COUNCIL DIRECTIVE  of 27 July 1976  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 proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2),
Whereas the technical requirements which motor vehicles 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 same requirements either in addition to or in place of their existing rules, in order, in particular, to allow the EEC type-approval procedure which was the subject of Council Directive 70/156/EEC of 6 February 1970 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the type-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 Council laid down the common requirements for the installation of lighting and light-signalling devices on motor vehicles and their trailers;
Whereas a harmonized type-approval procedure for rear registration plate lamps makes it possible for each Member State to check compliance with the common construction and testing requirements and to inform the other Member States of its findings by sending a copy of the component type-approval certificate completed for each type of rear registration plate lamp ; whereas the placing of an EEC component type-approval mark on all rear registration plate lamps manufactured in conformity with the approved type obviates any need for technical checks on these rear registration plate lamps in the other Member States;
Whereas it is desirable to take into account the technical requirements adopted by the UN Ecconomic Commission for Europe in its Regulation No 4 ("Uniform provisions for the approval of devices for the illumination 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 approval and reciprocal recognition of approval for motor vehicle equipment and parts;
Whereas the approximation of national laws relating to motor vehicles entails reciprocal recognition by Member States of the checks carried out by each of them on the basis on the common requirements,
1. Member States shall grant EEC component type-approval for any type of rear registration plate lamp which satisfies the construction and testing requirements laid down in Annexes 0, I, III and IV.
2. The Member State which has granted EEC component type-approval shall take the measures required in order to verify that production models conform to the approved type, in so far as this is necessary and if need be in cooperation with the competent authorities in the other Member States. Such verification shall be limited to spot checks.  (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 Official Journal. (5)Economic Commission for Europe, Document E/ECE/324, Addendum 3, Amendment 1 of 29 October 1975.
Member States shall for each type of rear registration plate lamp which they approve pursuant to Article 1, issure to the manufacturer, or to his authorized representative, an EEC component type-approval mark conforming to the model shown in Annex I.
Member States shall take all appropriate measures to prevent the use of marks liable to create confusion between rear registration plate lamps which have been type-approved pursuant to Article 1, and other devices.
1. No Member State may prohibit the placing on the market of rear registration plate lamps on grounds relating to their construction or method of functioning if they bear the EEC component type-approval mark.
2. Nevertheless, a Member State may prohibit the placing on the market of rear registration plate lamps bearing the EEC component type-approval mark which consistently fail to conform to the approved type.
That State shall forthwith inform the other Member States and the Commission of the measures taken, specifying the reasons for its decision.
The competent authorities of each Member State shall within one month send to the competent authorities of the other Member States a copy of the component type-approval certificates, an example of which is given in Annex II, completed for each type of rear registration plate lamp which they approve or refuse to approve.
1. If the Member State which has granted EEC component type-approval finds that a number of rear registration plate lamps bearing the same EEC component type-approval mark do not conform to the type which it has approved, it shall take the necessary measures to ensure that production models conform to the approved type. The competent authorities of that State shall advise those of the other Member States of the measures taken, which may, where there is consistent failure to conform, extend to withdrawal of EEC component type-approval. The said authorities shall take the same measures if they are informed by the competent authorities of another Member State of such failure to conform.
2. The competent authorities of Member States shall within one month inform each other of any withdrawal of EEC component type-approval, and of the reasons for such a measure.
Any decision taken pursuant to the provisions adopted in implementation of this Directive to refuse or withdraw EEC type-approval for a rear registration plate lamp or prohibit its placing on the market or use shall set out in detail the reasons on which it is based. Such decisions shall be notified to the party concerned, who shall at the same time be informed of the remedies available to him under the laws in force in the Member States and of the time limits allowed for the exercise of such remedies.
No Member State may refuse to grant EEC type-approval or national type-approval of a vehicle on grounds relating to its rear registration plate lamps if these bear the EEC component type-approval mark and are fitted in accordance with the requirements laid down in Directive 76/756/EEC.
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 registration plate lamps if these bear the EEC component type-approval mark and are fitted in accordance with the requirements laid down in Directive 76/756/EEC.
For the purposes of this Directive, "vehicle" means any motor vehicle intended for use on the road, with or without bodywork, having at least four wheels and a maximum design speed exceeding 25 km/h, and its trailers, with the exception of vehicles which run on rails, agricultural tractors and machinery and public works vehicles.
0
Any amendments necessary to adjust the requirements of the Annexes to take account of technical  progress shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 13 of Directive 70/156/EEC.
1
1. Member States shall adopt and publish the provisions necessary in order to comply with this Directive before 1 July 1977 and shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof. They shall apply these provisions 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 to submit its comments, of any draft laws, regulations or administrative provisions which they propose to adopt in the field covered by this Directive.
2
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.