The National Conference of Insurance Legislators has put off anyaction on a model act that would set certification standards foraftermarket auto parts for collision repairs.

The action came at the NCOIL summer meeting last week inNewport, R.I.

At a special hearing, representatives of the insurance andautomotive industries clashed over establishing a mechanism tocertify independently produced auto parts not made by the originalequipment auto manufacturer for use in collision repair.

For several years the state lawmakers have weighed the issue buthave failed to reach agreement on a model law. In 2002 theyformally put off debate for three years.

Jack Gillis, executive director of the Certified AutomotiveParts Association, said his group supports the certification model"because no one in this room can look at an aftermarket part andmake an informed judgment as to its quality or performance."

Mr. Gillis said independently produced aftermarket parts willprovide consumer choice while maintaining safety standards.

But representatives of the auto industry said that suchindependently produced parts cannot provide the quality and safetyrequired.

"It is unlikely that an impartial certification entity can becreated and relied upon to serve consumer needs without undulyfocusing on the bottom line, the result of which may be an inferiorcrash part," said James Moors, director of franchising and statelaw for the National Automobile Dealers Association, in a letter toNCOIL President Rep. Craig Eiland.

David Snyder, vice president of the American InsuranceAssociation, said the NCOIL model would actually reduce competitionby removing the option for a collision repairer to use partsguaranteed for life by the insurer.

He said that current laws in states "encourage competition inparts, repair and provide minimum standards and notices."

The lawmakers will consider an amended model at their annualmeeting in November.