1977L0540 — EN — 02.05.1999 — 005.001 — 1
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►B COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 28June 1977
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to parking lamps for motor vehicles
(77/540/EEC)
(OJ L 220, 29.8.1977, p. 83)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1 Council Directive 87/354/EEC of 25 June 1987 L 192 43 11.7.1987
►M2 Commission Directive 1999/16/EC of 16 March 1999 L 97 33 12.4.1999
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 (77/540/EEC)
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COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 28June 1977
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to
parking lamps for motor vehicles
(77/540/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 parking 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 on
the 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 trailers;
Whereas a harmonized component type-approval procedure for parking
lamps makes it possible for each Member State to check compliancewith the common construction and testing requirements and to inform
the other Member States of its findings by sending a copy of the
component type-approval certificate completed for each type of parkinglamp; whereas the placing of an EEC component type-approval mark onall parking lamps manufactured in conformity with the approved typeobviates any need for technical checks on these parking lamps in the
other Member States;
Whereas the approximation of national laws relating to motor vehicles
entails reciprocal recognition by Member States of the tests carried outby each of them on the basis of the common requirements,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
1. Each Member State shall grant EC component type-approval for
any type of parking lamp which satisfies the construction and testingrequirements laid down in the relevant Annexes.
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.1977L0540 — EN — 02.05.1999 — 005.001 — 2
(1) OJ No C 118, 16. 5. 1977, p. 29.
(2) OJ No C 114, 11. 5. 1977, p. 4.
(3) OJ No L 42, 23. 2. 1970, p. 1.
(4) OJ No L 262, 27. 9. 1976, p. 1.▼M2
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Article 2
Member States shall, for each type of parking lamp which they approve
pursuant to Article 1, issue to the manufacturer an EC component type-approval mark conforming to the model shown in Annex I, Appendix 3.
Member States shall take all appropriate measures to prevent the use of
marks liable to create confusion between parking lamps which havebeen type-approved pursuant to Article 1 and other devices.
Article 3
1. No Member State may prohibit the placing on the market of
parking 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 parking lamps bearing the EEC component type-approvalmark which consistently fail to conform to the approved type. That Stateshall inform the other Member States and the Commission forthwith ofthe measures taken, specifying the reasons for its decision.
Article 4
The competent authorities of the Member States shall inform each other,
by means of the procedures specified in Article 4(6) of Directive 70/156/
EEC, of each approval which they have granted, refused or withdrawn
pursuant to this Directive.
Article 5
1. If the Member State which has granted EEC component type-
approval finds that a number of parking lamps bearing the same EECcomponent type-approval mark do not conform to the type which it hasapproved, it shall take the necessary measures to ensure that productionmodels conform to the approved type. The competent authorities of that
State shall advise those of the other Member States of the measures
taken 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 competentauthorities 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 parking lamp or prohibit its placing on the market or use,shall 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 beinformed 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 such
remedies.
Article 7
No Member State may refuse to grant EEC type-approval or national
type-approval of a vehicle on grounds relating to its parking 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 8
No Member State may refuse or prohibit the sale, registration, entry into
service or use of any vehicle on grounds relating to its parking lamps if1977L0540 — EN — 02.05.1999 — 005.001 — 3
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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 least
four wheels and a maximum design speed exceeding 25 km/h, and itstrailers, with the exception of vehicles which run on rails and ofagricultural and forestry tractors and all mobile machinery.
Article 10
Any amendments necessary to adjust the requirements of the Annexes to
take account of technical progress shall be adopted in accordance withthe 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.1977L0540 — EN — 02.05.1999 — 005.001 — 4
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LIST OF ANNEXES
ANNEX I: Administrative provisions for type approval
Appendix 1: Information document
Appendix 2: Type-approval certificate
Appendix 3: Models of the EC component type-
approval mark
ANNEX II: Technical requirements1977L0540 — EN — 02.05.1999 — 005.001 — 5
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ANNEX I
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS FOR TYPE APPROVAL
1. APPLICATION FOR EC COMPONENT TYPE-APPROVAL
1.1. The application for EC component type-approval pursuant to Article 3(4)
of Directive 70/156/EEC of a type of parking lamp shall be submitted by
the manufacturer.
1.2. A model for the information document is given in Appendix 1.1.3. The following must be submitted to the technical service responsible for
conducting the type-approval tests:
1.3.1. Two samples, equipped with the lamp or lamps recommended; if the
parking lamps are such that they can be mounted only on one side of the
vehicle, the two samples submitted may be identical and be suitable for
mounting only on the right or only on the left side of the vehicle.
2. MARKINGS
2.1. The devices submitted for EC component type approval must bear:2.1.1. the trade name or mark of the manufacturer;2.1.2. in the case of lamps with replaceable light sources: the type(s) of
filament lamp prescribed;
2.1.3. in the case of lamps with non-replaceable light sources: the nominal
voltage and wattage.
2.2. These markings shall be clearly legible and indelible and shall be affixed
to the illuminating surface, or to one of the illuminating surfaces, of the
device. They shall be visible from the exterior when the device is fitted
to the vehicle.
2.3. Each device shall have sufficient space for the component type-approval
mark. This space shall be indicated on the drawings referred to in
Appendix 1.
3. GRANTING OF EC COMPONENT TYPE-APPROVAL
3.1. If the relevant requirements are satisfied, EC type-approval pursuant to
Article 4(3) and, if applicable, Article 4(4) of Directive 70/156/EEC
shall be granted.
3.2. A model for the EC type-approval certificate is given in Appendix 2.
3.3. An approval number in accordance with Annex VII to Directive 70/156/
EEC shall be assigned to each type of parking lamp approved. The same
Member State shall not assign the same number to another type of
parking lamp.
3.4. Where EC component type approval is requested for a type of lighting
and light-signalling device comprising a parking lamp and other lamps, a
single EC component type-approval number may be assigned provided
that the parking 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 EC component type approval is requested
complies with the separate Directive applying to it.
4. EC COMPONENT TYPE-APPROVAL MARK
4.1. In addition to the markings referred to in item 2.1., every parking lamp
conforming to the type approved pursuant to this Directive shall bear an
EC component type-approval mark.
4.2. This mark shall consist of:4.2.1. a rectangle surrounding the letter ‘e’ followed by the distinguishing
number or letters of the Member State which has granted type approval:
1 for Germany
2 for France
3 for Italy4 for the Netherlands5 for Sweden1977L0540 — EN — 02.05.1999 — 005.001 — 6
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6 for Belgium
9 for Spain11 for the United Kingdom12 for Austria13 for Luxembourg17 for Finland
18 for Denmark
21 for Portugal23 for GreeceIRL for Ireland;
4.2.2. in the vicinity of the rectangle the ‘base approval number’ contained in
section 4 of the type-approval number referred to in Annex VII of
Directive 70/156/EEC, preceded by the two figures indicating the
sequence number assigned to the most recent major technical amend-ment to Directive 77/540/EEC on the date EEC type-approval was
granted. In this Directive the sequence number is 00;
4.2.3. when a lamp emits a light of amber colour towards the front and rear, the
lamp must be marked with an arrow indicating its orientation, the arrow
showing to the front of the vehicle.
4.3. The EC component type-approval mark shall 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 lamps are fitted to the vehicle.
4.4. An example of the EC component type-approval mark is given in
Appendix 3.
4.5. Where a single EC component type-approval number is issued, as per
item 3.4. above, for a type of lighting and light-signalling device
comprising a parking lamp and other lamps, a single EC component
type-approval mark may be affixed, consisting of:
4.5.1. a rectangle surrounding the letter ‘e’ followed by the distinguishing
number or letters of the Member State which has granted type approval
(see item 4.2.1.);
4.5.2. the base approval number (see item 4.2.2., first half-sentence);
4.5.3. if necessary, the required arrow, in so far as it relates to the lamp
assembly as a whole.
4.6. This mark may be located anywhere on the lamps which are grouped,
combined or reciprocally incorporated, provided that:
4.6.1. it is visible after the installation of the lamps;
4.6.2. no light-transmitting components of the grouped, combined or
reciprocally incorporated lamps can be removed without simultaneously
removing the approval mark.
4.7. The identification symbol for each lamp corresponding to each Directive
pursuant to which EC component type approval was granted, together
with the sequence number (see item 4.2.2, second half-sentence) and,
where necessary, the letter ‘D’ and the required arrow shall be marked:
4.7.1. either on the appropriate light-emitting surface;4.7.2. or in a group, in such a way that each of the grouped, combined or
reciprocally incorporated lamps may be clearly identified.
4.8. The dimensions of the components of this mark must not be less than the
minimum dimensions specified for individual marks by the various
Directives pursuant to which EC component type approval was granted.
5. MODIFICATIONS OF THE TYPE AND AMENDMENTS TO
APPROVALS
5.1. In the case of modifications of the type approved pursuant to this
Directive, the provisions of Article 5 of Directive 70/156/EEC shall
apply.
6. CONFORMITY OF PRODUCTION
6.1. As a general rule, measures to ensure the conformity of production shall
be taken in accordance with the provisions laid down in Article 10 of
Directive 70/156/EEC.1977L0540 — EN — 02.05.1999 — 005.001 — 7
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6.2. Every parking lamp shall comply with the conditions specified in this
Directive. Nevertheless, in the case of a parking lamp selected 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
paragraph 8 (1)) shall be limited in each relevant direction to 80 % of the
minimum values specified in paragraphs 7.1 and 7.2 (1). Under the same
conditions, the prescribed maximum values may be exceeded by 20 %.1977L0540 — EN — 02.05.1999 — 005.001 — 8
(1) Of the documents referred to in point 1 of Annex II to this Directive.
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Appendix 1
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Appendix 2
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Appendix 3
EXAMPLE OF THE EC COMPONENT TYPE-APPROVAL MARK
The device bearing the EC component type-approval mark shown above is a parking lamp, type
approved in Germany (e1) pursuant to this Directive (00) under the base approval number 1471.1977L0540 — EN — 02.05.1999 — 005.001 — 13
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ANNEX II
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
1. The technical requirements are those set out in paragraphs 2, 6 to 9 and
Annexes 3 to 5 of UN-ECE Regulation No 77 which consists of a
consolidation of the following documents:
— the Regulation in its original form (00) (1),
— supplements 1 and 2 to Regulation No 77 including modifications (2),
— supplement 3 to Regulation No 77 (3),
— supplement 4 to Regulation No 77 (4),
except that:
1.1. Where reference is made to ‘Regulation No 48’, this shall be understood
as ‘Directive 76/756/EEC’.
1.2. Where reference is made to ‘Regulation No 37’, this shall be understood
as ‘Annex VII to Directive 76/761/EEC.’1977L0540 — EN — 02.05.1999 — 005.001 — 14
(1)E/ECE/324/C148/C147/C147/C147/C149/C147/C147/C147/C150Rev. 1/Add. 76.E/ECE/TRANS/505
(2)E/ECE/324/C148/C147/C147/C147/C149/C147/C147/C147/C150Rev. 1/Add. 76/Amend. 1.E/ECE/TRANS/505
(3)E/ECE/324/C148/C147/C147/C147/C149/C147/C147/C147/C150Rev. 1/Add. 76/Amend. 2.E/ECE/TRANS/505
(4) TRANS/WP.29/530