27.5.2014 Official Journal of the European Union L 158/131 REGULATION (EU) No 540/2014 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 16 April 2014 on the sound level of motor vehicles and of replacement silencing systems, and amending Directive 2007/46/EC and repealing Directive 70/157/EEC (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 114 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments, Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (}), Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (), Whereas: (1)  In accordance with Article 26(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), the internal market comprises an area without internal frontiers in which the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital is to be ensured. To that end, a comprehensive EU type-approval system for motor vehicles is in place. The technical requirements for the EU type-approval of motor vehicles and their silencing systems with regard to permissible sound levels should be harmonised to avoid the adoption of requirements that differ from one Member State to another, and to ensure the proper functioning of the internal market while, at the same time, providing for a high level of environmental protection and public safety, a better quality of life and health, and taking account of road vehicles as a significant source of noise in the transport sector. (2)  EU type-approval requirements already apply in the context of Union law regulating various aspects of the per- formance of motor vehicles, such as CO, emissions from cars and light commercial vehicles, pollutant emissions and safety standards. The technical requirements applicable pursuant to this Regulation should be developed in a way that ensures a consistent approach throughout that Union law, taking into account all relevant noise factors. (3)  Traffic noise harms health in numerous ways. Protracted noise-related stress can exhaust human physical reserves, disrupt the regulatory capacity of organ functions and hence limit their effectiveness. Traffic noise is a potential risk factor for the development of medical conditions and incidents such as high blood pressure and heart attacks. The effects of traffic noise should be further researched in the same manner as provided for in Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (). (4)  Council Directive 70/157/EEC (*) harmonised the different technical requirements of Member States relating to the permissible sound level of motor vehicles and of their exhaust systems for the purpose of the establishment and operation of the internal market. For the purposes of the proper functioning of the internal market and in order to ensure a uniform and consistent application throughout the Union, it is appropriate to replace that Dir- ective by this Regulation. () 0JC191,29.6.2012, p. 76. (}) Position of the European Parliament of 6 February 2013 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and position of the Council at first reading of 20 February 2014 (not yet published in the Official Journal). Position of the European Parliament of 2 April 2014 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 June 2002 relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise (O] L 189, 18.7.2002, p. 12). (*) Council Directive 70/157[EEC of 6 February 1970 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the permissible sound level and the exhaust system of motor vehicles (OJ L 42, 23.2.1970, p. 16).