L 40/36 Official Journal of the European Communities 13.2.1999 COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 1999/7/EC of 26 January 1999 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 70/311/EEC relating to the steering equipment for motor vehicles and their trailers (Text with EEA relevance) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 70/311/EEC of 8 June 1970 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the steering equipment for motor vehicles and their trailers ('), as last amended by Directive 92/62/EEC (}, and in particular Article 3 thereof, Whereas Directive 70/311/EEC is one of the separate directives of the EC type-approval procedure which has been established by Council Directive 70/156/EEC (%), as last amended by Commission Directive 98/14/EC (¥), relating to type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers; whereas consequently the provisions laid down in Directive 70/156/EEC relating to vehicle systems, com- ponents and separate technical units apply to Directive 70/311/EEC; Whereas, with a view to the practical application of Directive 70/311/EEC, it is necessary to ensure that uniform provisions are laid down which are also aligned with the latest version of UN-ECE Regulation No 79 in all Member States; Whereas Annex VII to Directive 70/156/EEC lays down the format and the contents of the EC type-approval number; whereas the same specifications should be adopted for the purposes of this Directive; Whereas Directive 70/311/EEC should be adapted accordingly; Whereas the measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for the adaptation to technical progress established by Directive 70/156/EEC, HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Article 1 Directive 70/311/EEC is hereby amended as follows: 1. Article 1 is replaced by the following: Article 1 For the purpose of this Directive, “vehicle” means any vehicle as defined in Article 2 of Directive 70/ 156/EEC/; () OJ L 133, 18. 6. 1970, p. 10. () OJ L 199, 18. 7. 1992, p. 33. () OJ L 42, 23. 2. 1970, p. 1. () OJ L 91, 25. 3. 1998, p. 1. 2. in Article 3, ‘Annex’ is replaced by ‘Annexes’; 3. the Annexes are amended in accordance with the Annex to this Directive. Article 2 1.  With effect from 1 January 1999, Member States may not on grounds relating to the steering equipment: — refuse, in respect of a type of vehicle, to grant EC type-approval or national type-approval, or — prohibit the sale, registration, entry into service of vehicles if the vehicles comply with the requirements of Directive 70/311/EEC as amended by this Directive. 2. With effect from 1 October 2000, Member States: — shall no longer grant EC type-approval, and — may refuse to grant national type-approval for a new type of vehicle on grounds relating to the steering equipment if the requirements of Directive 70/ 311/EEC as amended by this Directive are not fulfilled. 3.  With effect from 1 October 2001, Member States may refuse the registration, sale or entry into service of new vehicles of category M,, M, N,, or N, equipped with auxiliary steering equipment which does not comply with the provisions of Directive 70/311/EEC as amended by this Directive. Article 3 1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regu- lations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 30 June 1999 at the latest. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof. When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accom- panied by such a reference on the occasion of their offi- cial publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made. 2. Member States shall communicate to the Commis- sion the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field governed by this Directive.