THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 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), and in particular the second indent of Article 13(2) thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 74/483/EEC of 17 September 1974 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the external projections of motor vehicles and their trailers(2), and in particular Article 5 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Directive 74/483/EEC is one of the separate Directives for the purposes of the EC type-approval procedure laid down by Directive 70/156/EEC. The provisions of Directive 70/156/EEC relating to systems, components and separate technical units for vehicles therefore apply to Directive 74/483/EEC.
(2) In view of technical progress, and in the interest of providing clarity in the technical requirements, it is appropriate to adjust the requirements with respect to the vehicle bumpers.
(3) Annex IV, Part II of Directive 70/156/EEC provides a listing of United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) Regulations which may be accepted as alternatives to type-approval Directives. It is therefore necessary, when adapting to technical progress the Annex I to Directive 74/483/EEC, to align the requirements of that Directive and its equivalent UN/ECE Regulation 26.
(4) Directive 74/483/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly.
(5) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for Adaptation to Technical Progress set up under Article 13(1) of Directive 70/156/EEC,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
OJ L 42, 23.2.1970, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Directive 2006/40/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 161, 14.6.2006, p. 12).
OJ L 266, 2.10.1974, p. 4. Directive as last amended by the 2003 Act of Accession.