1977L0539 — EN — 01.01.1995 — 004.001 — 1
This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents
►B COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 28June 1977
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to reversing lamps for motor
vehicles and their trailers
(77/539/EEC)
(OJ L 220, 29.8.1977, p. 72)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1 Council Directive 87/354/EEC of 25 June 1987 L 192 43 11.7.1987
Amended by:
►A1 Act of Accession of Greece L 291 17 19.11.1979
►A2 Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal L 302 23 15.11.1985
►A3 Act of Accession of Austria, Sweden and Finland C 241 21 29.8.1994
(adapted by Council Decision 95/1/EC, Euratom, ECSC) L 1 1 1.1.1995
Corrected by:►
C1 Corrigendum, OJ L 284, 10.10.1978, p. 11 (77/539/EEC)
▼B
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 28June 1977
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to
reversing lamps for motor vehicles and their trailers
(77/539/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,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2),
Whereas the technical requirements which motor vehicles must satisfy
pursuant to national laws relate inter alia to their reversing lamps;
Whereas these requirements differ from one Member State to another;
whereas it is therefore necessary that all Member States adopt the samerequirements either in addition to or in place of their existing rules, inorder, in particular, to allow the EEC type-approval procedure whichwas the subject of Council Directive 70/156/EEC of 6 February 1970 onthe approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the type-
approval of motor vehicles and their trailers (
3), to be introduced in
respect of each type of vehicle;
Whereas in Directive 76/756/EEC (4), the Council laid down the
common requirements for the installation of lighting and light-signalling
devices on motor vehicles and their trailers;
Whereas a harmonized component type-approval procedure for rever-
sing lamps makes it possible for each Member State to checkcompliance with the common construction and testing requirementsand to inform the other Member States of its findings by sending a copyof the component type-approval certificate completed for each type ofreversing lamp; whereas the placing of an EEC component type-
approval mark on all reversing lamps manufactured in conformity with
the approved type obviates any need for technical checks on thesereversing lamps in the other Member States;
Whereas it is desirable to take into account the technical requirements
adopted by the UN Economic Commission for Europe in its RegulationNo 23 (‘Uniform provisions concerning the approval of reversing lightsfor power-driven vehicles and their trailers’) (
5) which is annexed to the
Agreement of 20 March 1958 concerning the adoption of uniform
conditions for approval and reciprocal recognition of approval for motor
vehicle equipment and parts;
Whereas the approximation of national laws relating to motor vehicles
entails reciprocal recognition by Member States of the tests carried out
by each of them on the basis of the common requirements,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
1. Each Member State shall grant EEC component type-approval for
any type of reversing lamp which satisfies the construction and testingrequirements laid down in Annexes 0, II, III and IV.1977L0539 — EN — 01.01.1995 — 004.001 — 2
(1) OJ No C 118, 16. 5. 1977, p. 29.
(2) OJ No C 114, 11. 5. 1977, p. 3.
(3) OJ No L 42, 23. 2. 1970, p. 1.
(4) OJ No L 262, 27. 9. 1976, p. 1.
(5) Economic Commission for Europe document E/ECE/324/E/ECE/TRANS/
505/Rev. 1/Add 22, 20. 8. 1971.
▼B
2. The Member State which has granted EEC component type-
approval shall take the measures required in order to verify thatproduction models conform to the approved type, in so far as this is
necessary and if need be in cooperation with the competent authorities in
the other Member States. Such verification shall be limited to spotchecks.
Article 2
Member States shall for each type of reversing lamp which they approve
pursuant to Article 1, issue to the manufacturer, or to his authorized
representative, an EEC component type-approval mark conforming tothe model shown in Annex II.
Member States shall take all appropriate measures to prevent the use of
marks liable to create confusion between reversing lamps which have
been type-approved pursuant to Article 1, and other devices.
Article 3
1. No Member State may prohibit the placing on the market of
reversing lamps on grounds relating to their construction or method offunctioning if they bear the EEC component type-approval mark.
2. Nevertheless, a Member State may prohibit the placing on the
market of reversing lamps bearing the EEC component type-approvalmark which consistently fail to conform to the approved type.
That State shall inform the other Member States and the Commission
forthwith of the measures taken, specifying the reasons for its decision.
Article 4
The competent authorities of each Member State shall within one month
send to the competent authorities of the other Member States a copy ofthe component type-approval certificates, an example of which is givenin Annex I, completed for each type of reversing lamp which they
approve or refuse to approve.
Article 5
1. If the Member State which has granted EEC component type-
approval finds that a number of reversing lamps bearing the same EECcomponent type-approval mark do not conform to the type which it has
approved, it shall take the necessary measures to ensure that production
models conform to the approved type. The competent authorities of thatState shall advise those of the other Member States of the measurestaken which may, where there is consistent failure to conform, extend towithdrawal of EEC component type-approval. The said authorities shalltake the same measures if they are informed by the competent
authorities of another Member State of such failure to conform.
2. The competent authorities of Member States shall inform each
other within one month of any withdrawal of EEC component type-approval, and of the reasons for such a measure.
Article 6
Any decision taken pursuant to the provisions adopted in implementa-
tion of this Directive, to refuse or withdraw EEC component type-approval for a reversing lamp or prohibit its placing on the market or useshall set out in detail the reasons on which it is based. Such decisionsshall be notified to the party concerned, who shall at the same time be
informed of the remedies available to him under the laws in force in the
Member States and of the time limits allowed for the exercise of suchremedies.
Article 7
No Member State may refuse to grant EEC type-approval or national
type-approval of any vehicle on grounds relating to its reversing lamps if1977L0539 — EN — 01.01.1995 — 004.001 — 3
▼B
these bear the EEC component type-approval mark and are fitted in
accordance with the requirements laid down in Directive 76/756/EEC.
Article 8
No Member State may refuse or prohibit the sale, registration, entry into
service or use of any vehicle on grounds relating to its reversing lamps if
these bear the EEC component type-approval mark and are fitted in
accordance with the requirements laid down in Directive 76/756/EEC.
Article 9
For the purposes of this Directive, ‘vehicle’ means any motor vehicle
intended for use on the road, with or without bodywork, having at leastfour wheels and a maximum design speed exceeding 25 km/h, and itstrailers, with the exception of vehicles which run on rails, agricultural orforestry tractors and machinery and public works vehicles.
Article 10
Any amendments necessary to adjust the requirements of the Annexes 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 11
1. Member States shall bring into force the provisions needed 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 arecommunicated to the Commission.
Article 12
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.1977L0539 — EN — 01.01.1995 — 004.001 — 4
▼B
LIST OF ANNEXES
ANNEX 0 (1): Definitions, general specifications, intensity of light
emitted, test procedure, colour of light emitted,
conformity of production
ANNEX I: Model EEC component type-approval certificateANNEX II: EEC component type-approval and marking require-
ments
ANNEX III (
1): Photometric measurements
ANNEX IV (1): Colour of light emitted, trichromatic coordinates
(1) The technical requirements of this Annex are similar to those of Regulation No 23 of the
Economic Commission for Europe. In particular, the breakdown into sections is thesame. For this reason, where a section in Regulation No 23 has no counterpart in thisDirective, its number is given in brackets for the record.1977L0539 — EN — 01.01.1995 — 004.001 — 5
▼B
ANNEX 0
DEFINITIONS, GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS, INTENSITY OF LIGHT
EMITTED, TEST PROCEDURE, COLOUR OF LIGHT EMITTED,
CONFORMITY OF PRODUCTION
1. DEFINITIONS
1.1.‘Reversing lamp’ means the lamp used to illuminate the road to the rear
of the vehicle and to warn other road-users that the vehicle is reversing
or about to reverse.
1.2.‘Axis of reference’ means the characteristic axis of the light signal,
determined by the manufacturer for use as the direction of reference (H =
0º, V = 0º) for photometric measurements and when fitting the lamp on
the vehicle.
1.3.‘Centre of reference’ means the intersection of the axis of reference with
the exterior light-emitting surface. It is specified by the manufacturer of
the lamp.
1.4.‘Type of reversing lamp’ means reversing lamps which do not differ in
such essential respects as:
1.4.1. the trade name or mark;1.4.2. the characteristics of the optical system;1.4.3. the inclusion of components capable of altering the optical effects by
reflection, refraction or absorption;
1.4.4. the type of filament lamp.
(2.)
(3.)
(4.)5. GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
5.1. Each of the samples referred to in 1.2.3 of Annex II shall conform to the
specifications set forth in the sections below.
5.2. The reversing lamps shall be so designed and constructed that under
normal conditions of use, notwithstanding any vibration to which they
may be subjected during such use, their satisfactory operation remains
assured and they retain the characteristics prescribed by this Directive.
6. INTENSITY OF LIGHT EMITTED
6.1. The light emitted by each of the two samples referred to in, 1.2.3 of
Annex II shall be of not less than the minimum intensity and of not more
than the maximum intensity specified below and shall be measured in
relation to the axis of reference in the directions shown below (expressed
in degrees from the axis of reference).
6.2. The intensity along the axis of reference shall be not less than 80 cd.
6.3. The intensity of the light emitted in all directions in which the lamp can
be observed shall not exceed:
— 300 cd in directions in or above the horizontal plane;
— 600 cd in directions below the horizontal plane.
6.4. In every other direction of measurement shown in Annex III, the
luminous intensity shall be of not less than the minima specified in that
Annex.
7. TEST PROCEDURE
All measurements shall be carried out with a colourless standard filament
lamp of the type recommended for the reversing lamp and so regulated
as to produce the normal luminous flux prescribed for this type of lamp.1977L0539 — EN — 01.01.1995 — 004.001 — 6
▼B
8. COLOUR OF LIGHT EMITTED
The colour of the light emitted must be white. In case of doubt, the
colour may be checked on the basis of the definition of the colour of
white light given in Annex IV.
9. CONFORMITY OF PRODUCTION
Every reversing lamp bearing an EEC component type-approval mark
must conform to the type approved and comply with the photometric
conditions specified in 6 and 8. Nevertheless, in the case of a reversing
lamp picked at random from series production, the requirements as to
minimum intensity of the light emitted (measured with a standard
filament lamp as referred to in 7) may be limited in each relevant
direction 80 % of the minimum value specified in 6.
(10.)(11.)1977L0539 — EN — 01.01.1995 — 004.001 — 7
▼B
ANNEX I
MODEL EEC COMPONENT TYPE-APPROVAL CERTIFICATE
(Maximum format: A4 (210 × 297 mm))
1977L0539 — EN — 01.01.1995 — 004.001 — 8
▼B
ANNEX II
EEC COMPONENT TYPE-APPROVAL AND MARKING REQUIRE-
MENTS
1. APPLICATION FOR EEC COMPONENT TYPE-APPROVAL
1.1. The application for EEC component type-approval shall be submitted by
the holder of the trade name or mark or by his authorized representative.
1.2. For each type of reversing lamp, the application shall be accompanied
by:
1.2.1. a brief technical description stating, in particular, the type(s) of filament
lamp(s) recommended, which must comply with the specifications of
►C1the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC); ◄
1.2.2. drawings (three copies), in sufficient detail to permit identification of the
type of the reversing lamp and showing geometrically the position in
which the reversing lamp is to be mounted on the vehicle, the axis of
observation to be taken as the axis of reference in the tests (horizontal
angle H = 0º, vertical angle V = 0º), and the point to be taken as the
centre of reference in the said tests;
1.2.3. two samples.
2. MARKINGS
2.1. The samples of a type of reversing lamp submitted for EEC component
type-approval must bear:
2.1.1. the trade name or mark of the applicant, which must be clearly legible
and indelible;
2.1.2. a clearly legible and indelible marking indicating the type(s) of filament
lamp(s) recommended;
2.1.3. if necessary, in order to prevent any mistake in mounting the reversing
lamp on the vehicle, the word ‘TOP’ marked horizontally on the
uppermost part of the lens;
2.1.4. and incorporate a space large enough to contain the EEC component
type-approval mark, including the additional symbols prescribed in 4;
this space shall be shown in the drawings mentioned in 1.2.2.
3. EEC COMPONENT TYPE-APPROVAL
3.1. If the two samples submitted in accordance with 1 meet the requirements
of Annexes 0, II, III and IV, EEC component type-approval shall be
granted and a component type-approval number assigned.
3.2. This number shall not be assigned to any other type of reversing lamp.
3.3. Where EEC component type-approval is requested for a type of lighting
and light-signalling device comprising a reversing lamp and other lamps,
a single EEC component type-approval mark may be issued provided
that the reversing lamp complies with the requirements of this Directive
and that each of the other lamps forming part of the lighting and light-
signalling device for which EEC component type-approval is requested,
complies with the specific Directive applying to it.
4. MARKS
4.1. Every reversing lamp conforming to a type approved under this Directive
shall bear an EEC component type-approval mark.
4.2. This mark shall consist of a rectangle surrounding the lower-case letter
‘e’, followed by the distinguishing number or letter(s) of the Member
State which has granted the component type-approval:
1 for Germany,
2 for France,3 for Italy,
4 for the Netherlands,
6 for Belgium,9 for Spain,
11 for the United Kingdom,1977L0539 — EN — 01.01.1995 — 004.001 — 9
▼A2
▼A2
13 for Luxembourg,
18 for Denmark,
EL for Greece,
IRL for Ireland,
P for Portugal,
12 for Austria,
17 for Finland,
5 for Sweden.
It must also include the EEC component type-approval number, which
corresponds to the number of the EEC component type-approval
certificate issued for the type of reversing lamp in question.
4.3. The EEC component type-approval mark shall be supplemented by an
additional symbol ‘AR’.
4.4. The EEC component type-approval number must be placed in any
convenient position near the rectangle surrounding the letter ‘e’.
4.5. The EEC component type-approval mark and the additional symbol must
be affixed to the lens of the lamp, or one of the lenses, in such a way as
to be indelible and clearly legible even when the reversing lamp is fitted
on the vehicle.
4.6. An example of the EEC component type-approval mark and the above
additional symbol combining the letters A and R, is shown in the
Appendix.
4.7. Where a single EEC component type-approval number is issued, as
under 3.3, for a type of lighting and light-signalling device comprising a
reversing lamp and other lamps, one EEC component type-approval
mark only may be affixed, consisting of:
— a rectangle surrounding the letter ‘e’, followed by the distinguishing
number or letter(s) of the Member State which has granted the EEC
component type-approval,
— an EEC component type-approval number,— the additional symbols required by the various Directives under
which EEC component type-approval was granted.
4.8. The dimensions of the various components of this mark shall not be less
than the largest of the minimum dimensions specified for individual
markings by the Directives under which the EEC component type-
approval was granted.1977L0539 — EN — 01.01.1995 — 004.001 — 10
▼M1
▼A2
▼A3
▼B
▼B
Appendix
Example of an EEC component type-approval mark
The device bearing the EEC component type-approval mark shown above is a reversing lamp EEC type-
approved in Germany (e 1) under the number 1271.1977L0539 — EN — 01.01.1995 — 004.001 — 11
▼B
ANNEX III
PHOTOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS
1. MEASUREMENT METHODS
1.1. During photometric measurements, stray reflections shall be prevented
by appropriate masking.
1.2. Should the results of measurements be challenged, measurements shall
be carried out in such a way as to meet the following requirements:
1.2.1. the distance of measurement shall be such that the law of the inverse of
the square of the distance is applicable;
1.2.2. the measuring equipment shall be such that the angular aperture of the
receiver viewed from the reference centre of the lamp is between 10 ′and
1º;
1.2.3. the intensity requirement for a particular direction of observation shall be
satisfied if that requirement is met in a direction deviating by not more
than 15′from the direction of observation.
2. MEASURING POINTS EXPRESSED IN DEGREES OF ANGLE
WITH THE AXIS OF REFERENCE AND VALUES OF THE
MINIMUM INTENSITIES OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
2.1. The direction H = 0º and V = 0º corresponds to the axis of reference
(which, when the lamp is mounted on the vehicle, must be horizontal,
parallel to the median longitudinal plane of the vehicle and oriented in
the required direction of visibility). It passes through the centre of
reference. The values shown in the table give, for the various directions
of measurement, the minimum intensities in cd.
2.2. If visual examination of a lamp appears to reveal substantial local
variations of intensity, a check shall be made to ensure that no intensity
measured between two of the directions of measurement referred to
above is below 50 % of the lower minimum intensity of the two
prescribed for these directions of measurement.1977L0539 — EN — 01.01.1995 — 004.001 — 12
▼B
ANNEX IV
COLOUR OF LIGHT EMITTED
TRICHROMATIC COORDINATES
WHITE limit towards blue: x ≥0·310
limit towards yellow: x ≤0·500
limit towards green: y ≤0·150 + 0·640 x
limit towards green: y ≤0·440
limit towards purple: y ≥0·050 + 0·750 x
limit towards red: y ≥0·382
For checking these colorimetric characteristics, a source of light at a colour
temperature of 2 854 K corresponding to illuminant A of the International
Commission on Illumination (CIE) shall be used.1977L0539 — EN — 01.01.1995 — 004.001 — 13