Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the steering equipment of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors (Codified version)
Date: 2006-11-09
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: agricultural holding, approximation of laws, codification of EU law, forestry holding, technical regulations, tractor, vehicle parts

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 9.11.2006 
COM(2006) 670 final 

2006/0225 (COD) 

Proposal for a 

DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL  

on the steering equipment of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors 

(Codified version) 

(presented by the Commission) 

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1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

In  the  context  of  a  people’s  Europe,  the  Commission  attaches  great  importance  to 
simplifying  and  clarifying  Community  law  so  as  to  make  it  clearer  and  more 
accessible to the ordinary citizen, thus giving him new opportunities and the chance 
to make use of the specific rights it gives him. 

This aim cannot be achieved so long as numerous provisions that have been amended 
several times, often quite substantially, remain scattered, so that they must be sought 
partly  in  the  original  instrument  and  partly  in  later  amending  ones.  Considerable 
research work, comparing many different instruments, is thus needed to identify the 
current rules. 

For  this  reason  a  codification  of  rules  that  have  frequently  been  amended  is  also 
essential if Community law is to be clear and transparent. 

On  1  April  1987  the  Commission  therefore  decided1  to  instruct  its  staff  that  all 
legislative acts should be codified after no more than ten amendments, stressing that 
this was a minimum requirement and that departments should endeavour to codify at 
even  shorter  intervals  the  texts  for  which  they  are  responsible,  to  ensure  that  the 
Community rules were clear and readily understandable. 

The  Conclusions  of 
the  Edinburgh  European  Council 
(December 1992) confirmed this2, stressing the importance of codification as it offers 
certainty as to the law applicable to a given matter at a given time. 

the  Presidency  of 

Codification  must  be  undertaken  in  full  compliance  with  the  normal  Community 
legislative procedure. 

Given  that  no  changes  of  substance  may  be  made  to  the  instruments  affected  by 
codification, the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission have agreed, 
by  an  interinstitutional  agreement  dated  20  December  1994,  that  an  accelerated 
procedure may be used for the fast-track adoption of codification instruments. 

The  purpose  of  this  proposal  is  to  undertake  the  codification  of  Council 
Directive 75/321/EEC  of  20  May  1975  on  the  approximation  of  the  laws  of  the 
Member States relating to the steering equipment of wheeled agricultural or forestry 
tractors3. The new Directive will supersede the various acts incorporated in it4; this 
proposal  fully  preserves  the  content  of  the  acts  being  codified  and  hence  does  no 
more than bring them together with only such formal amendments as are required by 
the codification exercise itself. 

1 
2 
3 

4 

COM(87) 868 PV. 
See Annex 3 to Part A of these Conclusions. 
Carried out pursuant to the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the 
Council – Codification of the Acquis communautaire, COM(2001) 645 final. 
Annex II, Part A of this proposal. 

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5. 

The codification proposal was drawn up on the basis of a preliminary consolidation, 
in all official languages, of Directive 75/321/EEC and the instruments amending it, 
carried out by the Office of Official Publications of the European Communities, by 
means  of  a  data-processing  system.  Where  the  Articles  have  been  given  new 
numbers,  the  correlation  between  the  old and  the  new  numbers  is  shown  in  a  table 
contained in Annex III to the codified Directive. 

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(cid:208) 75/321/EEC (adapted) 

2006/0225 (COD) 

Proposal for a 

DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL  

on the steering equipment of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors 

(Text with EEA relevance) 

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Community,  and  in  particular 
Article ⌦ 95 ⌫ thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee5, 

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty6, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

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6 
7 

8 
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(cid:208) 

Council Directive 75/321/EEC of  20 May 1975  on  the  approximation of the laws of 
the  Member  States  relating  to  the  steering  equipment  of  wheeled  agricultural  or 
forestry  tractors7  has  been  substantially  amended  several  times8.  In  the  interests  of 
clarity and rationality the said Directive should be codified. 

for 

in  Council  Directive  74/150/EEC  as 

Directive  75/321/EEC  is  one  of  the  separate  Directives  of  the  EC  type-approval 
replaced  by 
system  provided 
Directive 2003/37/EC of the European 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/EEC9  and 
technical  prescriptions 
concerning the design and construction of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors as 

lays  down 

OJ C , , p. . 
OJ C , , p. . 
OJ L 147, 9.6.1975, p. 24. Directive as last amended by Commission Directive 98/39/EC (OJ L 170, 
16.6.1998, p. 15). 
See Annex II, Part A. 
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). 

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technical  prescriptions  concern 

the  steering  equipment.  These 

regards 
the 
approximation  of  the  laws  of  the  Member  States  to  enable  the  EC  type-approval 
procedure provided for in Directive 2003/37/EC to be applied in respect of each type 
of tractor. Consequently, the provisions laid down in Directive 2003/37/EC relating to 
agricultural  or  forestry  tractors,  their  trailers  and  interchangeable  towed  machinery, 
together  with  their  systems,  components  and  separate  technical  units  apply  to  this 
Directive. 

(3) 

This  Directive  should  be  without  prejudice  to  the  obligations  of  the  Member  States 
concerning  the  time-limits  for  transposition  into  national  law  and  application  of  the 
Directives set out in Annex II, Part B, 

(cid:208) 75/321/EEC 
(cid:206)1 Corrigendum 75/321/EEC 
(OJ L 226, 18.8.1976, p. 16) 

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: 

Article 1 

1.  «Agricultural  or  forestry  tractor»  means  any  motor  vehicle  fitted  with  wheels  or 
(cid:206)1 endless  tracks   and  having  at  least  two  axles,  the  main  function  of  which  lies  in  its 
tractive  power  and  which  is  specially  designed  to  tow,  push,  carry  or  power  certain  tools, 
machinery or trailers intended for agricultural or forestry use. It may be equipped to carry a 
load and passengers. 

2. This Directive shall apply only to tractors defined in paragraph 1 which are equipped with 
pneumatic tyres and have a maximum design speed of between 6 and (cid:206)1 40 km/h . 

(cid:208) 82/890/EEC Art. 1(1) (adapted) 
(cid:206)1 97/54/EC Art. 1 

(cid:208) 75/321/EEC (adapted) 

Article 2 

No Member State may refuse to grant EC type approval or national type approval of a tractor 
on  grounds  relating  to  the  steering  equipment  if  this  satisfies  the  requirements  set  out  in 
Annex ⌦ I ⌫. 

Article 3 

No  Member  State  may  refuse  or  prohibit  the  sale, ⌦ registration, ⌫  entry  into  service,  or 
use of tractors on grounds relating to the steering equipment if this satisfies the requirements 
set out in Annex ⌦ I ⌫. 

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Article 4 

The  amendments  necessary  for  adapting  the  requirements  of  Annex  ⌦ I ⌫  to  technical 
progress  shall  be  adopted  in  accordance  with  the  procedure  ⌦ referred  to ⌫  in 
Article ⌦ 20(2) ⌫ of Directive ⌦ 2003/37/EC ⌫. 

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

Article 5 

(cid:208) 

Article 6 

Directive 75/321/EEC, as amended by the Directives listed in Annex II, is repealed, without 
prejudice to the obligations of the Member States relating to the time-limits for transposition 
into national law and application of the Directives set out in Annex II, Part B. 

References  to  the  repealed  Directive  shall  be  construed  as  references  to  this  Directive  and 
shall be read in accordance with the correlation table in Annex III. 

Article 7 

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

It shall apply from […]. 

(cid:208) 75/321/EEC Art. 6 

Article 8 

This Directive is addressed to the Member States. 

Done at Brussels, 

For the European Parliament 
The President 

For the Council 
The President 

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(cid:208) 75/321/EEC 
(cid:206)1 88/411/EEC Art. 1 
(cid:206)2 98/39/EC Art. 1 

ANNEX I 

1. 

DEFINITIONS 

1.1. 

«Steering equipment» 

«Steering  equipment»  means  all  the  equipment  the  purpose  of  which  is  to  alter  the 
direction of movement of the tractor. 

The steering equipment may be considered to include: 

– 

– 

– 

– 

the steering control, 

the steering gear, 

the steered wheels, 

where  applicable,  special  equipment  to  produce  additional  or  independent 
power. 

1.1.1. 

«Steering control» 

«Steering control» means the part directly operated by the driver in order to steer the 
tractor. 

1.1.2. 

«Steering gear» 

«Steering  gear»  means  all  the  components  between  the  steering  control  and  the 
steered wheels, with the exception of the special equipment referred to in 1.1.4. The 
steering gear may be mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electric or a combination of 
any of these. 

1.1.3. 

«Steered wheels» 

«Steered wheels» means: 

– 

– 

– 

the  wheels  the  alignment  of  which  may  be  altered  directly  or  indirectly  in 
relation  to  that  of  the  tractor  in  order  to  obtain  a  change  in  the  direction  of 
movement of the tractor, 

all wheels of articulated tractors, 

wheels on the same axle, the speed of which may be varied in order to obtain a 
change in the direction of movement of the tractor. 

Self-tracking castor wheels are not steered wheels. 

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1.1.4. 

«Special equipment» 

«Special equipment» means that part of the steering equipment by which additional 
or  independent  power  is  produced.  Additional  or  independent  power  may  be 
produced  by  any  mechanical,  hydraulic,  pneumatic  or  electrical  system,  or  by  any 
combination of these (for example by an oil pump, air pump or battery, etc.). 

1.2. 

«Different types of steering equipment» 

1.2.1.  Depending  on  the  source  of  power  which  is  necessary  for  the  deflection  of  the 

steered wheels, the following types of steering equipment are identified: 

1.2.1.1.  Manual  steering  equipment,  in  which  the  steering  power  is  provided  solely  by  the 

muscular power of the driver; 

1.2.1.2.  Assisted  steering  equipment,  in  which  the  steering  power  is  provided  both  by  the 
muscular power of the driver and by the special equipment referred to in 1.1.4; 

Steering  equipment  where  the  steering  power  is  normally  provided  solely  by  the 
special equipment referred to in 1.1.4, but which in the event of failure of the special 
equipment enables the muscular power of the driver to be used for steering, shall be 
considered as «assisted steering equipment». 

1.2.1.3.  Servo-steering  equipment,  in  which  the  steering  power  is  provided  solely  by  the 

special equipment referred to in 1.1.4. 

1.3. 

Steering effort 

«Steering  effort»  means  the  force  exerted  by  the  driver  on  the  steering  control  in 
order to steer the tractor. 

2. 

CONSTRUCTION, FITTING AND INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS 

2.1. 

General requirements 

2.1.1.  The steering equipment must ensure easy and safe handling of the tractor and must 

comply with the detailed requirements set out in 2.2. 

2.2. 

Detailed requirements 

2.2.1. 

Steering control 

2.2.1.1.  The steering control must be easy to use and grip. It must be designed in such a way 
as  to  permit  gradual  deflection.  The  direction  of  movement  of  the  steering  control 
must correspond to the desired change in the direction of the tractor. 

2.2.1.2.  The steering effort required to achieve a turning circle of 12 m radius, starting from 
the straight ahead position, must not exceed 25 daN. In the case of assisted steering 
equipment  (cid:206)1 that  is  not  connected  to  other  equipment ,  if  the  auxiliary  power 
supply fails the steering effort required must not exceed 60 daN. 

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2.2.1.3.  In  order  to  check  compliance  with  the  requirement  in  2.2.1.2,  the  tractor  shall 
describe  a  spiral  movement  at  a  speed  of  10  kilometres  per  hour,  starting  from  the 
straight ahead position, on a dry, flat road surface offering good tyre adhesion. The 
steering  effort  on  the  steering  control  shall  be  noted  until  it  reaches  the  position 
corresponding to the tractor entering a turning circle of 12 m radius. The duration of 
the manoeuvre (time between the moment when the steering control is first operated 
and  the  moment  when  it  reaches  the  position  where  the  measurements  are  taken) 
must  not  exceed  five  seconds  in  normal  cases  and  eight  seconds  if  the  special 
equipment fails. One manoeuvre must be made to the left and one to the right. 

For  the  test,  the  tractor  must  be  loaded  to  its  technically  permissible  maximum 
weight; tyre pressures and weight distribution between the axles must conform to the 
manufacturer's instructions. 

2.2.2. 

Steering gear 

2.2.2.1.  The  steering  equipment  may  not  include  either  electrical  or  wholly  pneumatic 

steering gear. 

2.2.2.2.  The  steering  gear  must  be  so  designed  as  to  meet  any  operational  requirements.  It 

must be easily accessible for maintenance and inspection. 

2.2.2.3.  In the case of steering gear which is not wholly hydraulic, it must be possible to drive 
the tractor even in the event of failure of the hydraulic or pneumatic components of 
the steering gear. 

2.2.2.4.  Steering  gear  which  is  operated  purely  hydraulically  and  the  special  equipment 

mentioned in 1.1.4 must meet the following requirements: 

2.2.2.4.1. One or more pressure limitation devices must protect the whole or part of the circuit 

against excess pressure; 

2.2.2.4.2. The pressure limitation devices must be set so as not to exceed a pressure T equal to 

the maximum operating pressure stated by the manufacturer; 

2.2.2.4.3.  The  characteristics  and  dimensions  of  the  pipe  work  must  be  such  that  the  pipes 
withstand  four  times  the  pressure  T  (permitted  by  the  pressure  limitation  devices), 
and must be protected in places and arranged in such a way that the risks of damage 
by  impact  or  interference  are  reduced  to  a  minimum,  and  the  risks  of  damage  by 
rubbing can be considered negligible. 

2.2.3. 

Steered wheels 

2.2.3.1.  All the wheels may be steered wheels. 

2.2.4. 

Special equipment 

2.2.4.1.  The  special  equipment  defined  in  1.1.4,  used  in  the  types  of  steering  equipment 

defined in 1.2.1.2 and 1.2.1.3, shall be acceptable in the following circumstances: 

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2.2.4.1.1. If the tractor is equipped with assisted steering equipment as defined in 1.2.1.2, it 
must be possible to drive it even in the event of failure of the special equipment as 
already  stated  in  2.2.1.2.  If  the  assisted  steering  equipment  does  not  have  its  own 
source of power, it must be fitted with a power reservoir. This power reservoir may 
be  replaced  by  a  self-contained  device  providing  power  supply  to  the  steering 
equipment  with  priority  over  the  other  systems  which  are  linked  to  the  common 
energy  source.  (cid:206)1 Without  prejudice  to  the  provisions  of  Directive  76/432/EEC 
regarding braking, if there is a hydraulic connection between the hydraulic steering 
equipment  and  the  hydraulic  braking  equipment,  and  if  both  are  supplied  from  the 
same  energy  source,  the  force  required  to  activate  the  steering  equipment  shall  not 
exceed  40  daN  if  either  of  the  systems  should  fail.   If  the  source  of  power  is 
compressed air, the air reservoir must be protected by a non-return valve. 

Where  the  steering  power  is  normally  provided  solely  by  the  special  equipment 
referred to in 1.1.4, the assisted steering equipment must be fitted with a device such 
that  if,  in  the  event  of  failure  of  the  special  equipment,  the  steering  effort  exceeds 
25 daN, a visual or acoustic signal must give warning of such failure. 

2.2.4.1.2. (cid:206)2 If the tractor is fitted with servo-steering equipment as defined in 1.2.1.3, and 
provided  that  such  equipment  has  a  wholly  hydraulic  steering  gear,  it  must  be 
possible,  should  the  special  device  or  motor  fail,  to  carry  out  the  two  manoeuvres 
specified  in  2.2.1.3  using  a  special  additional  device .  The  special  additional 
device may be a compressed air or gas reservoir. An oil pump or compressor may be 
used as the special additional device if that device is worked by the rotation of the 
tractor wheels and cannot be disconnected from them. In the event of failure of the 
special equipment, a visual or acoustic signal must give warning of such failure. 

2.2.4.1.2.1. If the special device is pneumatic, it must be fitted with a compressed air reservoir 
protected by a non-return valve. The capacity of the compressed air reservoir must be 
calculated  so  that  at  least  seven  complete  turns  (from  lock  to  lock)  are  possible 
before  the  reservoir  pressure  falls  to  half  its  operating  pressure;  the  test  must  be 
carried out with the steered wheels off the ground. 

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(cid:207) 

ANNEX II 

Part A 

Repealed Directive with its successive amendments 
(referred to in Article 6) 

Council Directive 75/321/EEC 
(OJ L 147, 9.6.1975, p. 24) 

Council Directive 82/890/EEC 
(OJ L 378, 31.12.1982, p. 45) 

Commission Directive 88/411/EEC 
(OJ L 200, 26.7.1988, p. 30) 

Only as regards the references to 
Directive 75/321/EEC in 
Article 1(1)  

Directive 97/54/EC of the European Parliament and 
of the Council 
(OJ L 277, 10.10.1997, p. 24) 

Only as regards the references to 
Directive 75/321/EEC in Article 1  

Commission Directive 98/39/EC 
(OJ L 170, 16.6.1998, p. 15) 

Part B 

List of time-limits for transposition into national law and application 
(referred to in Article 6) 

Directive 

Time-limit for transposition 

Date of application  

75/321/EEC 

82/890/EEC 

88/411/EEC 

97/54/EC 

98/39/EC 

21 November 1976 

21 June 1984 

30 September 1988 

____ 

____ 

(1) 

22 September 1998 

23 September 1998 

30 April 1999 

(2) 

(1) 

In conformity with Article 2 of Directive 88/411/EEC: 

“1. From 1 October 1988 no Member State may: 

– 

– 

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refuse, in respect of a type of tractor, to grant EEC type-approval, to issue the document referred to in 
Article 10(1), final indent, of Directive 74/150/EEC, or to grant national type approval, or 

prohibit the entry into service of tractors, 

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if the steering equipment of this type of tractor or tractors complies with the provisions of this Directive. 

2. From 1 October 1989 Member States: 

– 

– 

(2) 

shall no longer issue the document referred to in Article 10(1), final indent, of Directive 74/150/EEC 
for  a  type  of  tractor  the  steering  equipment  of  which  does  not  comply  with  the  provisions  of  this 
Directive, 

may refuse to grant national type approval for a type of tractor, the steering equipment of which does 
not comply with the provisions of this Directive.” 

In conformity with Article 2 of Directive 98/39/EC: 

“1. From 1 May 1999 no Member State may: 

– 

– 

refuse, in respect of a type of tractor, to grant EC type-approval, to issue the document referred to in 
the third indent of Article 10(1) of Directive 74/150/EEC, or to grant national type-approval, or 

to prohibit the entry into service of tractors, 

if these tractors meet the requirements of Directive 75/321/EEC, as amended by this Directive. 

2. From 1 October 1999, Member States: 

– 

– 

may  no  longer  issue  the  document  referred  to  in  the  third  indent  of  Article  10(1)  of 
Directive 74/150/EEC  for  any 
the  requirements  of 
tractor 
Directive 75/321/EEC, as amended by this Directive, 

that  does  not  meet 

type  of 

may  refuse  to  grant  national  type-approval  in  respect  of  a  type  of  tractor  that  does  not  meet  the 
requirements of Directive 75/321/EEC, as amended by this Directive.” 

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ANNEX III 

CORRELATION TABLE 

Directive 75/321/EEC 

This Directive 

Articles 1 to 4 

Article 5(1) 

Article 5(2) 

_____ 

_____ 

Article 6 

Annex 

_____ 

_____ 

Articles 1 to 4 

_____ 

Article 5 

Article 6 

Article 7 

Article 8 

Annex I 

Annex II 

Annex III 

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