8. GRE recalled the phased approach to simplifying the lighting and light-signalling Regulations (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/75, paras. 9-12) and noted that the United Nations Office for Legal Affairs (OLA) had not identified any problems with this approach and that WP.29 had endorsed it at the June 2016 session (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/1123, para. 44 and GRE-76-11).
9. On behalf of the Informal Working Group ‘Simplification of the Lighting and Light-Signalling Regulations’ (IWG SLR), the expert from GTB reported on the progress and schedule of IWG SLR (GRE-76-23).
10. GRE reviewed and unanimously adopted the pending amendment proposals so as to consolidate the existing Regulations before they are frozen and superseded by three new Regulations that are in drafting:
| 1 | Except for the part which was already adopted by WP.29 as ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2013/75/Rev.1 and Add.1 (note by the secretariat). |
| 2 | Except for the part which was already adopted by WP.29 as ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2013/90/Rev.1 (note by the secretariat). |
| 3 | Except for the part which was already adopted by WP.29 as ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2013/92/Rev.1 (note by the secretariat). |
| 4 | Except for the part which was already adopted by WP.29 as ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2013/93/Rev.1 (note by the secretariat). |
| 5 | Except for Section B on Regulation No. 45 which was already submitted to WP.29 as ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2016/77 (note by the secretariat). |
11. GRE had a first exchange of views on the need to streamline approval markings of lighting and light-signalling devices as part of the SLR process. The expert from GTB reported on their participation in the WP.29 Informal Working Group on the Database for the Exchange of Type Approval (IWG DETA) and the future application of the Unique Identifier (UI) and DETA in accordance with Schedule 5 of the revised 1958 Agreement (GRE-76-24-Rev.1). GRE was of the view that UI and DETA would be indispensable for the purposes of SLR and called for their introduction without delay. At the same time, GRE experts pointed out that the application of UI for new series of amendments and for extensions of existing type approvals should be clarified. GRE noted that IWG DETA would soon publish guidelines (a ‘questions and answers’ document) which should address these issues.
12. The expert of GTB introduced a proposal for amendments to Regulations Nos. 98, 112 and 123 to delete the measurement at the HV point during the test for stability of photometric performance of the passing beam (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2016/25). GRE adopted the proposals as draft supplements and decided to submit them to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their March 2017 sessions as part of the consolidated amendment proposals (see para. 10 above).
13. The expert of GTB presented a proposal for amendments to Regulations Nos. 4, 6, 7, 23, 38, 50, 77, 87, 91 and 119 to harmonize the requirement for the marking of wattage for signal lighting functions with the requirement for lighting functions (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2016/30). GRE adopted the proposals and decided to submit them to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their March 2017 sessions as part of the consolidated amendment proposals (see para. 10 above). During the adoption, the expert from the UK questioned the urgency of the proposal.
14. The expert of GTB proposed to update the requirements on light source failure in lamps equipped with multiple light sources in Regulations Nos. 7, 23, 38, 48, 77, 91 and 119 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2016/31, GRE-76-07 and GRE-76-22-Rev.1). The proposal received comments from the experts of Italy, UK and OICA. GRE agreed to take out the amendment proposal to Regulation No. 48 and to consider it separately at the next GRE session. GRE adopted the remaining proposals, as amended by Annex II to the report, and requested the secretariat to submit them to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their March 2017 sessions as part of the consolidated amendment proposals (see para. 10 above).
15. The expert from GTB proposed to clarify the heat test cycle relating to the movement of the passing beam cut-off in Regulations Nos. 19, 98, 112, 113 and 123 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2016/32). The experts from EC and UK expressed concerns that the proposals would modify the performance requirements and might have safety implications. Therefore, these experts felt that the proposals should be formulated in the form of new series of amendments to the above Regulations, rather than supplements. The experts from Finland, France, Germany, Japan, GTB and OICA advocated for supplements and pointed out that the proposed amendments would neither raise the required level of stringency nor have safety implications. Finally, GRE adopted the proposals and requested the secretariat to include them into the package for submission to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their March 2017 sessions (see para. 10 above).
16. The expert from GTB proposed to introduce into Regulations Nos. 19, 98, 112, 113 and 123 provisions for standardized replaceable light emitting diode (LED) light sources approved according to Regulation No. 128 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2016/34). He also outlined the upcoming amendment proposals to Regulation No. 128, including the introduction of ‘thermal grade’ as a new characteristic of LED light sources (GRE-76-13). The experts from France, Germany, Italy and UK indicated the far-reaching character and scale of the proposed amendments, and the need to study them in detail. They also expressed a preference for considering the proposed amendments simultaneously with proposals for amendments to Regulation No. 128. Some experts pointed out that the thermal behaviour of LEDs could depend on their installation and the temperature in the engine compartment, and were of the view that the provisions of Regulations Nos. 48 and 85 should be taken into account as well. GRE invited experts to consider these issues before the next session.