Working Document GRSP/2016/19

Proposal to amend the toxicity and flammability provisions.

Proposal to introduce CRS Informal Group “phase 2” amendments regarding the approval of booster-seat CRS category (booster seat with backrest) into UN R129.

76. The representative of Consumers International (CI) welcomed the adoption of the 02 series of amendments of UN Regulation No. 129, which can be seen as a next milestone in the development of this Regulation. He highlighted that by extending the i-Size concept to children up to 135cm, several consumer issues will be addressed and that also bigger children now will benefit from higher levels of protection. He hoped that the corresponding amendment of UN Regulation No. 16 will be implemented in the short term, allowing it to be operational simultaneously with phase 2 of Regulation No. 129. Finally, he offered the support of CI in the further development of the regulation.

Consolidated version of UN R129 including the proposals for the 02 series of amendments (WP29/2016/107), Supplement 1 to the 02 series of amendments (GRSP/2016/19), and Supplement 2 to the 02 series of amendments (GRSP/2016/22). The 02 series concerns the “phase 2” amendments regarding the approval of booster-seat CRS category (booster seat with backrest). Supplement 1 updates the toxicity and flammability of materials provisions pursuant to Supplement 1 to the 01 series of amendments. Supplement 2 proposes editorial improvements and corrections to the original text.

Proposal to clarify and make editorial corrections to the text of the 02 series of amendments to the UN Regulation No. 129. This proposal supersedes document GRSP/2016/23 and amends WP.29/2016/107 (02 series of amendments to the UN Regulation) and GRSP/2016/19 (Proposal for Supplement 1 to the 02 series of amendments to Regulation No. 129).

36. The expert from France also furthermore introduced two parallel amendments to the 01 and 02 series of amendments to the Regulation that provide editorial corrections to the text (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2016/22 and ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2016/23). GRSP adopted ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2016/22, as amended by Annex V to this report (GRSP-60-09-Rev.2) and ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2016/23, as amended by Annex V to the report (GRSP-60-08-Rev.1). The secretariat was requested to submit: (a) ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2016/22, as Supplement 2 to the 01 series of amendments and (b) ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2016/23, as part of (see para. 35) draft Supplement 1 to the 02 series of amendments to Regulation No. 129, for consideration and vote at the June 2017 sessions of WP.29 and AC.1. Referring to the discussion held under agenda item 14 (see para. 30 above), GRSP requested the secretariat to distribute GRSP-60-02 with an official symbol at its May 2017 session, and specifically for the text dedicated to Regulation No. 129. Finally, GRSP agreed to seek the endorsement of WP.29 at its March 2017 sessions to extend the mandate of the IWG until December 2017.

1. The proposed amendment includes Enhanced Child Restraint Systems from the universal belted or specific to vehicle belted categories into the scope of UN Regulation No. 129. This represents Phase 3 of the UN Regulation.
2. The text includes all modifications proposed by GRSP up to and including its sixtieth session (13-16 December 2016) as well as those of the Informal Working Group on Child Restraint Systems up to and including its sixty-third session (Brussels, 25th January 2017).
3. This proposal refers to the original text of Regulation No. 129, including the following amendments:
   • Corrigendum 1,
   • Supplement 1,
   • Supplement 2,
   • Supplement 3,
   • Supplement 4,
   • the 01 series of amendments,
   • Supplement 1 to the 01 series of amendments,
   • the 02 series of amendments,
   • Supplement 1 to the 02 series of amendments (GRSP/2016/19 and 23 amended by GRSP-60-08-Rev.1),
   • Supplement 2 to the 01 series of amendments (GRSP/2016/22 amended by GRSP-60-09-Rev.2).

36. The expert from France introduced GRSP-61-17-Rev.2, superseding ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2017/17 aimed at introducing the third phase of the UN Regulation which is meant to introduce “Universal belted” and “Specific vehicle belted” category of CRS. He further explained that the basic principle of Phase 3 was to reach a compromise from misuse and bad installation and having as much as possible seat places to install CRS where ISOFIX anchorages cannot be allocated. Moreover, GRSP noted the request of guidance to Contracting Parties proposed in GRSP-61-28 concerning: (i) which kind of combinations of ECRS should be allowed (e.g. ISOFIX and Universal Belted) (ii) under which conditions and (iii) guiding principles. The expert from the Netherlands raised concerns on “inserts” used on CRS to adapt them to the size of the occupant. He stated that inserts should be identified (labelled with identification and with size information) and that requirements should be devised to prevent camouflage of bad CRS. The expert from the United Kingdom supported the principle of a performance-based approach and requested more data on misuse. However, he shared the concern of the expert from the Netherlands. The expert from IC stated that ISOFIX had the priority to avoid misuse while other solutions and combinations with ISOFIX were just secondary and should be limited. The experts from Germany and Sweden raised a study reservation and stated that “plug-and-play” solution was the key principle for having a simple and efficient system; while now the ECRS IWG was opening to combinations that could have misuse implications.

Proposal to align the provisions on toxicity and flammability of materials used to manufacture Child Restraint Systems (CRS) and to update test provisions of UN Regulation introduced by the Supplement 1 to the 01 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 129. The proposal also clarifies requirements and improves the text of the 02 series of amendments, including strap positioning provisions and labeling requirements for detachable child seat impact shields.