16. The experts from France and Germany, in their capacity of Co-chairs of the Informal Working Group (IWG) on a Quiet Road Transport Vehicles (QRTV) Regulation under 1958 Agreement, reported on the status of QRTV-related work (GRB-63-13). GRB noted that WP.29, at its March 2016 session, would consider a draft QRTV Regulation (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2016/26). At its November 2015 session, WP.29 decided to extend the mandate IWG on QRTV Regulation with a view to addressing concerns raised by WBU (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/1118, paras. 24, 100-102), namely sound pressure levels, optional installation of the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) pause switches and sound emissions when stationary. IWG on QRTV Regulation would also consider the possible extension of the scope of the QRTV regulation to vehicles of L categories.
17. To reflect the above new tasks, the experts from France and Germany proposed to update the Terms of Reference (ToR) of IWG on QRTV Regulation (GRB-63-14). GRB adopted the revised ToR, as reproduced in Annex VII.
20. The experts from France and Germany, in their capacity of Co-chairs of the Informal Working Group (IWG) on a Quiet Road Transport Vehicles (QRTV) Regulation under 1958 Agreement, presented a draft QRTV Regulation (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRB/2015/9 and GRB-62-22).
22. GRB recalled that AVAS provisions had been recently adopted in the European Union and were scheduled to be announced in the United States of America in November 2015. Therefore, GRB stressed the urgent need for a QRTV Regulation and decided to adopt ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRB/2015/9, subject to minor editorial corrections. The secretariat was requested to submit it to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their March 2016 sessions. At the same time, GRB was of the view that the concerns raised by WBU should be studied further, also bearing in mind recent technologies that improve road safety. To address these issues, GRB agreed that the mandates of both IWG QRTV for a Regulation and IWG QRTV for a GTR should be extended and requested the Chair to seek the WP.29 consent.
20. GRB noted that the draft Regulation on quiet road transport vehicles (QRTV) (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2016/26) had been adopted by WP.29 and AC.1 at their March 2016 sessions and would enter into force as Regulation No. 138 in October 2016 (Depository Notification C.N.125.2016.TREATIES-XI.B.16 of 5 April 2016).
66. The World Forum considered the draft proposal for a new Regulation concerning the approval of quiet road transport vehicles (QRTV) under item 4.13.1 and recommended its submission to AC.1 for voting.