Tractors and agricultural or forestry machinery: driver-perceived noise level

1) OBJECTIVE

To lay down provisions to ensure safe working conditions and in particular to protect the hearing of agricultural workers driving wheeled agricultural and forestry tractors.

2) ACT

Council Directive

77/311/EEC

of 29 March 1977 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the driver-perceived noise level of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors [Official Journal L 105 of 28.04.1977].

Amended by the following acts:

Council Directive 82/890/EEC of 17 December 1982 [Official Journal L 378 of 31.12.1982];

Directive 97/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 1997 [Official Journal L 277 of 10.10.1997];

Commission Directive 2006/26/EC of 2 March 2006 [Official Journal L 65 of 7.03.2006].

3) SUMMARY

Directive 77/311/EEC

Scope: for the purpose of this Directive, "agricultural or forestry tractor" means any motor vehicle, fitted with wheels or endless 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. Directive 77/311/EEC applies only to the specified tractors which are fitted with pneumatic tyres and have two axles and a maximum design speed of between 6 and 25 km/h.

The Directive lays down the permitted noise levels. Accordingly, no Member State may refuse to grant EEC type-approval or national type-approval or prohibit the sale, registration or entry into service of any tractor on grounds relating to the driver-perceived noise level if this level is within the following limits: 90 dB (A) or 86 dB (A), measured in accordance with the conditions in the Annexes to the Directive. The Annexes also contain provisions on measuring apparatus, conditions and methods.

Directive 82/890/EEC

This Directive extends the scope of Directive 77/311/EEC. Henceforth, the legislation applies to the tractors specified under Directive 77/311/EEC which are fitted with pneumatic tyres and which have two axles and a maximum design speed of between 6 and 30 km/h.

Directive 97/54/EC

This Directive amends the scope of Directive 77/311/EEC. The maximum design speed of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors is henceforth 40 km/h.

Last updated: 11.07.2006