In the first of what is likely to be many consumer media reports on the inception of the new Block Exemption, National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) director Alan Pulham told today's Independent newspaper that the delay in many manufacturers issuing new Block Exemption-compliant contracts was putting undue pressure on dealer networks who would be unable to properly study the documents before Wednesday when the new rules come into force.

Alan Pulham told The Independent: "Many manufacturers have delayed issuing contracts until the final month before the regulation becomes total law".

The paper also quoted Mark Taylor-Jones of the new, privately-owned Authorised and Independent Repairers Organisation (AIRO), saying, "This delay means that independent repairers are not going to have a chance to consume the standards, at least before the end of the year," he said.