8.5.76 Official Journal of the European Communities NoL 122/1 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 6 April 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the braking devices of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors (76/432/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 which tractors must satisfy pursuant to national laws relate inter alia to their braking devices; Whereas those 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 instead of their existing rules, - in order, in particular, to allow the EEC type- approval procedure, which was the subject of Council Directive 74/150/EEC of 4 March 1974 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the type-approval of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors (3), to be applied in respect of each type of tractor; OJ No C 5, 8. 1. 1975, p. 54. OJ No C 62, 15. 3. 1975, p. 29. OJ No L 84, 28. 3. 1974, p. 10. Whereas the harmonized requirements are intended principally to improve safety on the road and at work throughout the whole Community; Wheteas the approximation of national laws relating to tractors involves the mutual recognition by Member States of the inspections carried out by each of them on the basis of common requirements; whereas, for such a system to function successfully, these requirements must be applied by all Member States with effect from the same date, HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Article 1 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 the 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.