11/2005, as amended.

The Department of Electrical and Mechanical Services supervises the approved tachograph workshops in order to ensure compliance with the conditions of approval and provisions of the relevant Laws and Regulations.