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.

55. The expert from Japan, GRSP ambassador on IWVTA, introduced GRSP-52-10 showing a list of priority of discussion of candidate UN Regulations to be included in the IWVTA. GRSP requested its experts to provide detailed comments by its May 2013 session.

31. The expert from OICA reported on the progress (GRSG-103-28) made by the Informal Group on International Whole Vehicle Type Approval (IWVTA). As the IWVTA ambassador of GRSG, he announced his intention to prepare a position paper for each candidate Regulation listed in Annex 2 of WP.29-156-21-Rev.1 under the GRSG responsibility. GRSG noted a number of comments on the validity of some candidate Regulations applicable to the IWVTA. Following the discussion, the IWTA ambassador invited all governmental delegates to email him (ofontaine@oica.net) their comments well in advance of the deadline for submission of official documents.

32. The expert from Japan introduced GRSG-103-07, proposing a new series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 34 on fuel tanks. GRSG welcomed the proposal on fire prevention and agreed on the need to complement the proposal with a cost-benefit analysis. GRSG decided to resume consideration of the proposal at its next session on the basis of an official document under a specific agenda item.

33. The expert from Japan presented GRSG-103-23, justifying the need to improve the field of vision for drivers of larger vehicles. In this respect, he proposed amending the provisions of UN Regulation No. 46 on devices for indirect vision (GRSG-103-13). GRSG agreed to resume consideration of this subject at its next session and requested the secretariat to distribute GRSG-103-13 with an official symbol.

36. The expert from the EC informed GRRF about the progress of the Informal Group on IWVTA (WP.29-156-21-Rev.1). GRRF decided to insert a new item on its agenda.

37. For the liaison between the Working Parties and its Informal Group on International Whole Vehicle Type Approval (IWVTA), WP.29 decided that each Working Party elects an Ambassador (see report ECE/TRANS/WP.29/1097, paras. 38 and 39 and WP.29-156-21-Rev.1.). Mr. I. Lafuente (Spain) was unanimously elected Ambassador of GRRF to IWVTA.

42. GRE considered WP.29-156-21-Rev.1. and nominated the delegation of the European Commission to ensure the task of Ambassador for GRE on IWVTA activities of WP.29.

43. The expert from Japan announced that he would make a comment at GRE in April 2013 concerning UN Regulation No. 4 (Registration plate lamps) and introduce the Japanese plate size into the regulation. GRE noted that this proposal would introduce a regional requirement in the Regulation.

32. The GRRF Ambassador recalled the principles of IWVTA and introduced GRRF-74-44. He proposed to assess the table containing relevant items for GRRF. GRRF agreed to upgrade the priority of the item “tyres installation” from “(c)” to “(b)”.

33. The expert from OICA volunteered to develop a proposal on Regulation No. 13-H, splitting this regulation into three parts: braking system, brake assist system and electronic stability control system for consideration at the September 2013 session of GRRF.
34. The expert from ETRTO volunteered to develop a proposal on a new Regulation on tyre installation for consideration at the September 2013 session of GRRF.

35. GRRF requested the secretariat to create a specific agenda item to accommodate both issues.

42. The expert from EC, recalling the purpose of WP.29-156-21, introduced GRE-69-15-Rev.1 on the candidate items to be incorporated in IVWTA and UN Regulation No. 0. The proposal received some comments (GRE-70-08 and GRE-70-29). GRE endorsed GRE-70-45 and requested the secretariat to submit it to the IWVTA informal group.

43. The GRE Ambassador on IWVTA activities introduced GRE-69-15 and GRE-69-16 on how GRE shall address the IWVTA related items. GRE noted that some of the component regulations were missing in the list proposed in GRE-69-15. GRE requested its Ambassador to submit an updated presentation for its October 2013 session.