COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 93/91/EEC of 29 October 1993 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 78/316/EEC relating to the interior fittings of motor vehicles (identification of controls, tell-tales and indicators)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 70/156/EEC of 6 February 1970 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the type approval of motor vehicles and their trailers (1), as last amended by Directive 92/53/EEC (2), and in particular
Article 13
(2) thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 78/316/EEC of 21 December 1977 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the interior fittings of motor vehicles (identification of controls, tell-tales and indicators) (3), and in particular
Article 4
thereof,
Whereas Directive 78/316/EEC is one of the separate directives of the EEC type-approval procedure which has been established by Council Directive 70/156/EEC; whereas, consequently, the provisions laid down in Directive 70/156/EEC relating to vehicle systems, components and separate technical units shall apply to this Directive;
Whereas, in particular, Articles 3 (4) and 4 (3) of Directive 70/156/EEC necessitate that each separate directive has attached to it an information document incorporating the relevant items of Annex I to that Directive and also a type-approval certificate based on Annex VI thereto in order that type-approval may be computerized;
Whereas Council Directive 76/756/EEC of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the installation of lighting and light-signalling devices on motor vehicles and their trailers (4), as last amended by Directive 91/663/EEC (5), established the symbol used to identify the control of headlamp-levelling devices, and this identification shall be maintained;
Whereas practical experience has shown that some requirements need to amended or clarified, in particular by using new symbols which are now internationally recognized and standardized by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and by deleting certain symbols which are no longer used; whereas account should be taken of the new identification techniques which should enter into widespread use, consisting of the use of words or abbreviations instead of symbols for controls, tell-tales and indicators; whereas specific requirements will have to be introduced when more detailed knowledge is available to enable designs based on these new identification techniques to be made;
Whereas the provisions of this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for the Adaptation on Technical Progress established by Directive 70/156/EEC,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
1. Article 1 of Directive 78/316/EEC shall be amended to read at the end:
' . . . rails and of agricultural and forestry tractors and all mobile machinery.'
2. The list of Annexes and Annexes I, II, III and IV to Directive 78/316/EEC shall be amended in accordance with the Annex to this Directive.
Article 2
1. With effect from 1 April 1994 Member States may not, on grounds relating to interior fittings (identification of controls, tell-tales and indicators):
- refuse, in respect of a type of motor vehicle, to grant EEC type-approval, or to grant national type-approval,
or
- prohibit the registration, sale or entry into service of vehicles
if the interior fittings (identification of controls, tell-tales and indicators) comply with the requirements of Directive 78/316/EEC as amended by this Directive.
2. With effect from 1 October 1995 the Member States:
- shall no longer grant EEC type-approval for a type of vehicle,
- may refuse to grant national type-approval for a type of vehicle, and
- may refuse the registration, sale and entry into service of new vehicles which are not accompanied by a certificate of conformity in accordance with Directive 70/156/EEC
on grounds relating to interior fittings (identification of controls, tell-tales and indicators) if the requirements of Directive 78/316/EEC, as amended by this Directive, are not fulfilled.
Article 3
1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive before 31 March 1994. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.
2. When the Member States adopt these provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such reference on the occasion of their official publication. The methods of making such a reference shall be laid down by the Member States.
3. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the texts of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field governed by this Directive.
Article 4
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 29 October 1993.