1976L0757 — EN — 01.07.2013 — 008.001

---

This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents

►B	COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to ►M2  retro-reflectors ◄ for motor vehicles and their trailers (76/757/EEC) (OJ L 262, 27.9.1976, p.32)

Amended by:

		Official Journal
		No	page	date
M1	COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 87/354/EEC of 25 June 1987	L 192	43	11.7.1987
►M2	COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 97/29/EC Text with EEA relevance of 11 June 1997	L 171	11	30.6.1997
►M3	COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2006/96/EC of 20 November 2006	L 363	81	20.12.2006
►M4	COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2013/15/EU of 13 May 2013	L 158	172	10.6.2013

Amended by:

A1		L 291	17	19.11.1979
A2		L 302	23	15.11.1985
A3		C 241	21	29.8.1994
		L 001	1	..
►A4		L 236	33	23.9.2003

---

▼B

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE

of 27 July 1976

on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to ►M2  retro-reflectors ◄ for motor vehicles and their trailers

(76/757/EEC)

Article 1

▼M2

1.  Each Member State shall grant EC component type-approval for any type of retro-reflector which satisfies the construction and texting requirements laid down in the relevant Annexes.

▼B

2.  The Member State which has granted EEC component type-approval shall take the measures required in order 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.

Article 2

▼M2

Member States shall, for each type of retro-reflector which they approve pursuant to Article 1, issue to the manufacturer an EC component type-approval mark conforming to the model shown in Annex I, Appendix 3.

▼B

Member States shall take all appropriate measures to prevent the use of marks liable to create confusion between reflex reflectors which have been type-approved pursuant to Article 1, and other devices.

Article 3

1.  No Member State may prohibit the placing on the market of reflex reflectors 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 reflex reflectors 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.

▼M2

Article 4

The competent authorities of the Member States shall inform each other, by means of the procedure specified in Article 4 (6) of Directive 70/156/EEC, of each approval which they have granted, refused or withdrawn pursuant to this Directive.

▼B

Article 5

1.  If the Member State which has granted EEC component type-approval finds that a number of reflex reflectors 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 the 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.

Article 6

Any decision taken pursuant to the provisions adopted in implementation of this Directive, to refuse or withdraw type-approval for a reflex reflector or prohibit its placing on the market or use shall set out in detail the reasons on which it is based. Such decision 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.

Article 7

No Member State may refuse to grant EEC type-approval or national type-approval of a vehicle on grounds relating to its reflex reflectors if these bear the EEC component type-approval mark and are fitted in accordance with with the requirements laid down in Directive 76/756/EEC.

Article 8

No Member State may refuse or prohibit the sale, registration, entry into service or use of any vehicle on grounds relating to its reflex reflectors if these bear the EEC component type-approval mark and are fitted in accordance with the requirements laid down in Directive 76/756/EEC.

▼M2

Article 9

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 and of agricultural and forestry tractors and all mobile machinery.

▼B

Article 10

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.

Article 11

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 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.

Article 12

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

▼M2

---

LIST OF ANNEXES

---

ANNEX I

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS FOR TYPE-APPROVAL

1.   APPLICATION FOR EC COMPONENT TYPE-APPROVAL

1.1.	The application for EC component type-approval pursuant to Article 3 (4) of Directive 70/156/EEC of a type of retro-reflector shall be submitted by the manufacturer.

1.2.	A model for the information document is given in Appendix 1.

1.3.

The following must be submitted to the technical service responsible for conducting the type-approval tests: 1.3.1. in the case of retro-reflectors of either Class I A or III A, 1.3.1.1. ten (10) samples of the colour specified by the manufacturer; 1.3.1.2. if necessary, two samples in other colour(s) for simultaneous or subsequent extension of the approval to retro-reflectors in other colour(s); 1.3.2. in the case of retro-reflectors of Class IV A, ten (10) samples and, if necessary, the means of fixation.

2.   MARKINGS

2.1.

The devices submitted for EC component type-approval must bear: 2.1.1. the trade name or mark of the manufacturer; 2.1.2. the mark ‘TOP’ appearing horizontally at the top of the illuminating surface, if required to determine unequivocally the angle or angles of rotation specified by the manufacturer.

2.2.	These markings shall be clearly legible and indelible and shall be affixed to the illuminating surface, or to one of the illuminating surfaces, of the device. They shall be visible from the exterior when the device is fitted to the vehicle.

2.3.	Each device shall have sufficient space for the component type-approval mark. This space shall be indicated on the drawings referred to in Appendix I.

3.   GRANTING OF EC COMPONENT TYPE-APPROVAL

3.1.	If the relevant requirements are satisfied, EC type-approval pursuant to Article 4 (3) and, if applicable, 4 (4) of Directive 70/156/EEC shall be granted.

3.2.	A model for the EC type-approval certificate is given in Appendix 2.

3.3.	An approval number in accordance with Annex VII to Directive 70/156/EEC shall be assigned to each type of retro-reflector approved. The same Member State shall not assign the same number to another type of retro-reflector.

3.4.

Where EC component type-approval is requested for a type of lighting and light-signalling device comprising a retro-reflector and other lamps, a single EC component type-approval number may be assigned provided that the retro-reflector complies with the requirements of this Directive and that each of the other lamps forming part of the lighting and light-signalling device for which EC component type-approval is requested complies with the separate Directive applying to it.

4.   EC COMPONENT TYPE-APPROVAL MARK

4.1.	In addition to the markings referred to in item 2.1. every retro-reflector conforming to the type approved pursuant to this Directive shall bear an EC component type-approval mark.

4.2.

This mark shall consist of: 4.2.1. a rectangle surrounding the letter ‘e’ followed by the distinguishing number or letters of the Member State which has granted type-approval: 1for Germany 2for France 3for Italy 4for the Netherlands 5for Sweden 6for Belgium ▼A4 7for Hungary 8for the Czech Republic ▼M2 9for Spain 11for the United Kingdom 12for Austria 13for Luxembourg 17for Finland 18for Denmark ▼M3 19for Romania ▼A4 20for Poland ▼M2 21for Portugal 23for Greece ▼M4 25for Croatia ▼A4 26for Slovenia 27for Slovakia 29for Estonia 32for Latvia ▼M3 34for Bulgaria ▼A4 36for Lithuania CYfor Cyprus ▼M2 IRLfor Ireland; ▼A4 MTfor Malta; ▼M2 4.2.2. in the vicinity of the rectangle the ‘base approval number’ contained in section 4 of the type-approval number referred to in Annex VII of Directive 70/156/EEC, preceded by the two figures indicating the sequence number assigned to the most recent major technical amendment to Directive 76/757/EEC on the date EC type-approval was granted. In this Directive the sequence number is 02; 4.2.3. an additional symbol as follows: 4.2.3.1. ‘I A’, ‘III A’ or ‘IV A’ denoting the class in which the retro-reflector was placed when approved.

4.3.	The EC component type-approval mark shall be affixed to the light-emitting surface of the retro-reflector in such a way as to be indelible and clearly legible even when the retro-reflector is fitted to the vehicle.

4.4.	Examples of the EC component type-approval mark are given in Appendix 3, Figure 1.

4.5.

Where a single EC component type-approval number is issued, as per item 3.4 above, for a type of lighting and light-signalling device comprising a retro-reflector and other lamps, a single EC component type-approval mark may be affixed, consisting of: 4.5.1. a rectangle surrounding the letter ‘e’ followed by the distinguishing number or letters of the Member State which has granted type-approval (see item 4.2.1); 4.5.2. the base approval number (see item 4.2.2, first half-sentence); 4.5.3. if necessary, the required arrow, in so far as it relates to the lamp assembly as a whole.

4.6.

This mark may be located anywhere on the lamps which are grouped, combined or reciprocally incorporated, provided that: 4.6.1. it is visible after the installation of the lamps; 4.6.2. no light-transmitting components of the grouped, combined or reciprocally incorporated lamps can be removed without simultaneously removing the approval mark.

4.7.

The identification symbol for each lamp corresponding to each Directive pursuant to which EC component type-approval was granted, together with the sequence number (see item 4.2.2, second half-sentence) and, where necessary, the letter ‘D’ and the required arrow shall be marked: 4.7.1. either on the appropriate light-emitting surface; 4.7.2. or in a group, in such a way that each of the grouped, combined or reciprocally incorporated lamps may be clearly identified.

4.8.	The dimensions of the components of this mark must not be less than the minimum dimensions specified for individual marks by the various Directives pursuant to which EC component type-approval was granted.

4.9.	Examples of an EC component type-approval mark for a lamp that is grouped, combined or reciprocally incorporated with other lamps are given in Appendix 3, Figure 2.

5   MODIFICATIONS OF THE TYPE AND AMENDMENTS TO APPROVALS

5.1.	In the case of modifications of the type approved pursuant to this Directive, the provisions of Article 5 of Directive 70/156/EEC shall apply.

5.2.

Where type-approval is extended to a retro-reflector differing only in colour, the samples of each other colour, submitted in accordance with item 1.3.1.2 above, must meet only the colorimetric specifications; the other tests need not be repeated. This paragraph does not apply to class IV A retro-reflectors.

6.   CONFORMITY OF PRODUCTION

6.1.	As a general rule, measures to ensure the conformity of production shall be taken in accordance with the provisions laid down in Article 10 of Directive 70/156/EEC.

6.2.	In mechanical and geometrical terms, conformity shall be considered satisfactory if the differences do not exceed the variations inherent in industrial production.

6.3.	Conformity of production shall not be invalidated if all the photometric measurements performed on a specimen selected at random meet at least 80 % of the specification.

6.4.	If the condition laid down in paragraph 6.3 is not met, a further sample of five units shall be selected at random. The average of each type of photometric measurement must meet the specification and no individual measurement may be less than 50 % of the specification.

---

Appendix 1

Information document No …

relating to the EC component type-approval of retro-reflectors

(Directive 76/757/EEC, as last amended by Directive …/…/EC)

---

Appendix 2

MODEL

(maximum format: A4 (210 × 297 mm))

---

Appendix 3

EXAMPLES OF THE EC COMPONENT TYPE-APPROVAL MARK

Figure 1

The device bearing the EC component type-approval mark shown above is a class I A retro-reflector, type approved in Germany (e1) pursuant to this Directive (02) under the base approval number 1471.

Figure 2

Simplified marking of grouped, combined or reciprocally incorporated lamps when two or more lamps are part of the same assembly

(The vertical and horizontal lines schematize the shape of the light-signalling device. These are not part of the approval mark).

MODEL A

MODEL B

MODEL C

Note:

The three examples of approval marks, models A, B, and C represent three possible variants of the marking of a lighting and light-signalling device when two or more lamps are part of the same unit of grouped, combined or reciprocally incorporated lamps. This approval mark shows that the device was approved in Germany (e1) under the base approval number 1712 and comprises:

---

ANNEX II

SCOPE AND TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

1.   SCOPE

This Directive applies to retro-reflectors for motor vehicles and their trailers.

2.   TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

2.1.

The technical requirements are those set out in paragraphs 2, 6 and 7 and Annexes 1 and 4 to 15 of UN-ECE Regulation No 3 which consists of a consolidation of the following documents: — the 01 and 02 series of amendments ( 6 ); — the Supplement 1 to 02 series of amendments ( 7 ); — the Supplement 2 to 02 series of amendments ( 8 ); — the Supplement 3 to 02 series of amendments ( 9 ), except that: 2.1.1. Where reference is made to ‘Regulation No 48’, this shall be understood as ‘Directive 76/756/EEC’.

---

( 1 ) OJ No C 55, 13. 5. 1974, p. 14.

( 2 ) OJ No C 109, 19. 9. 1974, p. 26.

( 3 ) OJ No L 42, 23. 2. 1970, p. 1.

( 4 ) See page 1 of this Official Journal.

( 5 ) Economic Commission for Europe, Document

(

6

) 

(

7

) 

(

8

) 

( 9 ) TRANS/WP29/446.