COMMISSION DIRECTIVE  of 19 May 1978  adapting to technical progress Council Directive 76/114/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to statutory plates and inscriptions for motor vehicles and their trailers, and their location and method of attachment  (78/507/EEC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
Having regard to 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 (1), as amended by the Act of Accession, and in particular to Articles 11, 12 and 13 thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 76/114/EEC of 18 December 1975 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to statutory plates and inscriptions for motor vehicles and their trailers, and their location and method of attachment (2),
Whereas the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has now adopted two International Standards relating to a world classification system enabling the manufacturer of a vehicle (3), and also a vehicle (4) to be identified ; whereas it is therefore advisable to incorporate this system of manufacturer identification into Directive 76/114/EEC and, at the same time, to align the requirements of said Directive with the ISO Standard relating to vehicle identification;
Whereas the provisions of this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on the Adaptation to Technical Progress of the Directives Aimed at the Removal of Technical Barriers to Trade in the Motor-Vehicle Sector,
The Annex to Directive 76/114/EEC is amended as shown in the Annex to this Directive.
1. With effect from 1 October 1978 no Member State may on grounds relating to the statutory plates and inscriptions, their location and method of attachment:    - refuse in respect of a type of vehicle to grant EEC type-approval, to issue the document referred to in the last indent of Article 10 (1) of Directive 70/156/EEC, or to grant national type-approval, or
- prohibit the entry into service of vehicles,
if the statutory plates and inscriptions, their location and attachment of such type of vehicle or of such vehicles comply with the provisions of Directive 76/114/EEC as amended by this Directive.
2. With effect from 1 October 1981 Member States:    - may no longer issue the document referred to in the last indent of Article 10 (1) of Directive 70/156/EEC in respect of a type of vehicle of which the statutory plates and inscriptions, their location and attachment do not comply with the provisions of Directive 76/114/EEC as amended by this Directive;
- may refuse to grant national type-approval in respect of a type of vehicle of which statutory plates and inscriptions, their location and attachment do not comply with the provisions of Directive 76/114/EEC as amended by this Directive.
3. With effect from 1 October 1981 Member States may prohibit the entry into service of vehicles of which the statutory plates and inscriptions, their location and attachment do not comply with the provisions of Directive 76/114/EEC as amended by this Directive.
The Member States shall bring into force the provisions necessary to comply with this Directive not later than 1 October 1978 and shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.