COMMISSION DIRECTIVE
of 10 December 1991
adapting to technical progress Council Directive 76/756/EEC relating to the installation of lighting and light-signalling devices on motor vehicles and their trailers
(91/663/EEC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 100A thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 70/156/EEC of 6 February 1970 relating to the type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers (1), as last amended by Directive 87/403/EEC of 25 June 1987 (2), and in particular Article 11 thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 76/756/EEC of 27 July 1976 relating to the installation of lighting and light-signalling devices on motor vehicles and their trailers (3), as amended by Directives: 80/233/EEC of 21 November 1979 (4), 82/244/EEC of 17 March 1982 (5), 83/276/EEC of 26 May 1983 (6), 84/8/EEC of 14 December 1983 (7) and 89/278/EEC of 28 March 1989 (8),
Whereas for clarity it is now necessary to produce a consolidation of these Directives;
Whereas in the light of technical progress it is now possible to introduce further amendments, namely the colour of headlights will be required to be white only, side-marker lamps will be specified for certain vehicles and the requirement for lamps on movable components and other matters of detailed drafting can be clarified;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for the Adaptation to Technical Progress of Directives on the Removal of Technical Barriers to Trade in the Motor Vehicles Sector,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
Directive 76/756/EEC is amended as follows:
1. the Articles are replaced by the following Articles to this Directive;
2. the Annexes are replaced by the Annexes to this Directive.
Article 2
For the purposes of this Directive, 'vehicle` means any vehicle to which Council Directive 70/156/EEC applies.
Article 3
1. With effect from 1 January 1993, no Member State may:
- refuse, in respect of a type of vehicle, to grant EC type-approval, to issue the document referred to in the last indent of Article 10 (1) of Directive 70/156/EEC, or to grant national type-approval, or
- prohibit the entry into service of vehicles
on grounds relating to the installation of the lighting and light-signalling devices on this type of vehicle or on these vehicles if these devices are installed in accordance with the requirements of this Directive.
2. With effect from 1 October 1993, Member States:
- shall no longer issue the document referred to in the last indent of Article 10 (1) of Directive 70/156/EEC, and
- may refuse to grant national type-approval
in respect of a type of vehicle on which the installation of the lighting and light-signalling devices is not in accordance with the requirements of this Directive.
3. With effect from 1 October 1994, Member States may prohibit the first entry into service of vehicles on which the installation of these devices is not in accordance with the requirements of this Directive.
Article 4
A Member State which has granted EC type-approval shall take the necessary measures to ensure that it is informed of any modification to any parts or characteristics referred to in item 1.1 of Annex I. The competent authorities of that Member State shall determine whether further tests should be carried out on the modified vehicle type and a fresh report drawn up. Where such tests reveal failure to comply with the requirements of this Directive, the modification shall not be approved.
Article 5
Any amendments necessary in order to adapt the content of the Annexes to this Directive to take account of technical progress shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 13 of Directive 70/156/EEC.
Article 6
1. Member States shall bring into force the legislative, regulatory and administrative provisions necessary in order to comply with this Directive before 1 January 1993 and shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.
2. When the Member States adopt these provisions they shall make a reference to this Directive in their official publication. The form of this reference shall be determined by the Member States.
3. Member States shall ensure that the terms of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive are communicated to the Commission.
Article 7
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 10 December 1991.