27. GRSP noted a recent meeting of WP.29 secretariat with Asian Injury Prevention (AIP), FIA Foundation and the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP), where these three organizations suggested that WP.29 develop a new Resolution providing basic requirements for light-weight protective helmets to fit the needs of some Asian Countries (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/1087, para. 10).

28. The expert from the FIA Foundation introduced GRSP-48-21 and GRSP-48-22 aimed at developing a proposal of these basic requirements through an informal group. He stated that compliance to the current provisions of Regulation No. 22 led to: (i) production of heavy helmets providing little ventilation, (ii) quite high price of helmets in developing countries, (iii) low usage of helmets in these countries, (iv) diffusion of counterfeit helmets which provide no protection to the motorcyclists and (v) financial and technical difficulties to implement technical services and conformity of production in developing countries. He also added that introducing lighter helmets through the above-mentioned resolution could be a first step towards the use of protective helmets conforming with the current provisions of Regulation No. 22 in these countries.

29. Some experts of GRSP expressed concerns on introducing alternative less stringent requirements to Regulation No. 22 that would compromise safety. In their opinion, this initiative could lead to a false sense of consumer protection and disharmonize already well-proved existing requirements. The expert from FIA Foundation pointed out that the objective of this effort was not to disharmonize with Regulation No. 22 but to promote helmet use in countries where protective helmets are not typically worn. In addition, GRSP noted that Regulation No. 22 does not prevent the construction of ventilated helmets.

30. Finally, GRSP agreed to resume discussion at its May 2011 session on the basis of a concrete proposal to be prepared by the expert from FIA Foundation and to keep GRSP-48-21 and GRSP-48-22 for reference only on the agenda of further sessions of GRSP.