COUNCIL DIRECTIVE  of 4 March 1974  on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the maximum design speed of and load platforms for wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors  (74/152/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 with which tractors must comply pursuant to national laws relate, inter alia, to the maximum design speed and load platforms;
Whereas these 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 the Council Directive of 4 March 1974 (3) on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the type-approval of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors to be applied in respect of each type of tractor,
1. "Agricultural or forestry tractor" means any motor vehicle, fitted with wheels or caterpillar 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 the preceding paragraph which are fitted with pneumatic tyres and which have two axles and a maximum design speed of between 6 and 25 km/h.
No Member State may refuse to grant EEC type-approval or national type-approval of a tractor on grounds relating to the maximum design speed or the load platforms if these satisfy the requirements set out in the Annex.
No Member State may refuse the registration or prohibit the sale, entry into service, or use of tractors on grounds relating to the maximum design speed or the load platforms if these satisfy the requirements set out in the Annex.
1. No Member State may prohibit the fitting of load platforms or require that tractors must be fitted with one or more such platforms.
2. No Member State may prohibit the carriage on such platforms of products which they permit to be carried on trailers used for agriculture or forestry purposes ; within the limits laid down by the manufacturer, a maximum load of at least 80 % of the weight of the tractor in running order is authorized.
The amendments necessary for adopting to technical progress the requirements of the Annex shall  (1)OJ No 28, 17.2.1967, p. 462/67. (2)OJ No 42, 7.3.1967, p. 620/67. (3)See p. 10 of this Official Journal.
be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 13 of the Council Directive on the type-approval of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors.
1. Member States shall put into force the provisions necessary in order to comply with this Directive within eighteen months of its notification and shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.
2. Member States shall ensure that the texts of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive are communicated to the Commission.
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.