1976L0760 — EN — 01.01.1995 — 004.001 — 1
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►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
►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
▼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)
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 — 01.01.1995 — 004.001 — 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.
▼B
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 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 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, issure to the manufacturer, or to hisauthorized representative, an EEC component type-approval markconforming 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 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 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 itsdecision.
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 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-
approval 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 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.
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 rearregistration plate lamp or prohibit its placing on the market or use shall1976L0760 — EN — 01.01.1995 — 004.001 — 3
▼B
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 informedof 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 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 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 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, agriculturaltractors 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 shallforthwith 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 — 01.01.1995 — 004.001 — 4
▼B
List of Annexes
Annex 0 (*) — Definition, general specifications, colour of light emitted,
angle of incidence, measuring procedure, photometric character-
istics, conformity of production
Annex I — EEC component type-approval and marking requirements
— 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
(*) 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 sectionsis the same. For this reason, where a section of Regulation No 4 has no counterpart in
this Directive, its number is given in brackets for the record.1976L0760 — EN — 01.01.1995 — 004.001 — 5
▼B
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 drawing in 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 82º at any
point on the surface to be illuminated, this angle being measured
from the edge of the illuminating surface 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 grouped with 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 same dimensions 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 plate for which the device is intended, each point
representing a circular area 25 mm 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 2·5 cd/m2.1976L0760 — EN — 01.01.1995 — 004.001 — 6
(1) These specifications are such as to ensure good visibility if the inclination of the
registration plate does not exceed 30º on either side of the vertical.
▼B
The gradient of the luminance between the values B1and B2,
measured at any two points 1 and 2 selected from among those
mentioned above, shall not exceed 2 × B0/cm, B0being 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-approval 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.)1976L0760 — EN — 01.01.1995 — 004.001 — 7
▼B
ANNEX I
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 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-APPROVAL
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 the requirements of this Directive and
that each of the other lamps forming part of the lighting and light-
signalling device for which EEC type-approval 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 State which has granted the type-approval:
1 for Germany,
2 for France,
3 for Italy,
4 for the Netherlands,
6 for Belgium,
9 for Spain,1976L0760 — EN — 01.01.1995 — 004.001 — 8
▼A2
▼A2
11 for the United Kingdom,
13 for Luxembourg,DK 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
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 the vehicle.
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
registration plate 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 component type-approval was granted.1976L0760 — EN — 01.01.1995 — 004.001 — 9
▼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 rear registration plate lamp
EEC type-approved in the United Kingdom (e 11) under the number 1471.1976L0760 — EN — 01.01.1995 — 004.001 — 10
▼B
ANNEX II
MODEL EEC TYPE-APPROVAL CERTIFICATE
(Maximum format: A4 (210 × 297 mm))
1976L0760 — EN — 01.01.1995 — 004.001 — 11
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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 drawings
above in accordance with the outline indicated by the maker or
manufacturer; however, if two measurement points are less than 30 mm
apart, only one shall be used.1976L0760 — EN — 01.01.1995 — 004.001 — 12
▼B
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.1976L0760 — EN — 01.01.1995 — 004.001 — 13