38. The representative of France, chairing the informal group on IWVTA, reported on the strong progress made by the group on the amendments to the text of the 1958 Agreement (articles and appendices) and the drafting of the UN Regulation No. 0. He announced that the incorporation into the Agreement of new provisions for the application by Contracting Parties of former versions of UN Regulations had been agreed. The Secretary of the informal group on IWVTA presented the status report on the IWVTA informal group (WP.29-157-22). The World Forum noted that two subgroups would continue drafting the revision to the 1958 Agreement (chaired by the European Commission) and the text of UN Regulation No. 0 (chaired by Japan) at their upcoming meetings in September and November 2012. WP.29 expects to receive a first draft of the amendments to the 1958 Agreement at its March 2013 session. The World Forum noted the nomination of IWVTA ambassadors by GRSP and GRSG.

39. Referring to WP.29-156-21-Rev.1, the representative of Japan (vice-chairing the informal group on IWVTA) recalled the urgent need to nominate IWVTA ambassadors at the upcoming sessions of the other GRs and invited all interested Contracting Parties to take over such a role. In this respect, the representative of EU offered the assistance of the experts from the European Commission to play a more active role as IWVTA ambassadors. WP.29 welcomed the initiative and noted that the informal group on IWVTA would meet again in Paris on 9 November 2012. WP.29 noted that the ultimate goal of the IWVTA scheme was the mutual recognition of whole vehicle type approvals without any additional national requirements or approvals.

40. The World Forum agreed to refer WP.29-156-21-Rev.1 to all GRs for detailed consideration and to resume consideration of this important subject at the next session in November 2012.