7. 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-78-34) in preparing the three new simplified UN Regulations on Light-Signalling Devices (LSD), Road Illumination Devices (RID) and Retro-Reflective Devices (RRD). He presented a draft LSD Regulation (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2017/9), amendments to Regulations Nos. 48, 53, 74 and 86 that group the definitions and introduce references to the new simplified Regulations (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2017/10, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2017/11, GRE-78-11, GRE-78-12, GRE-78-13, GRE-78-14, GRE-78-15 and GRE-78-20), and the new transitional provisions to Regulations Nos. 3, 4, 6, 7, 19, 23, 27, 38, 50, 69, 70, 77, 87, 91, 98, 104, 112, 113, 119 and 123 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2017/13). The expert from India commented on the IWG SLR proposals (GRE-78-26).

8. GRE agreed that the new UN Regulations and the necessary amendments to the existing Regulations should be adopted as a package, possibly at the next session. GRE was of the view that all definitions should be moved to one place and that Regulation No. 48 would be the best choice for that purpose, in spite of the fact that not all Contracting Parties to the 1958 Agreement applied this Regulation. GRE also agreed, in principle, that the transitional period to start the application of the new UN Regulations should be twenty-four months, as proposed by IWG SLR in the draft transitional provisions. GRE decided to revert to this issue once the timeline for the entry into force of the new UN Regulations was known, and which depends on IWG SLR progress.

9. The expert from Germany drew the attention of GRE to the non-availability of the electronic database for the exchange of type approval documentation (DETA) and the Unique Identifier (UI) at the time of the entry into force of the new UN Regulations (GRE-78-27). This might create difficulties for applying approval markings and would make the full benefits of SLR impossible to reap. GRE agreed that the new UN Regulations should include a substitute solution of quasi-traditional approval markings pending the availability of UI.

10. On behalf of IWG SLR, the expert of GTB presented a new concept of “change index” which aims to adapt and simplify the traditional approval markings in the context of the new LSD Regulation (GRE-78-35 and Rev.1). In particular, he proposed a table that lists all devices covered by the LSD Regulation and indicates the series of amendments with the most stringent requirements for each device. Following an in-depth discussion, GRE felt that having in the approval marking both series of amendments and a change index would be superfluous. A number of experts spoke in favour of indicating the series of amendments only, preceded by the Regulation number. The expert from UK pointed out the need to study how the proposed solution would work for extension of type approvals. The Chair requested IWG SLR to address this issue and invited the expert from UK to contribute.

11. GRE requested IWG SLR to consult the European Committee of Associations of Manufacturers of Agricultural Machinery (CEMA) about the draft amendments to Regulation No. 86. GRE also noted that IWG SLR would consult the IWG on the International Whole Vehicle Type Approval (IWVTA) about the approval markings for the new LSD Regulation.

8. On behalf of the Informal Working Group on Simplification of the Lighting and Light-Signalling Regulations (IWG SLR), the expert from GTB reported on the finalization of stage 1 of SLR (GRE-79-28). He further provided a draft schedule for stage 2 which would include two steps. Step 1 would cover objectives which could be achieved by the end of 2019, such as introducing technology neutral and performance based requirements, as well as objectively testable provisions. Step 2 would start in 2020 with the aim to simplify the installation Regulations Nos. 48, 53, 74 and 86. As an additional task, he suggested harmonization with the applicable standards in China. GRE experts also proposed other issues for stage 2 of SLR.

9. The expert from GTB presented the full package of amendment proposals drafted by IWG SLR under stage 1 of SLR:

a) The three new simplified UN Regulations on Light-Signalling Devices (LSD), Road Illumination Devices (RID) and Retro-Reflective Devices (RRD) (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2018/2, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2018/3, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2018/4, GRE-79-10 and GRE-79-14);

b) Draft amendments to Regulations Nos. 48, 53, 74 and 86 that group the definitions and introduce references to the new simplified Regulations (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2018/6, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2018/7, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2018/8, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2018/9, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2018/10, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2018/12, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2018/13, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2018/14, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2018/15, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2018/17, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2018/30, GRE-79-08, GRE-79-09 and GRE-79-13);

c) Transitional provisions to “freeze” Regulations Nos. 3, 4, 6, 7, 19, 23, 27, 38, 50, 69, 70, 77, 87, 91, 98, 104, 112, 113, 119 and 123 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2018/11).

10. The expert from EC was not in a position to support the indefinite validity of type approvals granted under the frozen Regulations, as proposed in ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2018/11, because of the General Safety Regulation of the European Union. He proposed revised transitional provisions for these Regulations (GRE-79-31, part I), together with new transitional provisions for the installation Regulations Nos. 48, 53, 74 and 86 (GRE-79-31, part II). While several experts agreed in principle with part I, they were not in a position to support part II. The experts from Finland and UK made study reservations. The expert from OICA expressed the concern that the revised transitional provisions might be rejected by WP.29.

11. To not delay the submission of the whole package of amendment proposals that had been developed in stage 1 of SLR, GRE decided to provisionally adopt the transitional provisions in ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2018/11, but to put in square brackets the third transitional provision for each Regulation mentioned in the document. At the same time, GRE recognized the urgency of the issue raised by the expert from EC and requested all GRE experts, as well as IWG SLR, to carefully consider the EC proposals with a view to taking a final position at the next session.

12. The expert from IWG SLR proposed correcting minor errors and inconsistencies identified in the documents mentioned under para. 9 (a) above (GRE-79-14). GRE adopted these corrections, as laid down in Annex II.

13. The expert from IWG SLR also suggested rectifying minor errors and inconsistencies in the documents listed in para. 9 (b) above (GRE-79-13). GRE adopted these corrections, as laid down in Annex III, and decided to opt for the alternative wording (in square brackets) of paragraph 6.3.9. of different series of amendments to Regulation No. 48.

14. The expert from India suggested corrections to ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2018/2 and ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2018/3 (GRE-79-17-Rev.1 and GRE-79-18-Rev.1 new text). GRE adopted the corrections, as laid down in Annexes IV and V. The expert from India withdrew GRE-79-19, in order to first present it at the next session of IWG SLR.

15. The expert from IWG SLR recalled that all identical definitions should only be kept in Regulation No. 48. Thus, he proposed to review the definitions in Regulations Nos. 53 and 74 (GRE-79-08 and GRE-79-09, respectively). GRE adopted these modifications, as contained in Annex VI.

16. The expert from IWG SLR presented the concept of “change index” developed for the LSD, RID and RRD Regulations (GRE-79-12-Rev.1). He further introduced amendment proposals on the change index to Regulations Nos. 48, 53, 74 and 86 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2018/16, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2018/18 and GRE-79-11). GRE adopted these proposals, as amended by Annex VII). In addition, GRE agreed to include transitional provisions on the change index in the text of the LSD, RID and RRD Regulations (GRE-79-10 and Annex VIII). The expert from India pointed out that he would refer GRE-79-22 to IWG SLR.

17. Subject to the modifications mentioned in paras. 10–16 above, GRE adopted the package of amendment proposals drafted by IWG SLR and listed in para. 9 a) – c). The secretariat was requested to submit the amendments proposals to WP.29 and to the Administrative Committee of the 1958 Agreement (AC.1) for consideration and vote at their November 2018 sessions. GRE noted that any modification of the transitional provisions, mentioned in para. 11 above, that GRE might agree upon at the next GRE session in October 2018, would be submitted to the November 2018 session of WP.29 as corrigenda to the basic SLR package which otherwise would be issued in August 2018.

18. The expert of SAE proposed to keep Regulations Nos. 98, 112, 113 and 123 “alive” for the purpose of the recently updated Canadian Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) No. 108 (GRE-79-32-Rev.1). GRE referred this document to IWG SLR for consideration.