31. In addition to the information on the 70th anniversary of ITC at the opening, the secretariat informed the World Forum on the recommendation resulting out of the United Nations Environment – UNECE/ITC Conference related to the transfer of used vehicles from high income countries to low- and middle –income countries and the threat these vehicles pose to road safety and the environment. Here the provisions of the 1997 Agreement could be applied for technical inspections of such vehicles before they leave the countries of origin as well as periodic technical inspections within the countries of destination and thus sharing the burden between the countries. He further informed the World Forum on the relevant decisions (Nos. 13, 22 and 29) taken by the ITC at its seventy-ninth session (21 to 24 February 2017):

At its seventy-ninth session, the ITC:

1. 13. Welcomed the outcome and recommendations of the United Nations Environment – UNECE/ITC Conference which addressed the impact of used cars on air quality and climate emissions and requested ITC and its subsidiary bodies to consider these recommendations and to follow up towards a harmonized approach to overcome this increasing problem;


2. 22. Expressed its support for the most recent developments in the work carried out by the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) and its six subsidiary Working Parties, as well as  the Administrative Committee of the 1958 Agreement, the Administrative Committee of the 1997 Agreement, and the Executive Committee of the 1998 Agreement. Endorsed the activities listed in ECE/TRANS/2017/10.  Reiterated its support for hosting DETA at ECE. Requested the UNECE secretariat to allocate budget resources from the United Nations regular budget earmarked for hosting DETA, starting with the 2018-2019 biennium. The Committee instructed the Chair to add the issue of the financing of DETA from the regular budget (approximately USD 45,000 p.a.) in his report to EXCOM, and underline the legal obligations of the third revision of the 1958 Agreement and its possible negative impact on road safety, in case of any delays;


3. 29. Took note the initiative by the Special Envoy and ECE for a voluntary commitment from the automotive industry to only put vehicles on worldwide markets which comply with a defined minimum set of United Nations vehicle safety regulations.