The Chairman of SG58 reported on the good progress achieved in relation to the 4 main outstanding issues that were presented to WP.29 in March 2013.

The concern by Korea with regard to the references to self-certification in the revised 1958 Agreement has been successfully addressed by re-inserting the wording of the current Agreement referring to self certification.

The drafting proposals relating to the use of DETA are finalized and can be incorporated in the consolidated drafting proposals as soon as WP.29 has decided to establish DETA (which WP.29 did at its June 2013 session).

With regard to the procedure for establishing new UN Regulations and amendments to existing UN regulations, SG58 agreed not to change the existing “6 months notification procedure”, and to refer to WP.29 the decision about whether the majority threshold for voting new UN Regulations and amendments to existing UN Regulations should be increased.

With regard to the concern by Japan about the legal status of the “placeholder”, the SG58 Chairman hoped that the compromise proposal elaborated by the UN ECE Secretariat would pave the way for addressing this concern. As for Japan’s concerns about the level of ambition and the scope of the consolidated drafting proposals, he noted that Japan will submit specific proposals for consideration at the September meeting of SG58, and that the outcome of this consideration will be reflected in the formal document on the consolidated drafting proposals to be submitted to WP.29 in November 2013.

The Sub-group Chair made a presentation “Review of the 1958 Agreement”, summarising the drafting proposal elaborated aimed at achieving the objectives of making the 1958 Agreement more attractive and ensuring will remain a robust and reliable instrument built on mutual trust between Contracting Parties.

It was decided that this presentation would be made at WP.29 session in the following week because it was a good summary of the review of the 1958 Agreement. (Doc. No.WP.29-160-27)

The Sub-group Chair reported on major results and action items of the 6th Sub-group “1958 Agreement” meeting. (Doc. No.IWVTA-SG58-07-01)

29. The expert from EC recalled WP.29-160-27 and WP.29-160-33, introduced at the June 2013 session of WP.29 and showing the scope for changes in the 1958 Agreement and UN Regulation No. 0, aiming at establishing an IWVTA. The expert from EC asked GRB if changes on the objectives were needed, especially, concerning UN Regulations Nos. 51 and 117. He informed GRB about the forthcoming subgroups (Subgroup on the 1958 Agreement and Subgroup on UN Regulation No. 0) meetings on IWVTA, scheduled from 11 to 13 September 2013 in Paris. The experts from ETRTO and OICA endorsed UN Regulation No. 51 inclusion at the IWVTA without splitting its provisions. The expert from ETRTO expressed concern that actually a new UN Regulation dedicated to tyre installation was still missing. GRB agreed to resume consideration on this subject at its January 2013 session awaiting the outcome of IWVTA informal group.

56. The representative of France, chairing the IWG on IWVTA, reported on the outcome of the meetings held in Paris prior to the WP.29 session. On behalf of the Chair of the IWVTA subgroup on the 1958 Agreement, the representative of EU presented the status on the review of the revised 1958 Agreement (WP.29-160-27). He outlined that the main part of the Agreement would remain unchanged and highlighted the new elements of the revision. He announced the intention of the informal group to finalize, at its forthcoming session in September 2013, the draft Revision 3 of the Agreement for consideration by WP.29 at the November 2013 session. WP.29 noted that it would be proposed that the current text of the Agreement on self-certification would remain unchanged. The representative of the Russian Federation expressed concerns on the new safeguard in view of the lack of objective criteria.

57. The World Forum noted that some remaining open issues have still to be resolved by the IWG on IWVTA: (i) level of ambition with respect to the “substantial and editorial” amendments to the Agreement and (ii) the legal status of the so-called placeholder specifying the administrative and procedural provisions applicable to all UN Regulations annexed to the 1958 Agreement.

58. WP.29 urged the IWVTA subgroup on the 1958 Agreement to resolve the open issues and agreed to have a detailed discussion on this subject at the November 2013 session. In this respect, the Chair invited all interested delegates from the Contracting Parties to the Agreement to participate in the subgroup’s forthcoming meeting in September 2013.