12.8.74 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 221/1 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 22 July 1974 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the interior fittings of motor vehicles (strength of seats and of their anchorages) (74/408/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; Whereas the technical requirements which motor vehicles must satisfy pursuant to riational laws relate, inter alia, to interior fittings for the strength of seats and their anchorages; Whereas these 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 in place of their existing regulations in order, in particular, to allow of the EEC type-approval procedure, which was the subject of Council Directive No 70/156/EEC (2) of 6 February 1970 on the approximation of laws of the Member States relating to the type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, to be applied in respect of each type of vehicle; () OJ No C 108, 10. 12. 1973, p. 75. (%) OJ No L 42, 23. 2. 1970, p. 1. Whereas common requirements for the interior fittings of the passenger compartment, the layout of the controls, the roof, the backrests and the rear part of the seats have been laid down by Council Directive No 74/60/EEC () of 17 December 1973; whereas requirements for the internal fittings for the behaviour of the steering mechanism in the event of an impact have been laid down by Council Directive 74/297/EEC (*) of 4 June 1974; whereas other requirements for the internal fittings, and in particular those relating to the head restraint, the seat belt anchorages and the layout of the controls, will be adopted at a later date; Whereas it is appropriate to utilize basically certain technical requirements adopted by the UN Economic Commission for Europe in its Regulation No 17 (3) (Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the strength of the seats and of their anchorages) which is annexed to the Agreement of 20 March 1958 concerning the adoption of uniform conditions of approval and reciprocal recognition of approval for motor vehicle equipment and parts; Whereas the approximation of national laws relating to motor vehicles entails mutual recognition by (® OJ No L 38, 11. 2. 1974, p. 2. (* OJ No L 165, 20. 6. 1974, p. 16. i (®) EEC document from Geneva. (E/ECE/324/ E/ECE/TRANS/SOS)) Rev. 1/Add. 16.