14. The expert from the Kingdom of the Netherlands withdrew ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2023/115. GRSP agreed to defer discussion on ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2024/15 at its December 2024 session. GRSP also agreed to send GRSP-75-30 (introduced by GRSP-75-28), tabled by the expert from CLEPA, to the IWG on equitable protection of occupants (EqOP) IWG.

19. GRSP note that WP.29 at its November 2023 session had returned ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2023/115 to GRSP for further revision (see ECE/TRANS/WP.29/1175, paragraph 106). The expert from OICA, explained that the proposal of Supplement 1 to the 10 series of amendments had already been incorporated in the 11 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 17 that had been adopted at the November 2023 session of WP.29. He further explained that this supplement would imply a new provision that would enter into force immediately creating problems to manufacturers. Therefore, he suggested that the proposal be withdrawn. The expert from Germany, author of ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2023/115, insisted that the proposal was still needed. He offered to revise the proposal for further discussion at the May 2024 session of GRSP.

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.

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.