1976L0760 — EN — 20.07.1997 — 005.001 — 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 27July 197 6
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the rear registration plate lamps
for motor vehicles and their trailers
(76/760/EEC)
(OJ L 262, 27.9.1976, p. 85)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1Council Directive 87/354/EEC of 25 June 1987 L 192 43 11.7.1987
►M2Commission Directive 97/31/EC of 11 June 1997 L 171 49 30.6.1997
Amended by:
►A1Act of Accession of Greece L 291 17 19.11.1979
►A2Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal L 302 23 15.11.1985
►A3Act 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
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COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 27July 197 6
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to
the rear registration plate lamps for motor vehicles and their
trailers
(76/760/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 rear registration plate
lamps;
Whereas those 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/CEE(4), the Council laid down the
common requirements for the installation of lighting and light-signallingdevices on motor vehicles and their trailers;
Whereas a harmonized type-approval procedure for rear registration
plate lamps makes it possible for each Member State to checkcompliance with 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 ofrear registration plate lamp; whereas the placing of an EEC componenttype-approval mark on all rear registration plate lamps manufactured inconformity with the approved type obviates any need for technicalchecks on these rear registration plate 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 Regulation
No 4 (‘Uniform provisions for the approval of devices for theillumination of rear registration plates of motor vehicles (except motorcycles) and their trailers’)(
5), which is annexed to the Agreement of 20
March 1958 concerning the adoption of uniform conditions for approvaland 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 checks carriedout by each of them on the basis on the common requirements,1976L0760 — EN — 20.07.1997 — 005.001 — 2
(1) OJ No C 76, 7. 4. 1975, p. 37.
(2) OJ No C 248, 29. 10. 1975, p. 23.
(3) OJ No L 42, 23. 2. 1970, p. 1.
(4) See page 1 of this Official Journal.
(5) Economic Commission for Europe, Document E/ECE/324, Addendum 3,
Amendment 1 of 29 October 1975.
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HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
1. Member States shall grant EEC component type-approval for any
type of rear registration plate lamp which satisfies the construction andtesting requirements 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.
Article 2
Member States shall for each type of rear registration plate lamp which
they approve pursuant to Article 1, issue to the manufacturer an EEC
component type-approval mark conforming to the model shown inAnnex 1, Appendix 3.
Member States shall take all appropriate measures to prevent the use of
marks liable to create confusion between rear registration plate lampswhich 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 rear
registration plate lamps on grounds relating to their construction ormethod of functioning if they bear the EEC component type-approvalmark.
2. Nevertheless, a Member State may prohibit the placing on the
market of rear registration plate lamps bearing the EEC component type-
approval mark which consistently fail to conform to the approved type.
That State shall forthwith inform the other Member States and the
Commission of the 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 procedure 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 rear registration plate lamps bearing the
same EEC component type-approval mark do not conform to the typewhich it has approved, it shall take the necessary measures to ensure thatproduction models conform to the approved type. The competentauthorities of that State shall advise those of the other Member States ofthe measures taken, which may, where there is consistent failure to
conform, extend to withdrawal of EEC component type-approval. The
said authorities shall take the same measures if they are informed by thecompetent authorties of another Member State of such failure toconform.
2. The competent authorities of Member States shall within one
month inform each other of any withdrawal of EEC component type-approval, and of the reasons for such a measure.1976L0760 — EN — 20.07.1997 — 005.001 — 3
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Article 6
Any decision taken pursuant to the provisions adopted in implementa-
tion of this Directive to refuse or withdraw EEC type-approval for a rear
registration plate lamp or prohibit its placing on the market or use shall
set out in detail the reasons on which it is based. Such decisions shall benotified to the party concerned, who shall at the same time be informedof the remedies available to him under the laws in force in the MemberStates 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 rear registrationplate 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 or registration, entry
into service or use of a vehicle on grounds relating to its rear registrationplate lamps if these bear the EEC component type-approval mark andare 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 with
the procedure laid down in Article 13 of Directive 70/156/EEC.
Article 11
1. Member States shall adopt and publish the provisions necessary in
order to comply with this Directive before 1 July 1977 and shall
forthwith inform the Commission thereof. They shall apply theseprovisions with effect from 1 October 1977 at the latest.
2. Once this Directive has been notified, the Member States shall also
ensure that the Commission is informed, in sufficient time for it tosubmit its comments, of any draft laws, regulations or administrative
provisions which they propose to adopt in the field covered by this
Directive.
Article 12
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.1976L0760 — EN — 20.07.1997 — 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: Scope and technical requirements1976L0760 — EN — 20.07.1997 — 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 rear registration plate 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.
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, 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 rear registration plate lamp
approved. The same Member State shall not assign the same number to
another type of rear registration plate lamp.
3.4. Where EC component type approval is requested for a type of lighting
and light-signalling device comprising a rear registration plate lamp and
other lamps, a single EC component type-approval number may be
assigned provided that the rear registration plate 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 rear registration
plate 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 Italy
4 for the Netherlands
5 for Sweden
6 for Belgium1976L0760 — EN — 20.07.1997 — 005.001 — 6
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9 for Spain
11 for the United Kingdom
12 for Austria
13 for Luxembourg
17 for Finland
18 for Denmark
21 for Portugal
23 for Greece
IRL 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 76/760/EEC on the date EEC type approval was
granted. In this Directive the sequence number is 00;
4.2.3. an additional symbol as follows: the letter ‘L’.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. Examples of the EC component type-approval mark are given in
Appendix 3, Figure 1.
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 rear registration plate 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.
4.9. Examples of an EC component type-approval mark for a lamp that is
grouped, combined or reciprocally incorporated with other lamps are
given in Appendix 3, Figure 2.
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.1976L0760 — EN — 20.07.1997 — 005.001 — 7
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6.2. The luminance B of any device picked at random from a mass produced
batch shall not be lower than 2 cd/m2and, in the formula for the gradient,
the factor 2 may be replaced by 3 (see paragraph 9 of the documents
referred to in item 2.1 of Annex II to this Directive).1976L0760 — EN — 20.07.1997 — 005.001 — 8
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Appendix 1
Information document No …
relating to the EC component type approval of rear registration plate lamps
(Directive 76/760/EEC, as last amended by Directive …/…/EC)
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Appendix 2
MODEL
(maximum format: A4 (210 × 297 mm))
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Appendix 3
EXAMPLES OF THE EC COMPONENT TYPE-APPROVAL MARK
Figure 1
The device bearing the EC component type-approval mark shown above is a rear
registration plate lamp, type approved in Germany (e1) pursuant to this Directive
(00) under the base approval number 1471.1976L0760 — EN — 20.07.1997 — 005.001 — 14
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Figure 2
Simplified marking of grouped, combined or reciprocally incorporated lamps when two or more
lamps are part of the same assembly
(The vertical and horizontal lines schematize the shape of the light-signalling device. The are not part of
the approval mark).
MODEL A
MODEL B
MODEL C
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Note:The three examples of approval marks, models A, B and C, represent three
possible variants of the marking of a lighting and light-signalling device
when two or more lamps are part of the same unit of grouped, combined
or reciprocally incorporated lamps. This approval mark shows that the
device was approved in Germany (e1) under the base approval number
1712 and comprises:
— a retro reflector of class IA approved in accordance with Council
Directive 76/757/EEC (OJ No L 262, 27. 9. 1976, p. 32), sequence No
02,
— a rear direction indicator of category 2a approved in accordance with
Council Directive 76/759/EEC (OJ No L 262, 27. 9. 1976, p. 71),
sequence No 01,
— a red rear position lamp (R) approved in accordance with Annex II to
Council Directive 76/758/EEC (OJ No L 262, 27. 9. 1976, p. 54),
sequence No 02,
— a rear fog lamp (F) approved in accordance with Council Directive 77/
538/EEC (OJ No L 220, 29. 8. 1977, p. 60), sequence No 00,
— a reversing lamp (AR) approved in accordance with Council Directive
77/539/EEC (OJ No L 220, 29. 8. 1977, p. 72), sequence No 00,
— a stop lamp with two levels of intensity (S2) approved in accordance
with Annex II to Directive 76/758/EEC, sequence No 02,
— a rear registration plate lampe (L) approved in accordance with
Directive 76/760/EEC, sequence No 00.1976L0760 — EN — 20.07.1997 — 005.001 — 16
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ANNEX II
SCOPE AND TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
1. SCOPE
This Directive applies to rear registration plate lamps for motor vehicles
and their trailers.
2. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
2.1. The technical requirements are those set out in paragraphs 1 and 5 to 9
and Annexes 3 to 5 of UN-ECE Regulation No 4 which consists of a
consolidation of the following documents:
— the Regulation in its original form (00)(1),
— the Supplement 1 to Regulation No 4(2),
— the Supplement 2 to Regulation No 4(3),
— the Supplements 3 and 4 to Regulation No 4(4),
— the Supplement 5 to Regulation No 4(5),
except that:
2.1.1. Where reference is made to ‘Regulation No 48’, this shall be understood
as ‘Directive 76/756/EEC’.
2.1.2. Where reference is made to ‘Regulation No 37’, this shall be understood
as ‘Annex VII to Directive 76/761/EEC’:1976L0760 — EN — 20.07.1997 — 005.001 — 17
(1)E/ECE/324/C148/C147/C147/C147/C149/C147/C147/C147/C150Add. 3.E/ECE/TRANS/505
(2)E/ECE/324/C148/C147/C147/C147/C149/C147/C147/C147/C150Add. 3/Amend. 1 and …/Amend. 1/Corr. 1.E/ECE/TRANS/505
(3)E/ECE/324/C148/C147/C147/C147/C149/C147/C147/C147/C150Add. 3/Amend. 2.E/ECE/TRANS/505
(4)E/ECE/324/C148/C147/C147/C147/C149/C147/C147/C147/C150Add. 3/Amend. 3.E/ECE/TRANS/505
(5) TRANS/WP.29/447.