31. The expert from Germany introduced the terms of reference for the group of interested experts (GRSP-49-03-Rev.1) on rechargeable energy storage systems (RESS), working under the responsibility of the electric safety informal group (ELSA). He clarified that the work plan had two steps for developing safety requirements of RESS:

• (a) As a first step, the group would consider revising the existing Regulations under the 1958 Agreement concerning functional, mechanical, chemical and electric safety requirements of RESS for vehicle categories M and N. The creation of a new Regulation would not be excluded.

• (b) In a second step, the group might consider requirements for vehicles of category L and the development of a gtr in the framework of the 1998 Agreement.

32. GRSP adopted GRSP-49-03-Rev.1 on the terms of reference of the group of interested experts on RESS (superseding GRSP-49-22), as reproduced in “Annex VI to this report”/http://live.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/doc/2011/wp29grsp/ECE-TRANS-WP29-GRSP-49e.pdf and agreed to seek consent from WP.29 at its June 2011 session.

33. Finally, GRSP agreed to extend the mandate of the ELSA informal group until December 2012 (pending the finalization of the draft gtr by the informal group SGS) and to seek consent from WP.29 at its June 2011 session. Accordingly, GRSP adopted GRSP-49-30, on the proposal extending the ELSA mandate, as reproduced in Annex VII to support this request.