13.12.78 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 349/21 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 23 November 1978 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States on the permissible sound level and ‘ exhaust system of motorcycles (78/1015/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 (?), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), ' Whereas the technical requirements which motorcycles must satisfy pursuant to national laws relate inter alia to the permissible sound level and to the exhaust system; i 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 rules; Whereas the increased numbers and use of motorcycles aggravate the annoyance caused by noise pollution; whereas therefore the noise emissions of motorcycles should be limited on the basis of a representative method of testing; Whereas the approximation of national laws relating to motorcycles entails reciprocal recognition by Member States of the checks carried out by each of them on the basis of the common requirements; Whereas setting limit values for the sound level of motorcycles constitutes a step towards the improvement of the environment; whereas the technical development (1) OJ No C 40, 20. 2. 1975, p. 18. (3) OJ No C 125, 8. 6. 1976, p. 48. (3) OJ No C 204, 30. 8 1976, p. 25. of less noisy motorcycles should be further encouraged; whereas, particularly in the case of more powerful motorcycles, an endeavour should be made to lower present limit values to around 80 dB(A) by 1985; whereas, in the case of other categories of motorcycles too, it is imperative that efforts to reduce noise should continue to be made; whereas the levels fixed should take account of what would be technically possible by such a date, and furthermore, these levels should be fixed in good time so as tn give manufacturers a sufficient period to improve their products, HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Article 1 For the purposes of this Directive, ‘motorcycle’ means any two-wheeled vehicle, with or without a side-car, fitted with an engine, intended for use on the road and having a maximum design speed of more than 50 km/h. Article 2 For the purposes of this Directive, ‘national type-approval’ means the administrative procedure known as: — ‘agréation par type’ and ‘aanneming’ in Belgian law, — ‘standardtypegodkendelse’ in Danish law, — ‘allgemeine Betriebserlaubnis’ in German law, — ‘réception par type’ in French law, |, — ‘type-approval’ in Irish law, — ‘omologazione’ or ‘approvazione del tipo’ in Italian law, — ‘agréation’ in Luxembourg law, — ‘typegoedkeuring’ in Dutch law, — ‘type-approval’ in United Kingdom law.