The undersigned associations, in a joint letter sent to the Ministry, request a transitional period for the start of the inspections of high-speed tractors, as strongly requested by the European Commission.
In this regard, in addition to urgent feedback, they request the convening of a discussion table with the Ministry to address and resolve the identified critical issues quickly, avoiding economic repercussions and a potential “bureaucratic holdup” of agricultural machinery that would risk blocking the sector.
“The situation is serious but not grave” is a well-known aphorism coined by the Italian writer and screenwriter Ennio Flaiano, most often quoted to describe situations related to Italian politics. And even in the case concerning the inspection of high-speed agricultural tractors, the aphorism proves particularly fitting. Trade associations, in fact, in a joint letter sent to the ministry, are requesting a transitional period for the launch of inspections of high-speed tractors, strongly urged by the European Commission.
The main issue highlighted by the associations concerns the tight deadlines set by the decree, which leave operators little time to adapt from a technical and organizational standpoint.
In this regard, precisely to point out the critical issues, the main organizations in the agricultural and agromechanical sectors have sent a letter to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport to highlight the problems related to the start of inspections of high-speed agricultural tractors (category T-b), requesting urgent measures to avoid operational disruption for businesses.
The inspection of high-speed tractors requested (for years) by the European Commission
The publication of the EU directive emphasizing the need for technical checks—and therefore mandatory periodic inspections—even for high-speed tractors dates back to as far as April 2014.
However, Italy implemented the EU directive only in May 2017 through a ministerial decree which, in particular, defined the procedures for carrying out technical checks on wheeled tractors in categories T1b, T2b, T3b, T4b, and T5. According to the same decree of May 2017, inspections of high-speed tractors must be carried out within 4 years from the date of first registration at specialized centers and, subsequently, every 2 years. This regulation specifically concerns high-speed tractors. The inspection schedule for slower tractors, on the other hand, follows a different timeline.
The inspection of high-speed tractors, however, although theoretically applicable as early as 2018, has in reality never been implemented. This inertia has exposed Italy to the risk of infringement proceedings by the European Commission. It is also for this reason that the Government has taken action, setting the following deadlines:
- high-speed tractors registered from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019 must be inspected by June 30, 2026;
- high-speed tractors registered from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022 must be inspected by December 31, 2026.
Inspection of the “new” yes, of the old no
However, paradoxically, while the government has initiated the process to inspect newer high-speed tractors, the mandatory inspection requirement for slower or older tractors has been postponed.
A unified warning from the agricultural sector
The letter, addressed to the Director General of the Motor Vehicle Department, Dr. Gaetano Servedio, is signed by Confagricoltura, CIA–Italian Farmers, Copagri, CAI Agromec, UNCAI, and Federacma—the Confcommercio federation representing national associations for services and trade in agricultural, operating, and gardening machinery.
At the core of the report are the practical difficulties in implementing the decree of November 25, 2025, which established guidelines for technical checks on wheeled tractors with speeds exceeding 40 km/h—vehicles that are increasingly widespread and strategic for modern agriculture and Agriculture 4.0 processes.
The request for a transitional period
According to the associations, concrete problems are emerging across the country in launching inspections, particularly due to the extremely tight timelines set by the decree for operators to adapt technically and organizationally. In addition, according to the associations, there are also close deadlines—such as June 30, 2026 for tractors registered between 2017 and 2019—which risk putting thousands of businesses in difficulty.
Reported issues
The critical issues outlined in the letter to the ministry concern several operational levels. First of all, there is significant uncertainty among authorized private centers (formerly 870), which, although theoretically meeting the requirements to carry out inspections, are not offering the service due to a lack of clear guidance and doubts about the sustainability of the investments required for new equipment.
At the same time, many local offices of the Motor Vehicle Department are not yet accepting bookings, despite requests from operators, and no surveys appear to have been conducted to identify centers ready to comply. According to the signatories, this situation also highlights the need for specific training for the technical staff involved.
Risk of a “bureaucratic standstill”
According to the trade associations, the consequences for the sector are significant. Owners of high-speed tractors—often high-tech vehicles purchased with substantial investments and ongoing amortization plans—find themselves unable to comply with legal obligations. The real risk is that of a true “bureaucratic standstill,” which could prevent road circulation and operational use of the vehicles, with direct repercussions on agricultural and agromechanical activities.
Requests to the ministry
For this reason, the associations are calling for immediate intervention by the Ministry on multiple fronts. In particular, they are urging the issuance of clear instructions to Motor Vehicle Department offices so that bookings submitted using form TT 2100 are accepted, and the introduction of a transitional procedure allowing companies, once the inspection request has been submitted and the required fees paid, to continue operating until they are called in.
They also request a mapping of private centers that are available or willing to comply, in order to provide clear guidance to operators in the sector and ensure that the service is effectively accessible nationwide.
Finally, the letter stresses the need to avoid penalties for users who, despite having fulfilled formal obligations, are unable to carry out inspections for reasons beyond their control, at least until the system is fully operational.
Request for an urgent roundtable
The signatory organizations therefore request an urgent response and the convening of a roundtable with the Ministry to address and resolve the highlighted issues quickly, avoiding economic and operational repercussions for a sector that is strategic for the country.
Title: Fast tractors overhaul: an Italian pantomime
Translation with ChatGPT
