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"BCOUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 17 May 1979
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the coupling device and the
reverse of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors
(79/533/EEC)
(OJ L 145, 13.6.1979, p. 20)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
"M1 Council Directive 82/890/EEC of 17 December 1982 L 378 45 31.12.1982
"M2 Directive 97/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
of 23 September 1997 L 277 24 10.10.1997
"M3 Commission Directive 1999/58/EC of 7 June 1999 L 148 37 15.6.19991979L0533 — EN — 05.07.1999 — 003.001 — 1
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 17 May 1979
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to
the coupling device and the reverse of wheeled agricultural or
forestry tractors
(79/533/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic
Community, and in particular Article 100 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),
Whereas the technical requirements which tractors must satisfy pursuant
to national laws relate inter alia to the coupling device and to the reverse;
Whereas these requirements differ from one Member State to another;
whereas it is therefore necessary that all Member States adopt the same
requirements either in addition to or in place of their existing rules, in
order, in particular, to allow the EEC type-approval procedure which was
the subject of Council Directive 74/150/EEC of 4 March 1974 on the
approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the
type-approval of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors (4), to be
applied in respect of each type of tractor,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
1. ‘Agricultural or forestry tractor’ means any motor vehicle, fitted
with wheels or endless tracks and having at least two axles, the main
function of which lies in its tractive power and which is specially
designed to tow, push, carry or power certain tools, machinery or trailers
intended for agricultural or forestry use. It may be equipped to carry a
load and passengers.
2. This Directive shall apply only to tractors defined in paragraph I
which are equipped with pneumatic tyres and have at least two axles and
a maximum design speed of between 6 and "M240 km/h 3.
Article 2
No Member State may refuse to grant EEC type-approval or national
type-approval of a tractor on grounds relating to the coupling device or to
the reverse if these satisfy the requirements set out in the Annexes hereto.
Article 3
No Member State may refuse the registration or prohibit the sale, entry
into service or use of tractors on grounds relating to the coupling device
or to the reverse if these satisfy the requirements set out in the Annexes
hereto.!B
(1) OJ No C 268, 11. 11. 1978, p. 34.
(2) OJ No C 296, 11. 12. 1978, p. 69.
(3) OJ No C 128, 21. 5. 1979, p. 17.
(4) OJ No L 84, 28. 3. 1974, p. 10.!M1
!B1979L0533 — EN — 05.07.1999 — 003.001 — 2
Article 4
Any amendments necessary for adapting the requirements of the
Annexes to technical progress shall be adopted in accordance with the
procedure laid down in Article 13 of Directive 74/150/EEC.
Article 5
1. Member States shall bring into force the provisions necessary in
order to comply with this Directive within 18 months of its notification
and shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.
2. Member States shall ensure that the texts of the main provisions of
national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive are
communicated to the Commission.
Article 6
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.!B1979L0533 — EN — 05.07.1999 — 003.001 — 3
ANNEX I
COUPLING DEVICE
1. Number
Every tractor must have a special device to which it must be possible to
attach a connection such as a tow-bar or a tow-rope for towing purposes.
2. Position
The device must be fitted to the front of the tractor, which must be
equipped with a coupling pin.
3. Design
The device shall be of the slotted-jaw type. The opening at the centre of the
locking pin shall be 60 mm + 0,5/- 1,5 mm and the depth of the jaw
measured from the centre of the pin shall be 62 mm ± 0,5 mm.
The coupling pin must have a diameter of 30 + 1.5mm and be fitted with a
device preventing it from leaving its seating during use. The securing
device must be non-detachable.
The tolerance of + 1.5referred to above should not be regarded as a
manufacturing tolerance but as a permissible variation in nominal
dimensions for pins of different designs.!B
!M3
!B1979L0533 — EN — 05.07.1999 — 003.001 — 4
ANNEX II
REVERSE
All tractors must be equipped with a device for reversing which can be operated
from the driving position.!B1979L0533 — EN — 05.07.1999 — 003.001 — 5