Guidelines on amendments to UN Regulations
Document WP.29-164-10
8 November 2014

Explanation of a “first set” of guidelines prepared by the WP.29 secretariat concerning the submission and adoption of modifications to UN Regulations, especially taking into consideration the pending Revision 3 to the 1958 Agreement which envisions, among other things, the acceptance to multiple “versions” of each regulation. This document covers: amendments resulting from draft Revision 3; publication of new series of amendments; long transitional provisions; versions of UN Regulations; use of cross-references; amendment commencement dates; consolidation of amendments to once per year; and use of “compilations” of modifications.

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Previous Documents, Discussions, and Outcomes
2.1. | Report of the session of the Administrative Committee for the Coordination of Work (WP.29/AC.2)
4.2. | Guidance requested by the Working Parties on matters related to UN Regulations annexed to the 1958 Agreement

44. The secretariat reminded the World Forum that during its last session in March, WP.29 had requested the secretariat to update the document on the revised guidelines on amendments to UN Regulations following discussions in the Subgroup on Revision 3 of the 1958 Agreement. The secretariat noted that it was currently discussing a possible simplification of symbols for documents with the Document Managements Services of UNOG with the goals of (i) replacing double-symbols by single symbols as of entry into force of Revision 3, (ii) indicating versions by an index-number attached to the original symbol, and (iii) introducing a modular concept for UN Regulation No. 0 which would show the applicable vehicle category already in the symbol. The WP.29 secretariat added that texts of Revisions include all previous amendments and corrections of a series of amendments approved by AC.1. The WP.29 secretariat informed WP.29 that previous versions would be made available electronically on the UNECE website at the request of Contracting Parties. The WP.29 Secretary also informed WP.29 that he had requested clarification by OLA on the legal status of documents and OLA had clarified that only the authentic texts that have been voted on by AC.1 were legally binding texts. Therefore from the date of entry into force of documents on 15 June 2015, the documents would bear a disclaimer with the symbols of the authentic texts on their front page. He reminded the World Forum to use static references to standards instead of dynamic ones in regulations.

4.4. | Consideration of amendments to the 1958 Agreement
4.2. | Guidance requested by the Working Parties on matters related to Regulations annexed to the 1958 Agreement
4.2.2. | Guidance on amendments to Regulations annexed to the 1958 Agreement

47. WP.29 noted that WP.29-164-10 was discussed under agenda item 4.4 (see para. 52 below). WP.29 referred the document to IWVTA for further consideration.

4.2.3. | Guidance on the additional application of national provisions
4.4. | Consideration of draft Revision 3 to the 1958 Agreement

52. The representative of the Netherlands proposed a clarification to Article 12 to avoid different interpretations of the provisions on the obligations of Contracting Party to accept type approvals in the case they intend to cease the application of a Regulation. WP.29 endorsed the proposal. The representative of the Russian Federation reiterated the position of his Government expressed in WP.29-164-09 to object to the provisions on the delegation of voting rights. WP.29 agreed to remove Article 9 from the appendix of draft Revision 3. -The secretariat proposed to amend the definition of “a version of a UN Regulation” in WP.29-164-10 tabled under agenda item 4.2.2 and to replace the word “any” by “all” in the last sentence. Following the discussion, WP.29 preferred to delete the word “any”. The amendments agreed upon by WP.29 are reproduced in Annex III to WP.29-164 session report.

56. The World Forum recognized that the Contracting Parties would need more time to review the above proposals and agreed to resume consideration of this subject at its next session in March 2015. The representatives of Germany and the United Kingdom noted the need for a finalized text prior to submitting to their national authorities for approval and so the World Forum agreed that adoption of the revised agreement would be delayed accordingly. The secretariat was also requested to circulate WP.29-164-23 as a separate official document.

2.1. | Report of the session of the Administrative Committee for the Coordination of Work (WP.29/AC.2)
4. | 1958 Agreement
4.4. | Consideration of amendments to the 1958 Agreement
4.5. | Development of an electronic database for the exchange of type approval documentation (DETA)
Related and Previous Documents
WP.29-162-18
WP.29-166-02
Relates to 1958 Agreement |