More than 150 vehicle recycling professionals gathered in Seville on September 25 for a significant meeting organized by the Andalusian Association of Dismantlers (AAD). The event, titled “Towards a New Circularity of Vehicles,” focused on the implications of the new EU End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) Regulation on Authorized Treatment Facilities (ATFs).
Participants included representatives from the European Commission, Spanish authorities, and various European associations involved in vehicle recycling. They examined the challenges and obligations brought about by Regulation (EU) 2026/1738, which aims to enhance vehicle circularity across Europe.
AAD President Rafael R. Azor Castaño opened the meeting by emphasizing the commitment of ATF members to adapt their operations to comply with EU requirements. He noted the evolution of the industry towards greater professionalism and its preparedness to meet the significant regulatory changes in the European framework. He stated, “Innovation, traceability, component reuse, and circularity are already part of the day-to-day work carried out by ATFs.”
During the meeting, Jaco Huisman, Policy Officer at the European Commission, outlined the core requirements of the new ELV Regulation. Ana Gil Carazo from the Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition (MITERD) provided insights about the regulation’s development in Spain and the framework for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
Henk Jan Nix, Secretary General of the European Group of Authorised Vehicle Recyclers (EGARA), discussed the association’s efforts regarding the new circularity rules, evaluating their operational impact on ATFs and advocating for increased component reuse while addressing unfair competition.
Rafael Gómez Haro, Vice-President of AAD and a member of EGARA’s Executive Committee, highlighted ongoing European studies related to ELV dismantling and the associated responsibilities for producers and ATFs under the new regulatory framework.
The event also included AAD’s Ordinary and Extraordinary General Assembly, where the Board of Directors was elected, and the association shared its annual activity report covering its efforts from 2017 to 2026. Attendees engaged in conversations about regulatory developments, recovery and reuse of spare parts, and the transition towards a circular vehicle sector.
AAD expressed gratitude to several organizations and individuals, including Francisco Rodríguez, President of the Association of Scrappers of the Canary Islands (ACAVI), the delegation from the Italian Association of Scrapyards (ADQ), and representatives from Portuguese companies. Their participation underscored the increasingly collaborative nature of the vehicle recycling sector as the new regulatory landscape unfolds. AAD is dedicated to advancing the future of the vehicle recycling industry.
