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"BCOUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 27 July 1976
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
"A1 Act of Accession of Greece L 291 17 19.11.1979
"A2 Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal L 302 23 15.11.19851976L0760 — EN — 01.01.1986 — 002.001 — 1
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 27 July 1976
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 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 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/CEE (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 type-approval procedure for rear registration
plate lamps makes it possible for each Member State to check
compliance 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 of
rear registration plate lamp; whereas the placing of an EEC component
type-approval mark on all rear registration plate lamps manufactured in
conformity with the approved type obviates any need for technical
checks 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 the
illumination of rear registration plates of motor vehicles (except motor
cycles) 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 checks carried out
by each of them on the basis on the common requirements,!B
(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 1975.1976L0760 — EN — 01.01.1986 — 002.001 — 2
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 and
testing requirements laid down in Annexes 0, I, III and IV .
2. The Member State which has granted EEC component type-approval
shall take the measures required in order to verify that production 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 spot checks.
Article 2
Member States shall for each type of rear registration plate lamp which
they approve pursuant to Article 1, issure to the manufacturer, or to his
authorized representative, an EEC component type-approval mark
conforming to the model shown in Annex I.
Member States shall take all appropriate measures to prevent the use of
marks liable to create confusion between rear registration plate 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 rear
registration plate lamps on grounds relating to their construction or
method of functioning if they bear the EEC component type-approval
mark.
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 each Member State shall within one month
send to the competent authorities of the other Member States a copy of
the component type-approval certificates, an example of which is given
in Annex II, completed for each type of rear registration plate lamp
which they approve or refuse to approve.
Article 5
1. If the Member State which has granted EEC component type-appro-
val finds that a number of rear registration plate lamps bearing the same
EEC component 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 that State shall advise those of the other Member States of
the 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 the
competent authorties of another Member State of such failure to
conform.
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.!B1976L0760 — EN — 01.01.1986 — 002.001 — 3
Article 6
Any decision taken pursuant to the provisions adopted in implementation
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 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 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 registration
plate 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 registration
plate 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 least
four wheels and a maximum design speed exceeding 25 km/h, and its
trailers, with the exception of vehicles which run on rails, agricultural
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 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 these
provisions 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 to
submit 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.!B1976L0760 — EN — 01.01.1986 — 002.001 — 4
List of Annexes
Annex 0 (*) — Definition, general specifications, colour of light
emitted, angle of incidence, measuring procedure,
photometric characteristics, conformity of production
Annex I — EEC component type-approval and marking require-
ments
— Appendix: Example of an EEC component type-approval
mark
Annex II — Model EEC component type-approval certificate
Annex III (*) — Measurement points for test purposes
Annex IV (*) — Minimum field of visibility of the surface to be
illuminated!B
(*) The technical requirements of this Annex are similar to the requirements of Regulation
No 4 of the Economic Commission for Europe. In particular, the breakdown into
sections is the same. For this reason, where a section of Regulation No 4 has nocounterpart in this Directive, its number is given in brackets for the record.1976L0760 — EN — 01.01.1986 — 002.001 — 5
ANNEX 0
DEFINITION, GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS, COLOUR OF LIGHT
EMITTED, ANGLE OF INCIDENCE, MEASURING PROCEDURE,
PHOTOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS, CONFORMITY OF PRODUC-
TION
1. DEFINITION
1.1. Rear registration plate lamp
‘Rear registration plate lamp’ means the device used to illuminate the
space intended to accommodate the rear registration plate; it may consist
of different optical elements.
(2.)
(3.)
(4.)
5. GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
Each sample shall conform to the specifications set forth in section 9 (1).
These lamps shall be so designed that the entire surface to be illuminated
is visible from the rear within the field of vision indicated in the drawingin Annex IV .
All measurements shall be carried out by adjusting the filament lamp or
lamps of the device to the minimum light flux prescribed for the test
voltage in the specification of the filament lamp or lamps for the device.
6. COLOUR OF LIGHT EMITTED
The colour of the light emitted by the lamp used in the device must be
white, but sufficiently neutral so as not to cause any appreciable change in
the colour of the registration plate.
7. ANGLE OF INCIDENCE
The manufacturer of the device shall specify the position in which the
device is to be fitted in relation to the space for the registration plate; the
device must be so placed that the angle of incidence of the light on the
surface of the plate does not exceed 82° at any point on the surface to beilluminated, this angle being measured from the edge of the illuminatingsurface of the device furthest from the surface of the plate. Where a device
incorporates several lamps, the foregoing requirement shall apply only to
that part of the plate intended to be illuminated by the device concerned.
The device must be so designed that no light is emitted directly towards the
rear, with the exception of red light if the device is combined or groupedwith a rear lamp.
8. MEASURING PROCEDURE
Luminance measurements shall be made on a piece of matte white blotting
paper with a minimum diffuse reflection factor of 70 %, of the samedimensions as the registration plate, and placed in the position normally
occupied by it 2 mm in front of its holder.
Luminance measurements shall be made perpendicularly to the surface of
the paper, at the points shown in Annex III according to the type of platefor which the device is intended, each point representing a circular area 25mm in diameter.
9. PHOTOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS
At each of the points of measurement shown in Annex III, the luminance B
shall be at least equal to 2.5cd/m
2.!B
(1) These specifications are such as to ensure good visibility if the inclination of the
registration plate does not exceed 30° on either side of the vertical.1976L0760 — EN — 01.01.1986 — 002.001 — 6
The gradient of the luminance between the values B 1and B 2, measured at
any two points 1 and 2 selected from among those mentioned above, shall
not exceed 2 × B 0/cm, B 0being the minimum luminance measured at the
various points, that is to say:
B2—B 1
Distance 1—2 in cm/C202/C2B0=cm
10. CONFORMITY OF PRODUCTION
Every rear registration plate lamp bearing an EEC component type-appro-
val mark shall conform to the type approved.
The luminance B of any device picked at random from a series produced
batch shall not be lower than 2 cd/m2and, in the formula for the radient,
the factor 2 may be replaced by 3.
(11.)!B1976L0760 — EN — 01.01.1986 — 002.001 — 7
ANNEX I
EEC COMPONENT TYPE-APPROV AL AND MARKING
REQUIREMENTS
1. APPLICATION FOR EEC COMPONENT TYPE-APPROV AL
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 rear registration plate lamp, the application shall be
accompanied by the following:
1.2.1. an indication as to whether the device is intended to illuminate a wide plate
(520 × 120 mm), tall plate (340 × 240 mm) or both a wide and a tall plate;
1.2.2. a brief technical specification stating the type and power of the filament
lamp or lamps recommended by the manufacturer;
1.2.3. drawings (three copies), in sufficient detail to permit identification of the
type and showing geometrically the position in which the device is to be
mounted in relation to the space to be occupied by the registration plate,
and the outlines of the surface to be illuminated;
1.2.4. two samples, equipped with the filament lamp or lamps recommended.
2. MARKINGS
2.1. The samples of a type of rear registration plate lamp submitted for EEC
component type-approval must bear the applicant’s trade name or mark,
which must be clearly legible and indelible.
2.2. Each device shall include on both the lens and the lamp housing a space of
sufficient size for the EEC component type-approval mark; this space must
be shown on the drawings mentioned in 1.2.3.
3. EEC COMPONENT TYPE-APPROV AL
3.1. If all the samples submitted in accordance with section 1 meet the
requirements of sections 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of Annex 0, 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 rear registration
plate lamp.
3.3. Where EEC 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 EEC component type-approval mark may be issued
provided that the rear registration plate lamp complies with therequirements of this Directive and that each of the other lamps formingpart of the lighting and light-signalling device for which EEC type-appro-
val is requested, complies with the specific Directive applying to it.
4. MARKS
4.1. Every rear registration plate 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 letter(s) or number of the Member Statewhich has granted the 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,
13 for Luxembourg,DK for Denmark,!
B
!A21976L0760 — EN — 01.01.1986 — 002.001 — 8
GR for Greece,
IRL for Ireland,
P for Portugal.
It must also include the EEC component type-approval number
corresponding to the number of the EEC component type-approval
certificate issued for the type of device in question.
4.3. The EEC component type-approval number must be placed in any
convenient position near the rectangle surrounding the letter ‘e’.
4.4. The EEC component type-approval mark must be affixed on the lens of the
lamp or on one of the lenses in such a way as to be indelible and clearly
legible even when the rear registration plate lamps are fitted on thevehicle.
4.5. An example of an EEC component type-approval mark is shown in the
Appendix.
4.6. Where a single EEC type-approval number is issued, as under 3.3, for a
type of lighting and light-signalling device comprising a rear registrationplate lamp and other lamps, one EEC type-approval mark only may be
affixed, consisting of:
— a rectangle surrounding the letter ‘e’ followed by the distinguishing
letter(s) or number of the Member State which has granted the EEC
component type-approval,
— the EEC component type-approval number,
— the additional symbols required by the various Directives under which
EEC component type-approval was granted.
4.7. The dimensions of the various components of this mark must not be less
than the largest of the minimum dimensions specified for individual
markings by the various Directives under which the EEC componenttype-approval was granted.!
A2
!B1976L0760 — EN — 01.01.1986 — 002.001 — 9
Appendix
EXAMPLE OF AN EEC COMPONENT TYPE-APPROV AL MARK
The device bearing the EEC component type-approval mark shown above is a rear
registration plate lamp EEC type-approved in the United Kingdom (e 11) under
the number 1471.!B1976L0760 — EN — 01.01.1986 — 002.001 — 10
ANNEX II
MODEL EEC TYPE-APPROV AL CERTIFICATE
(Maximum format: A4 (210 × 297 mm))
!B1976L0760 — EN — 01.01.1986 — 002.001 — 11
ANNEX III
MEASUREMENT POINTS FOR TEST PURPOSES
(a) Devices for illuminating a tall plate (340 × 240 mm)
(b) Devices for illuminating a wide plate (520 × 120 mm)
a = 25 mm b = 95 mm c = 100 mm d = 90 mm e = 70 mm
Note: In the case of devices for illuminating both tall and wide plates the
measurement points used are obtained by combining the two drawingsabove in accordance with the outline indicated by the maker ormanufacturer; however, if two measurement points are less than 30 mm
apart, only one shall be used.!
B1976L0760 — EN — 01.01.1986 — 002.001 — 12
ANNEX IV
MINIMUM FIELD OF VISIBILITY OF THE SURFACE TO BE ILLUMINATED
1. The field of visibility angles shown above relate only to the relative positions of the device and the space for the
registration plate.
(2.)
3. The angles shown take account of the partial occultation caused by the device. These must be adhered to in the
directions in which there is most occultation. The devices must be such as to reduce the areas partly occulted to
the strict minimum necessary.!B1976L0760 — EN — 01.01.1986 — 002.001 — 13