Farm trailers could be subject to annual safety checks and registration as part of a UK Government bill.

The Haulage Permits and Trailer Registration Bill will put in place a framework to quicken the introduction of international road safety legislation that may be required as part of the UK’s final Brexit deal. In its current form it would require the Government to make recommendations regarding the necessity or not for a “periodic mandatory safety standards testing scheme” and registration of all trailers weighing more than 750kg.

Jamie Smart, who supports NFU Scotland on agricultural vehicle matters, said that the union would try to ensure any legislation has the least impact on farmers and would look at trying to exclude agricultural vehicles: “If it’s just on registration, however, it might make it easier to exclude a stolen trailer.”