21. GRSP resumed discussion on two revised proposals tabled by the expert from Germany. He introduced ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2023/4 to ensure that only safe head restraints would be fitted on seats in any seating position in all vehicle categories. Then he introduced ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2023/5 that covers the same provisions of ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2023/4 with additional new requirements in a new series of amendments. GRSP adopted ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2023/4 not amended, and ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2023/5 as amended by annex IV to the session report. The secretariat was requested to submit the proposals for consideration and vote at the November 2023 sessions of WP.29 and AC.1. as: (a) draft Supplement 1 to the 10 series of amendments (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2023/4) and (b) draft 11 Series of Amendments (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2023/5) to UN Regulation No. 17.

20. The expert from Germany introduced ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2022/20 to ensure that only safe head restraints would be fitted to seats of any seating position in all vehicle categories that were in the scope. He introduced ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2022/21 that covers the same provisions of ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2022/20 in a new series of amendments, and also extends the test performance of paragraph 5.7.4 (height retention of head restraints) to non-adjustable head restraint with only one position of use. The expert from CLEPA argued that the proposed deletion of the reference to UN Regulation No. 25 in both proposals would introduce unclarity when head restraint would be type approved as separate technical units. The expert from Germany stated that UN Regulation No. 25 was not updated to the technical progress. He added that the aftermarket was regulated by national law while the type approval of vehicles should be regulated by UN Regulation No. 17.

21. Finally, GRSP agreed to resume discussion on ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2022/20 and ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2022/21 at its May 2023 session. Moreover, GRSP agreed as a general principle that: “Not only head restraints on seats, mandatory to be fitted with head restraints according to paragraphs 5.4.1. and 5.4.2. of UN Regulation No. 17, have to be approved. All head restraints fitted on seats under the scope of UN Regulation No. 17 shall be approved.” GRSP agreed that a group of interested experts would cooperate on a solution, led by the expert from Germany.