15. The expert from GTB proposed an amendment to Regulation No. 37, which corrects an error and aligns a term with Regulation No. 128 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2017/19). GRE adopted the amendment as draft Supplement 46 to the 03 series of amendments and requested the secretariat to submit it to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their March 2018 sessions.

16. The expert from GTB proposed to correct and amend some specifications in the Consolidated Resolution on the common specification of light source categories (R.E.5) (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2017/18). The expert from IEC proposed another correction to R.E.5 (GRE-78-19 and Annex III). GRE adopted these proposals and requested the secretariat to submit them to WP.29 for consideration and adoption at the March 2018 session as draft Amendment 1 to the original version of R.E.5.

17. The expert from GTB presented revised amendments to Regulation No. 128 and to R.E.5 which introduced requirements, test specifications and new categories for light emitting diode (LED) substitute light sources (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2017/17, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2017/21). The proposals also included collective amendments to Regulations Nos. 48, 53, 74, 86 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2017/22 and GRE-78-02). The experts from Italy and OICA submitted written comments on the proposals (GRE-78-33 and GRE-78-28).

18. GRE noted that, compared to the original GTB proposals that had been considered at the previous session, the revised proposals contained safeguards against the possible misuse of LED substitutes as retrofits in lamps and/or vehicles that were not type approved for using such light sources. A number of experts were of the view that the proposed measures, such as consumer warning on packaging and a website with a list of compatible vehicle models, were not sufficient and reiterated their concerns as raised at the previous session. The expert of OICA pointed out that, to avoid any responsibility for misusing LED substitutes when installing on old vehicle types, the vehicle manufacturers would have be burdened to extend type approvals pursuant to the earlier series of amendments to Regulation No. 48 (GRE-78-28). GRE acknowledged the problem and noted that the failure detection provisions in Regulation No. 48 should be revised. Some experts advocated the idea of physical keying of LED caps to prevent installing unauthorized substitutes.

19. GRE noted that the discussion addressed two different, but interrelated issues: (a) allowing LED substitutes for new type approvals, as part of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and Original Equipment Supplier (OES), and (b) using LED as retrofits on old vehicle types. Some experts were of the view that the two cannot be separated from one another. To make progress, GRE agreed to establish a task force. The expert from Germany stated that another expert from his country would act as Chair of the task force, while the expert from UK provisionally agreed to become Co-Chair. The expert from IEC volunteered to provide secretarial support.

20. The expert from GTB presented revised proposals for amendments to Regulation No. 128 and to the Consolidated Resolution (R.E.5) with the aim to introduce requirements, test specifications and a new category for forward lighting LED light sources (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2017/16, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2017/20). GRE adopted the amendments and requested the secretariat to submit them to WP.29 and to AC.1 (Regulation No. 128 only) for consideration and vote at their March 2018 sessions. GRE noted that, if adopted, the R.E.5 amendment would enter into force on the same day as the corresponding supplement to Regulation No. 128.

21. The expert from IEC pointed out that Regulations Nos. 37, 99 and 128 prescribe the approval code for the marking of light sources, however, in some instances the wording “approval number” is used. He proposed to correct the inconsistencies, specifically because Schedule 4 to the revised 1958 Agreement makes a distinction between the approval number and the approval code (GRE-78-18). The expert from the Netherlands volunteered to work with IEC to find a better solution for the communication form in Annex 1 to the above Regulations and to prepare an official document for the next session of GRE.