Car industry: uniform provisions concerning the approval of mechanical coupling components of combinations of vehicles, UN/ECE Regulation 55

PURPOSE : to enable the Community to accede to UN/ECE Regulation No. 55 on provisions concerning the approval of mechanical coupling components of combinations of vehicles.

LEGISLATIVE ACT : Council Decision 2006/444/EC on the accession of the Community to United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation No 55 on provisions concerning the approval of mechanical coupling components of combinations of vehicles.

CONTENT : the standardised requirements of Regulation No 55 on provisions concerning the approval of mechanical coupling components of combinations of vehicles are intended to remove technical barriers to the trade in motor vehicles between the Contracting Parties and to ensure a high level of safety and protection in the operation of vehicles.

By Council Decision 97/836/EC of 27 November 1997, the EC had become a contracting party to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe's (UN/ECE's) Revised 1958 Agreement and acceded to 78 regulations appended to that Agreement. Regulation No 55 was not included in Annex II of Decision 97/836/EC as it did not comport with Community technical requirements and specifications at the time of Community accession to the Revised 1958 Agreement.

However, in light of subsequent amendments, Regulation No 55 should be incorporated into the Community system for the type approval of motor vehicles, and this Decision provides that the Community shall apply Regulation No 55 of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe on provisions concerning the approval of mechanical coupling components of combinations of vehicles. Regulation No 55 is thereby incorporated into the Community type approval system for motor vehicles.