THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 concerning type-approval requirements for the general safety of motor vehicles, their trailers and systems, components and separate technical units intended therefor(1), and in particular Article 14(1)(a) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 is a separate Regulation for the purposes of the Community type-approval procedure provided for by Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 September 2007 establishing a framework for the approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles (Framework Directive)(2).
(2) Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 repeals Council Directive 77/389/EEC of 17 May 1977 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to motor vehicle towing devices(3). The requirements set out in that Directive should be carried over to this Regulation and, where necessary, amended in order to adapt them to the development of scientific and technical knowledge.
(3) The scope of this Regulation is in line with that of Directive 77/389/EEC and thus limited to vehicles of category M and N.
(4) Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 lays down fundamental provisions on requirements for the type-approval of motor vehicles with regard to towing devices. Therefore, it is necessary to set out the specific procedures, tests and requirements for such type-approval.
(5) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Technical Committee – Motor Vehicles,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: