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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:
OfficialJournal
No page date
►A1 Act of Accession of Greece L 291 17 19.11.1979
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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 proposalfrom the Commission,Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (
1),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and SocialCommittee (2),
Whereas the technicalrequirements which motor vehicl es 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 CouncilDirective 70/156/EEC of 6 February 1970 onthe approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to thetype-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 Councill aid down the
common requirements for the installation of lighting and light-signallingdevices on motor vehicles and their trailers;
Whereas a harmonized type-approvalprocedure for rear registration
plate lamps makes it possible for each Member State to check compli-ance with the common construction and testing requirements and toinform the other Member States of its findings by sending a copy of thecomponent type-approvalcertificate compl eted for each type of rearregistration 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 MemberStates;
Whereas it is desirable to take into account the technical requirements
adopted by the UN Economic Commission for Europe in its RegulationNo 4 (‘Uniform provisions for the approval of devices for the illumina-tion 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 approvalandreciprocalrecognition of approvalfor motor vehicl e equipment andparts;
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,
(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 OfficialJournal .
(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 Annexes 0, I, III and IV.
2. The Member State which has granted EEC component type-
approvalshal ltake the measures required in order to verify that produc-tion models conform to the approved type, in so far as this is necessaryand if need be in cooperation with the competent authorities in the otherMember 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 hisauthorized representative, an EEC component type-approvalmarkconforming to the modelshown 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 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 componenttype-approvalmark which consistentl y failto conform to the approvedtype.
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-approvalcertificates, an exampl e of which is givenin Annex II, completed for each type of rear registration plate lampwhich 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 thesame EEC component type-approvalmark do not conform to the typewhich it has approved, it shall take the necessary measures to ensurethat production 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 toconform, extend to withdrawalof EEC component type-approval . Thesaid 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 withdrawalof 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-approvalfor arear registration plate lamp or prohibit its placing on the market or useshal lset out in detailthe reasons on which it is based. Such decisions
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shall 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 theMember States and of the time limits allowed for the exercise of suchremedies.
Article 7
No Member State may refuse to grant EEC type-approvalor 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 Directive76/756/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 registra-tion plate lamps if these bear the EEC component type-approval markand are fitted in accordance with the requirements laid down inDirective 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 technicalprogress shal lbe adopted in accordancewith 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 these provi-sions 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 administrativeprovisions which they propose to adopt in the field covered by thisDirective.
Article 12
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
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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-approvaland marking requirements
— Appendix: Example of an EEC component type-approval mark
Annex II — ModelEEC component type-approvalcertificateAnnex III (*) — Measurement points for test purposesAnnex 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 sections is the same. For this reason, where a section ofRegulation No 4 has no counterpart in this Directive, its number is given in brackets for the record.
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ANNEX 0
DEFINITION, GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS, COLOUR OF LIGHT
EMITTED, ANGLE OF INCIDENCE, MEASURING PROCEDURE,PHOTOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS, CONFORMITY OF PRODUC-
TION
1. DEFINITION1.1.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 ofdifferent opticalel ements.
(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 inAnnex 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 testvoltage 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 inthe 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; thedevice must be so placed that the angle of incidence of the light on thesurface of the plate does not exceed 82 °at any point on the surface to be
illuminated, this angle being measured from the edge of the illuminatingsurface of the device furthest from the surface of the plate. Where a deviceincorporates several lamps, the foregoing requirement shall apply only tothat 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 normallyoccupied 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 ·5 cd/m
2.
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
(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.
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not excee d2×B0/cm, B0being the minimum luminance measured at the
various points, that is to say:
B2—B1
Distance 1—2 in cm≤2×B0/cm
10. CONFORMITY OF PRODUCTION
Every rear registration plate lamp bearing an EEC component type-
approvalmark shal lconform 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.)
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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 tallplate;
1.2.2. a brief technicalspecification stating the type and power of the fil ament
lamp or lamps recommended by the manufacturer;
1.2.3. drawings (three copies), in sufficient detailto permit identification of the
type and showing geometrically the position in which the device is to bemounted 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-approvalmust bear the appl icant’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-approvalmark; this spacemust 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 require-
ments of sections 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of Annex 0, EEC component type-approvalshal lbe granted and a component type-approvalnumberassigned.
3.2. This number shall not be assigned to any other type of rear registration
plate lamp.
3.3. Where EEC component type-approvalis requested for a type of l ighting
and light-signalling device comprising a rear registration plate lamp andother lamps, a single EEC component type-approval mark may be issuedprovided that the rear registration plate lamp complies with the require-ments of this Directive and that each of the other lamps forming part ofthe lighting and light-signalling device for which EEC type-approval isrequested, 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 shal lbear an EEC component type-approvalmark.
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,11 for the United Kingdom,
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13 for Luxembourg,
DK for Denmark,IRL for Ireland,
▼
A1
E for Greece.
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It must also include the EEC component type-approval number corre-
sponding to the number of the EEC component type-approvalcertificateissued for the type of device in question.
4.3. The EEC component type-approvalnumber must be pl aced in any conve-
nient position near the rectangle surrounding the letter ‘e'.
4.4. The EEC component type-approvalmark must be affixed on the l ens of
the lamp or on one of the lenses in such a way as to be indelible andclearly 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 beaffixed, consisting of:
— a rectangle surrounding the letter ‘e' followed by the distinguishing
letter(s) or number of the Member State which has granted the EECcomponent type-approval,
— the EEC component type-approvalnumber,— the additionalsymbol s required by the various Directives under which
EEC component type-approvalwas 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 individualmarkings by the various Directives under which the EEC componenttype-approvalwas granted.
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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.
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ANNEX II
MODEL EEC TYPE-APPROVAL CERTIFICATE
(Maximum format: A4 (210 × 297 mm))

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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=2 5m m b=9 5m m c=1 0 0m m d=9 0m m e=7 0m m
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 or manufac-turer; however, if two measurement points are less than 30 mm apart, onlyone shall be used.
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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 areaspartly occulted to the strict minimum necessary.