Council Directive 91/225/EEC of 27 March 1991 amending Directive 77/143/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 27 March 1991 amending Directive 77/143/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers (91/225/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 75 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),
Whereas the Council and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, have adopted a resolution on road safety (4);
Whereas Directive 77/143/EEC (5) provides for the periodic testing of certain road vehicles;
Whereas the present standards and methods of testing vary from one Member State to another and this situation affects the equivalence of safety and environmental performance levels of tested vehicles operating in the Member States; whereas, moreover,  this state of affairs is likely to have an influence on the conditions governing competition between transport undertakings of the various Member States;
Whereas the minimum Community standards and methods to be used for testing the roadworthiness of the items listed in Annex II to Directive 77/143/EEC should therefore be defined in separate directives adopted by the Council;
Whereas, as a transitional measure, national standards remain applicable in respect of items not covered by separate directives;
Whereas it must be possible to adapt rapidly to technical progress the standards and methods laid down in the separate directives and, in order to facilitate implementation of the measures required for this purpose, to establish a procedure for close  cooperation between the Member States and the
Commission within a Committee on the Adaptation to Technical Progress of Roadworthiness Tests; whereas Directive 77/143/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly,