7. On behalf of the Informal Working Group “Simplification of the Lighting and Light-Signalling Regulations” (IWG SLR), the expert from IEC introduced a revised proposal for the draft Resolution on the common specification of light source categories (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2016/5 and Corr.1, GRE-75-02, GRE-75-03 and GRE-75-04), together with proposals for simplifying Regulations Nos. 37, 99 and 128 by moving light sources data sheets from Annex 1 to these Regulations to the Resolution (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2016/2, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2016/3 and ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2016/4). The experts from Germany, France, Italy, UK, CLEPA, GTB and OICA commented on the proposals, in particular on phasing out of light source categories and on the legal form of amendments to Regulations Nos. 37, 99 and 128 (supplements or new series of amendments).

8. GRE adopted the draft Resolution on the common specification of light source categories (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2016/5 and Corr.1), as amended by Annex II, and requested the secretariat to submit it to WP.29 for consideration at its November 2016 session. GRE also adopted proposals for amendments to Regulations Nos. 37, 99 and 128 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2016/2, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2016/3 and ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2016/4) not amended and requested the secretariat to submit them to WP.29 and the Administrative Committee of the 1958 Agreement (AC.1) for consideration and vote at their November 2016 sessions as, respectively, draft Supplement 45 to the 03 series of amendments to Regulation No. 37, draft Supplement 12 to the original version of Regulation No. 99 and draft Supplement 6 to the original version of Regulation No. 128. The expert of Germany reserved his position on the adopted proposals.

9. The expert from GTB, in his capacity of Secretary of IWG SLR, reported on the progress of IWG SLR and a new phased approach to simplification of the lighting and light-signalling Regulations developed by IWG SLR (GRE-75-05). The proposed approach would include the following major steps:

a) Review and adoption of pending amendment proposals to consolidate the existing Regulations;
b) Freeze of the existing Regulations which would be superseded by three new Regulations (see point c) below);
c) Establishment of three new Regulations on road illumination devices, light-signalling devices and retro-reflective devices based on the text of existing Regulations;
d) Further amendment of the new Regulations and Regulation No. 48 to introduce technologically neutral and performance-based requirements.

10. According to IWG SLR, the proposed approach would not only simplify the Regulations and provide legal certainty, but would also remove unnecessary barriers to innovations and promote worldwide application of lighting and light-signalling Regulations, for example, through the development of GTRs in this area and/or more countries joining the 1958 Agreement.

11. A vast majority of GRE experts expressed their support to the proposed approach and activities of IWG SLR. The expert from Germany reserved his position. The experts of Japan and OICA stressed the need to find a way to introduce new technologies, should they emerge during a transition period between the freeze of the current Regulations and the entry into force of the three new ones. The experts from Belgium and UK were of the view that the United Nations Office for Legal Affairs (OLA) should be requested to provide guidance on the approach. The Chair invited experts to submit further comments, if any, before 29 July 2016.

12. To seek the consent of WP.29 on the proposed concept, GRE requested the Chair to present it at the June 2016 meeting of the World Forum as well as to ask WP.29 to extend the mandate of IWG SLR. GRE also took note of a list of pending proposals, which had been referred to IWG SLR in 2014-2015 (GRE-75-06), and decided to consider them at the next session under agenda item “Pending proposals”.

13. The expert from GTB informed GRE about activities of the GTB Working Group Light Sources and its plans to extend Regulation No. 128 to light sources for forward lighting applications covered by Regulations Nos. 19, 98, 112, 113 and 123 (GRE-75-14). Proposals for amendments to Regulation No. 128 would include performance-based requirements for visibility and glare as well as introduce thermal grades for light emitting diodes (LED) light sources which could be subject to heat from a combustion engine. Forward lighting Regulations Nos. 19, 98, 112, 113 and 123 would need to be amended to accept LEDs of Regulation No. 128 and their thermal grades. GRE took note that amendment proposals would be submitted to the next session. A number of experts posed questions on the thermal grade concept proposed by GTB and were of the view that a detailed clarification should be included in the justification part of future documents.

14. The expert from GTB briefed GRE on activities of the GTB Task Force Conformity of Production (GRE-75-15) and its intention to submit a formal document to the next session of GRE with a view to harmonizing the conformity of production provisions of Regulation No. 123 with those of other headlamp Regulations (e.g. No. 112), for the sake of simplification. The experts from France and UK requested GTB to include a solid justification in their future submission.