Article 2
1. With effect from 1 October 1996 Member States may not, on grounds relating to the permissible sound level or the exhaust system: - refuse, in respect of a type of vehicle or a type of exhaust system, to grant EC type-approval or national type-approval, or - prohibit the registration, sale or entry into service of vehicles, or the sale or entry into service of exhaust systems, if the vehicles or exhaust systems comply with the requirements of Directive 70/157/EEC, as amended by this Directive. 2. With effect from 1 January 1997 Member States: - shall no longer grant EC type-approval, and - shall refuse to grant national type-approval, for a type of vehicle on grounds relating to its permissible sound level and for a type of exhaust system, if the requirements of Directive 70/157/EEC, as amended by this Directive, are not fulfilled. 3. Notwithstanding paragraph 2, for the purposes of replacement parts, Member States shall continue to grant EC type-approval, and to permit the sale and entry into service, of exhaust systems in accordance with previous versions of Directive 70/157/EEC provided that such exhaust systems: - are intended to be fitted to vehicles already in use, and - comply with the requirements of that Directive which were applicable when the vehicles were first registered.