Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the component type-approval of lighting and light-signalling devices on wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors (Codified version)
Date: 2007-12-20
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: approval, signalling device, tractor, vehicle parts

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 20.12.2007 
COM(2007) 840 final 

2007/0284 (COD) 

Proposal for a 

DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL  

on the component type-approval of lighting and light-signalling devices on wheeled 
agricultural or forestry tractors 

(Codified version) 

(presented by the Commission) 

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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  is  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 are 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. 

is 

this  proposal 

to  undertake  a  codification  of  Council 
The  purpose  of 
Directive 79/532/EEC  of  17  May  1979  on  the  approximation  of  the  laws  of  the 
Member  States  relating  to  the  component  type-approval  of  lighting  and  light-
signalling  devices  on  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. 

COM(87) 868 PV. 
See Annex 3 to Part A of the 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. 
See Annex II, Part A of this proposal. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

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3 

4 

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5. 

The codification proposal was drawn up on the basis of a preliminary consolidation, 
in all official languages, of Directive 79/532/EEC and the instruments amending it, 
carried out by the Office for 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) 79/532/EEC (adapted) 

2007/0284 (COD) 

Proposal for a 

DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL  

on the component type-approval of lighting and light-signalling devices on 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 Committee1, 

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty2, 

Whereas: 

(cid:208)  

Council  Directive 79/532/EEC of 17  May 1979  on the approximation of the laws of 
the  Member  States  relating  to  the  component  type-approval  of  lighting  and 
light-signalling  devices  on  wheeled  agricultural  or  forestry  tractors3  has  been 
substantially amended several times4. In the interests of clarity and rationality the said 
Directive should be codified. 

Directive  79/532/EEC  is  one  of  the  separate  Directives  of  the  EC  type-approval 
system  provided 
replaced  by 
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 

in  Council  Directive  74/150/EEC,  as 

for 

OJ C […], […], p. […]. 
OJ C […], […], p. […]. 
OJ  L  145,  13.6.1979,  p.  16.  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). 
See Annex II, Part A. 

(1) 

(2) 

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2 
3 

4 

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lays  down 

and  repealing  Directive  74/150/EEC5, and 
technical  prescriptions 
concerning  the  design  and  construction  of  agricultural  or  forestry  tractors  as  regards 
the  lighting  and  light-signalling  devices.  Those  technical  prescriptions  concern  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. 

(cid:208) 79/532/EEC  Recital  3  and 
Recital 4 (adapted) 

(3) 

In  Directive  78/933/EEC6  the  Council  laid  down  common  requirements  for  the 
installation of lighting and light-signalling devices on wheeled agricultural or forestry 
tractors. Such lighting and light-signalling devices possess the same characteristics as 
those  fitted  to  motor  vehicles.  Therefore,  devices  having  received  an  EC  component 
type-approval mark in accordance with the Directives already adopted on this subject 
in  connection  with  the  ⌦ EC ⌫  type-approval  of  motor  vehicles  and  their  trailers 
may also be used on tractors. 

(4) 

This  Directive  should  be  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, 

(cid:208)  

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: 

Article 1 

(cid:208) 79/532/EEC (adapted) 

1. ⌦ For the purposes of this Directive, ⌫ ‘agricultural or forestry tractor’ means any motor 
vehicle, fitted with wheels or 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. 

5 

6 

OJ  L  171,  9.7.2003,  p.  1.  Directive  as  last  amended  by  Council  Directive  2006/96/EC  (OJ  L  363, 
20.12.2006, p. 81). 
OJ L 325, 20.11.1978, p. 16. Directive as last amended by Commission Directive 2006/26/EC (OJ L 65, 
7.3.2006, p. 22). 

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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 (adapted) 
(cid:206)1 97/54/EC Art. 1 

(cid:208) 79/532/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 following lamps or reflectors, if these bear the EC component 
type-approval  mark  as  provided  for  in  Annex  I  and  are  installed  in  accordance  with  the 
requirements laid down in Directive 78/933/EEC ⌫: 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

(e) 

(f) 

(g) 

(h) 

(i) 

(j) 

(k) 

(l) 

headlamps  which  function  as  main-beam  and/or  dipped-beam  headlamps  or  to 
incandescent electric filament lamps for such headlamps; 

end-outline marker lamps; 

front position (side) lamps; 

rear position (side) lamps; 

stop lamps; 

direction indicator lamps; 

reflex reflectors; 

rear registration plate lamps; 

front fog lamps and filament lamps for such lamps; 

rear fog lamps; 

reversing lamps; 

parking lamps. 

Article 3 

No Member State may refuse the registration, or prohibit the sale, entry into service or use of 
a  tractor  on  grounds  relating  to  ⌦ the  following  lamps  or  reflectors,  if  these  bear  the  EC 
component  type-approval  mark  as  provided  for  in  Annex  I  and  are  installed  in  accordance 
with the requirements laid down in Directive 78/933/EEC ⌫: 

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(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

(e) 

(f) 

(g) 

(h) 

(i) 

(j) 

(k) 

(l) 

headlamps  which  function  as  main-beam  and/or  dipped-beam  headlamps  or  to 
incandescent electric filament lamps for such headlamps; 

end-outline marker lamps; 

front position (side) lamps; 

rear position (side) lamps; 

stop lamps; 

direction indicator lamps; 

reflex reflectors; 

rear registration plate lamps; 

front fog lamps and filament lamps for such lamps; 

rear fog lamps; 

reversing lamps; 

parking lamps. 

Article 4 

Any amendments necessary to ⌦ adapt ⌫ 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 ⌫ . 

Article 5 

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 . 

(cid:208)  

Article 6 

Directive 79/532/EEC, as amended by the Directives listed in Annex II, Part A, 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 set out in Annex III. 

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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) 79/532/EEC 

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) 79/532/EEC (adapted) 

ANNEX ⌦ I ⌫ 

1. 

Headlamps  which  function  as  main-beam  and/or  dipped-beam  headlamps  and 
incandescent electric filament lamps for such headlamps: 

type-approval  mark 

The  EC  component 
[Council 
Directive 76/761/EEC  of  27  July  1976  on  the  approximation  of  the  laws  of  the 
Member  States  relating  to  motor-vehicle  headlamps  which  function  as  main-beam 
and/or dipped-beam headlamps and to light sources (filament lamps and others) for 
use in approved lamp units of motor vehicles and of their trailers1]. 

laid  down 

that 

in 

is 

The provisions of Directive [76/761/EEC] also apply to the component type-approval 
of special headlamps for agricultural or forestry tractors designed to provide both a 
main beam and a dipped beam of less than 160 mm, diameter D, with the following 
amendments: 

(a) 

the minimum illumination values fixed in ⌦ point ⌫ 6.3 of [Annex I ⌦ to 
Directive 76/761/EEC ⌫] are reduced according to the ratio  

((D − 45)/(160 − 45))2 

subject to the following absolute lower limits: 

– 

– 

– 

3 lux, either at point 75 R or at point 75 L, 

5 lux, either at point 50 R or at point 50 L, 

1.5 lux, in Zone IV. 

Note: If the apparent surface of the reflector is not circular, the diameter is that 
of  a  circle  with  the  same  area  as  the  apparent  useful  surface  of  the 
reflector. 

(b) 

the symbol M inside an inverted triangle is affixed on the headlamp instead of 
the  symbol  CR  provided  for  in  [⌦ point ⌫  4.3.5  of  Annex  VI  ⌦ to 
Directive 76/761/EEC ⌫]; 

(c)  Heading  1  of  the  component  type-approval  certificate  ([Annex  II  ⌦ to 
Directive  76/761/EEC ⌫])  reads  ‘headlamp  for  wheeled  agricultural  or 
forestry tractors’. 

1 

[OJ L 262, 27.9.1976, p. 96.] 

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2. 

End-outline  marker  lamps,  front  position  (side)  lamps,  rear  position  (side) 
lamps and stop lamps: 

type-approval  mark 

The  EC  component 
[Council 
Directive 76/758/EEC 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member 
States relating to end-outline marker lamps, front position (side) lamps, rear position 
(side)  lamps,  stop  lamps,  daytime  running  lamps  and  side  marker  lamps  for  motor 
vehicles and their trailers2]. 

laid  down 

that 

in 

is 

3. 

Direction indicator lamps: 

type-approval  mark 

The  EC  component 
[Council 
Directive 76/759/EEC  of  27  July  1976  on  the  approximation  of  the  laws  of  the 
Member  States  relating  to  direction  indicator  lamps  for  motor  vehicles  and  their 
trailers3]. 

laid  down 

that 

in 

is 

4. 

Reflex reflectors: 

The  EC  component 
[Council 
Directive 76/757/EEC  of  27  July  1976  on  the  approximation  of  the  laws  of  the 
Member States relating to reflex reflectors for motor vehicles and their trailers4]. 

type-approval  mark 

laid  down 

that 

in 

is 

5. 

Rear registration plate lamps: 

type-approval  mark 

The  EC  component 
[Council 
Directive 76/760/EEC  of  27  July  1976  on  the  approximation  of  the  laws  of  the 
Member States relating to rear registration plate lamps for motor vehicles and their 
trailers5]. 

laid  down 

that 

in 

is 

6. 

Front fog lamps: 

The  EC  component 
[Council 
Directive 76/762/EEC  of  27  July  1976  on  the  approximation  of  the  laws  of  the 
Member States relating to front fog lamps for motor vehicles6]. 

type-approval  mark 

laid  down 

that 

in 

is 

7. 

Rear fog lamps: 

The  EC  component 
[Council 
Directive 77/538/EEC  of  28  June  1977  on  the  approximation  of  the  laws  of  the 
Member States relating to rear fog lamps for motor vehicles and their trailers7]. 

type-approval  mark 

laid  down 

that 

in 

is 

2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 

[OJ L 262, 27.9.1976, p. 54.] 
[OJ L 262, 27.9.1976, p. 71.] 
[OJ L 262, 27.9.1976, p. 32.] 
[OJ L 262, 27.9.1976, p. 85.] 
[OJ L 262, 27.9.1976, p. 122.] 
[OJ L 220, 29.8.1977, p. 60.] 

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8. 

Reversing lamps: 

The  EC  component 
[Council 
Directive 77/539/EEC  of  28  June  1977  on  the  approximation  of  the  laws  of  the 
Member States relating to reversing lamps for motor vehicles and their trailers8]. 

type-approval  mark 

laid  down 

that 

in 

is 

9. 

Parking lamps: 

[Council 
The  EC  component 
Directive 77/540/EEC  of  28  June  1977  on  the  approximation  of  the  laws  of  the 
Member States relating to parking lamps for motor vehicles9]. 

type-approval  mark 

laid  down 

that 

in 

is 

_____________ 

8 
9 

[OJ L 220, 29.8.1977, p. 72.] 
[OJ L 220, 29.8.1977, p. 83.] 

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(cid:207) 

ANNEX II 

Part A 

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

Council Directive 79/532/EEC 
(OJ L 145, 13.6.1979, p. 16) 

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

only as regards the reference to 
Directive 79/532/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 reference to 
Directive 79/532/EEC in Article 1, 
first indent 

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 

79/532/EEC 

82/890/EEC 

97/54/EC 

21 November 1980 

21 June 1984 

22 September 1998 

23 September 1998 

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ANNEX III 

CORRELATION TABLE 

Directive 79/532/EEC 

This Directive 

Article 1 

Article 1 

Article  2,  introductory  sentence  and  final 
wording 

Article 2, introductory sentence 

Article 2, indents 

Article 2(a) – (l) 

Article  3,  introductory  sentence  and  final 
wording 

Article 3, introductory sentence 

Article 3, indents 

Article 3(a) – (l) 

Article 4 

Article 5(1) 

Article 5(2) 

- 

- 

Article 6 

Annex  

- 

- 

Article 4 

- 

Article 5 

Article 6 

Article 7 

Article 8 

Annex I 

Annex II 

Annex III 

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