Presentation in support of Korea’s request document WP.29-161-12) to establish an informal expert group to develop a new global technical regulation to protect occupants from harmful emissions originating with materials used in vehicle interiors.
117. The representative of the Republic of Korea presented WP.29-161-12 and WP.29-161-13 complementing his presentation on Vehicle Indoor Air Quality (VIAQ) given at the previous session of WP.29 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/1104, para. 130). He invited AC.3 to evaluate the possibility of establishing an IWG with the aim to develop a new UN GTR by 2017. He added that Korea would be committed to chairing such a group.
118. The representative of EU appreciated the presentations, but advised to complete first the development of current tasks before starting new activities. He indicated that this issue may already have been addressed by current legislation. The representative of Canada underlined the importance of addressing potential health impacts related with VIAQ. He supported the idea to work in this area taking into consideration the advice of the EU. He suggested focusing on the identification of best practices and the collection of information before undertaking regulatory work. The Chair of GRPE (Germany) supported the considerations of EU and Canada. He stressed the need to collect information and to analyse the subject before deciding upon the need to develop a UN GTR, if CPs see the need for such a step. Recalling the purpose of WP.29-160-38, the representative of the Russian Federation underlined the importance of the impact of pollutants emitted in the atmosphere on VIAQ. He introduced information through document WP.29-161-22, and expressed readiness to present additional information to the March 2014 session of WP.29. He evoked the need of regulatory initiatives aiming at establishing environmental requirements for vehicle design with respect to ventilation, heating, air conditioning and cabin filters. He recalled the work on tyre and brake wear, which he had introduced in WP.29 in earlier sessions, and underlined the importance of taking a holistic approach. The representative of the United States of America stressed the need to distinguish between emissions from materials used in vehicle construction, which were the responsibility of another agency of his country, and emissions due to vehicle propulsion systems.
119. AC.3 invited all participants to collect information on this topic and requested the secretariat to keep this item on the agenda of the March 2014 session for further discussion.