Commission Directive 2006/26/EC of  2 March 2006  amending, for the purposes of their adaptation to technical progress, Council Directives 74/151/EEC, 77/311/EEC, 78/933/EEC and 89/173/EEC relating to wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors   (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2006-03-02
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EC conformity marking, agricultural vehicle, technical regulations, technical standard, tractor, vehicle registration

L 65/22

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

7.3.2006

COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2006/26/EC

of 2 March 2006

for

amending,
their adaptation to technical progress, Council Directives
74/151/EEC, 77/311/EEC, 78/933/EEC and 89/173/EEC relating to wheeled agricultural or forestry
tractors

the purposes of

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

the European
Having regard to Directive 2003/37/EC of
Parliament and of
the Council of 26 May 2003 on type-
approval of agricultural or forestry tractors, their trailers and
interchangeable towed machinery, together with their systems,
components and separate technical units and repealing Directive
74/150/EEC (1), and in particular Article 19(1) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 74/151/EEC of 4 March
1974 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States
relating to certain parts and characteristics of wheeled agri-
forestry tractors (2), and in particular Article 4
cultural or
thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 77/311/EEC of 29 March
1977 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States
relating to the driver-perceived noise level of wheeled agri-
forestry tractors (3), and in particular Article 5
cultural or
thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 78/933/EEC of 17 October
1978 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States
relating to the installation of
lighting and lighting-signalling
devices on wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors (4), and in
particular Article 5 thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 89/173/EEC of 21
December 1988 on the approximation of
the
Member States relating to certain components and character-
istics of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors (5), and in
particular Article 9 thereof,

the laws of

Whereas:

(1)

The requirements introduced by Directive 74/151/EEC
for the maximum permissible laden mass and axle load

(1) OJ L 171, 9.7.2003, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Commission

Directive 2005/67/EC (OJ L 273, 19.10.2005, p. 17).

(2) OJ L 84, 28.3.1974, p. 25. Directive as

last amended by

Commission Directive 98/38/EC (OJ L 170, 16.6.1998, p. 13).
(3) OJ L 105, 28.4.1977, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Directive
97/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 277,
10.10.1997, p. 24).

(4) OJ L 325, 20.11.1978, p. 16. Directive as last amended by
Commission Directive 1999/56/EC (OJ L 146, 11.6.1999, p. 31).
(5) OJ L 67, 10.3.1989, p. 1. Directive as last amended by the 2003 Act

of Accession.

for wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors need to be
adapted for modern tractors,
the
enhancements in tractor technology with regard to the
increase of productivity as well as occupational safety.

taking into account

In order to facilitate the global operation of Community
industry,
it is necessary to align Community technical
regulations and standards with the corresponding global
In relation to the
technical regulations and standards.
maximum limits laid down in Directive 77/311/EEC for
the driver-perceived noise level of wheeled agricultural or
forestry tractors, the test speed established in Annexes I
and II to that Directive should therefore be harmonised
with the test speed required in global technical regu-
lations or standards such as OECD Code 5 and ISO
5131:1996 (6).

It is appropriate to adapt the requirements introduced by
Directive 78/933/EEC relating to the installation of
lighting and light-signalling devices on wheeled agri-
cultural and forestry tractors, so as to meet present
needs for simpler design and better illumination.

The requirements laid down in Directive 89/173/EEC
relating to glazing and coupling of wheeled agricultural
or forestry tractors should be brought into line with
recent technological developments. In particular, polycar-
bonate/plastic glazing should be permitted for non-wind-
screen applications to enhance the protection of
the
occupants in the event of objects penetrating the driver
cab area. The
concerning mechanical
couplings
should be aligned with the standard ISO
6489-1. Furthermore, with a view to reducing the
number and severity of accidents and to enhancing occu-
pational safety, it is appropriate not only to make addi-
tional provision as regards hot surfaces, but also to lay
down measures concerning battery terminal covers, as
well as measures designed to prevent unintentional
uncoupling.

requirements

Directives 74/151/EEC, 77/311/EEC, 78/933/EEC and
89/173/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly.

The measures provided for
in this Directive are in
accordance with the opinion of the Committee estab-
lished under Article 20(1) of Directive 2003/37/EC,

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(6) These documents can be found in the web pages

http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/35/19/34733683.PDF and
http://www.iso.org/iso/en/CatalogueDetailPage.CatalogueDetail?CS
NUMBER=20842&ICS1=17&ICS2=140&ICS3=20

7.3.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 65/23

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Article 1

Amendment to Directive 74/151/EEC

Directive 74/151/EEC is amended in accordance with Annex I
to this Directive.

Article 2

Amendment to Directive 77/311/EEC

3. With effect from 1 July 2009, with respect to vehicles
which do not comply with the requirements laid down respec-
tively in Directives 74/151/EEC, 78/933/EEC, 77/311/EEC and
89/173/EEC as amended by this Directive, and on grounds
the Directive concerned,
relating to the subject-matter of
Member States:

(a) shall consider certificates of conformity which accompany
new vehicles in accordance with the provisions of Directive
2003/37/EC to be no longer valid for the purposes of
Article 7(1);

Directive 77/311/EEC is amended in accordance with Annex II
to this Directive.

(b) may refuse the registration, sale or entry into service of

those new vehicles.

Article 3

Amendment to Directive 78/933/EEC

Directive 78/933/EEC is amended in accordance with Annex III
to this Directive.

Article 4

Amendment to Directive 89/173/EEC

Directive 89/173/EEC is amended in accordance with Annex IV
to this Directive.

Article 5

Transitional provisions

1. With effect from 1 January 2007, with respect to vehicles
which comply with the requirements laid down respectively in
Directives
and
89/173/EEC as amended by this Directive, Member States
shall not, on grounds relating to the subject-matter of
the
Directive concerned:

78/933/EEC,

74/151/EEC,

77/311/EEC

(a) refuse to grant EC type-approval or to grant national type-

approval;

(b) prohibit the registration, sale or entry into service of such a

vehicle.

2. With effect from 1 July 2007, with respect to vehicles
which do not comply with the requirements laid down respec-
tively in Directives 74/151/EEC, 78/933/EEC, 77/311/EEC and
89/173/EEC as amended by this Directive, and on grounds
relating to the subject-matter of
the Directive concerned,
Member States:

(a) shall no longer grant EC type-approval;

(b) may refuse to grant national type-approval.

Article 6

Transposition

1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations
and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this
Directive by 31 December 2006 at
the latest. They shall
forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those
provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and
this Directive.

When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain
a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a
reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member
States shall determine how such reference is to be made.

2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the
text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in
the field covered by this Directive.

Article 7

Entry into force

This Directive shall enter into force on 20th day following its
publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Article 8

Addressees

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 2 March 2006.

For the Commission

Günter VERHEUGEN
Vice-President

L 65/24

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

7.3.2006

ANNEX I

In Annex I to Directive 74/151/EEC, point 1.2. is replaced by the following:

‘1.2. the maximum permissible laden mass and the maximum permissible mass per axle depending on the vehicle

category does not exceed the values given in Table 1.

Maximum Permissible Laden Mass and Maximum Permissible Mass per Axle Depending on the Vehicle
Category

Table 1

Vehicle category

Number of axles

T1, T2, T4.1,

T3

T4.3

2

3

2, 3

2, 3, 4

Maximum
permissible mass
(t)

18 (laden)

24 (laden)

0,6 (unladen)

10 (laden)

Maximum permissible mass per axle

Driven axle
(t)

Non-driven axle
(t)

11,5

11,5

(a)

(a)

10

10

(a)

(a)

(a) It is not necessary to establish an axle limit for vehicle categories T3 and T4.3, as they have by definition limitations on the

maximum permissible laden and/or unladen mass.’

ANNEX II

Directive 77/311/EEC is amended as follows:

(1) Annex I is amended as follows:

(i)

in point 3.2.2., ‘7.25 km/h’ is replaced by ‘7,5 km/h’;

(ii) in point 3.3.1., ‘7.25 km/h’ is replaced by ‘7,5 km/h’;

(2) In point 3.2.3. of Annex II, ‘7.25 km/h’ is replaced by ‘7,5 km/h’.

7.3.2006

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Official Journal of the European Union

L 65/25

ANNEX III

In Directive 78/933/EEC, Annex I is amended as follows:

(1) In point 4.5.1., the following phrase is added:

‘Additional direction-indicator lamps optional.’

(2) Point 4.5.4.2. is replaced by the following:

‘4.5.4.2. Height:

Above the ground:

— not less than 500 mm for direction-indicator lamps in category 5,

— not less than 400 mm for direction-indicator lamps in categories 1 and 2,

— not more than 1 900 mm for all categories.

If the structure of the tractor makes it impossible to keep to this maximum figure, the highest point on
the illuminating surface may be at 2 300 mm for direction-indicator lamps in category 5, for those in
categories 1 and 2 of arrangement A, for those in categories 1 and 2 of arrangement B and for those in
categories 1 and 2 of arrangement D; it may be at 2 100 mm for those in categories 1 and 2 of the
other arrangements.

— up to 4 000 mm for optional direction-indicator lamps.’

(3) In point 4.7.4.2., the value ‘2 100 mm’ is replaced by the value ‘2 300 mm’.

(4) In point 4.10.4.2., the value ‘2 100 mm’ is replaced by the value ‘2 300 mm’.

(5) In point 4.14.5.2.2., the value ‘2 100 mm’ is replaced by the value ‘2 300 mm’.

(6) Point 4.15.7. is replaced by the following:

‘4.15.7 May be “grouped” ’.

L 65/26

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Official Journal of the European Union

7.3.2006

ANNEX IV

Directive 89/173/EEC is amended as follows:

(1) Annex II is amended as follows:

(a)

In point 2.2., the following points are inserted:
‘2.2.6.

“Normal operation” means the use of the tractor for the purpose intended by the manufacturer and by an
operator familiar with the tractor characteristics and complying with the information for operation, service
and safe practices, as specified by the manufacturer in the operator’s manual and by signs on the tractor.
“Inadvertent contact” means unplanned contact between a person and a hazard location resulting from the
person’s action during normal operation and service of the tractor.’

2.2.7.

(b) In point 2.3.2., the following points are inserted:

‘2.3.2.16. Hot surfaces

Hot surfaces which can be reached by the operator during normal operation of the tractor shall be
covered or insulated. This applies to hot surfaces which are near to steps, handrails, handholds and
integral tractor parts used as boarding means and which may be inadvertently touched.

2.3.2.17. Battery terminal cover

Non-earthed terminals must be protected against unintentional short-circuiting.’

(2) In point 1. of Annex III A, the following point is inserted:

‘1.1.3. rigid plastic glazing is permitted for non-windscreen applications as approved in Council Directive

92/22/EEC (*) or in UN-ECE Regulation 43, Annex 14.

___________
(*) OJ L 129, 14.5.1992, p. 11.’

(3) Annex IV is amended as follows:

(a)

In point 1.1., the second indent is replaced by the following:
‘— towing hook (see Figure 1 — “Hitch-hook dimensions” in ISO 6489-1:2001),’

(b) In Section 2, the following point 2.9. is added:

‘2.9.

In order to prevent unintentional uncoupling from the hitch ring, the distance between the towing hook tip
and the keeper (clamping device) shall not exceed 10 mm at the maximum design load.’

(c)

In Appendix 1, Figure 3 and the related text are deleted.