1. The Working Party on Lighting and Light-Signalling (GRE) held its ninetieth session from 29 April to 3 May 2024 in Geneva. The meeting was chaired by Mr. T. Kärkkäinen (Finland). Experts from the following countries participated in the work according to Rule 1 (a) of the Rules of Procedure of the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/690/Rev.2): Australia, Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Republic of Korea, Spain, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America. An expert from the European Commission (EC) participated. Experts from the following non‑governmental organizations also took part in the session: American Automotive Policy Council (AAPC), European Agricultural Machinery Association (CEMA), European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA), Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), International Automotive Lighting and Light Signalling Expert Group (GTB), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), International Motor Vehicle Inspection Committee (CITA), International Motorcycle Manufacturers Association (IMMA), International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA), Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).

2. GRE considered and adopted the agenda (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2024/1), as reproduced in GRE-90-01 that includes the informal documents distributed during the session. GRE also noted the running order proposed by the Chair (GRE-90-09).

GRE-90-01 | GRE: Updated provisional agenda for the 90th (April-May 2024) session

GRE-90-09 | GRE: Running order of the agenda for the 90th (April 2024) session

GRE/2024/1 | GRE: Annotated provisional agenda for the 90th (April 2024) session

3. The list of informal documents is contained in annex I to the session report. The list of GRE informal working groups is reproduced in annex III.

4. GRE was informed about the highlights of the recent sessions of WP.29 and noted the copyright requirements for all presentations or materials submitted to the secretariat and published on the UNECE website (GRE-90-12). The secretariat requested the assistance of the secretaries of various informal working groups and task forces in reviewing copyright issues in the content published on the UNECE wiki pages.

GRE-90-12 | GRE: General information and WP.29 highlights

5. No information was reported under this item.

6. GRE noted that WP.29 had adopted a framework document on vehicle whole-life compliance prepared by the Informal Working Group on Periodical Technical Inspections (IWG PTI) (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2023/89).

WP.29/2023/89 | Vehicle Whole-Life Compliance: Proposal for a Framework Document Proposal for guidelines concerning harmonised conditions for the assessment of the performance of vehicles, equipment and parts along different stages of their useful life.

7. GRE noted the progress of the Informal Working Group “Simplification of the Lighting and Light-Signalling Regulations” (IWG SLR) (GRE-90-08) and updated its terms of reference with an extension of the mandate until December 2027 (GRE-90-07 and annex II of the session report).

GRE-90-07 | SLR informal group: Proposal to update the terms of reference

GRE-90-08 | SLR informal group status report to GRE

8. The expert from the Task Force on Substitutes and Retrofits (TF SR) reported on their activities (GRE-90-13) and submitted draft amendments to the Consolidated Resolution on the common specification of light source categories (R.E.5) that introduced a high-power light-emitting diode replacement (LEDr) light source (“LED retrofit”) for the category H11 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2024/2 and GRE-90-02).

9. The expert of OICA highlighted a number of concerns over the TF SR proposal and installation of LED retrofits in the aftermarket, in particular the different beam patterns in the far- and near-fields of the vehicle and stressed that vehicle manufacturers would not accept responsibility for issues arising from the installation of such components (GRE-90-34).

10. The expert from France agreed with the OICA concerns and reserved his position on the TF SR proposal, while several other experts from contracting parties held the view that LED retrofits were an acceptable compromise based on the “intelligent equivalence” principle.

11. Finally, GRE adopted the proposal and requested the secretariat to submit it for consideration at the November 2024 session of WP.29 as an amendment to R.E.5. GRE also agreed that TF SR should continue its activities and focus on LED retrofits of the categories H4 and H7. GRE noted that the expert from the United Kingdom would chair TF SR, while the expert from Germany would vice-chair.

GRE-90-02 | RE5: Proposal for amendments to document GRE/2024/2 Informal document submitted by the Task Force on Substitutes / Retrofits (TFSR) to support and proposal changes to formal proposal GRE/2024/2.

GRE-90-13 | LED Substitutes/Retrofits task force status report to GRE

GRE-90-34 | Position paper on the LED retrofit light sources proposal from from the Substitutes/Retrofits task force

GRE/2024/2 | RE5: Proposal Proposal for an Amendment to the Consolidated Resolution on the common specification of light source categories Proposal to introduce an alternative configuration for the light emitting diode replacement (LEDr) light source category H11.

12. GRE recalled its previous discussion on the advantages of the LED technology for power consumption and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and noted that GTB would report the results of their ongoing study on this topic to the next session.

13. The experts from GTB proposed several amendments that aligned the requirements in UN Regulation No. 48 with the updated requirements in UN Regulation No. 149 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2024/3), that aligned the requirements for the passing-beam vertical inclination for off-road vehicles between the 06, 07, 08 series and the 09 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 48 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2024/4) and that avoided exceeding the aggregate maximum intensity of the main-beam headlamps (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2024/5 as replaced by GRE-90-10). GRE adopted these proposals in principle and decided to postpone their submission to WP.29 and AC.1, in order to combine them in the future with other amendment proposals to the same series of amendments.

GRE-90-10 | UN R48: Proposal superseding document GRE/2024/5 Revised proposal to avoid exceeding the aggregate maximum intensity of the main-beam headlamps (430,000 cd) by removing the double requirement for a sum of reference marks and a sum of maximum luminous intensities which risks generating large rounding errors when the maximum luminous intensities are summed up.

GRE/2024/3 | UN R48: Proposal for a Supplement to the 06, 07, 08 and 09 series of amendments Proposal to align the requirements in UN R48 with updated requirements in UN R149 (UN R48 currently only refers to a light source or light-emitting diode (LED) module(s) for dipped beam (paragraph 6.2.9.) and to light sources of the lighting units for an adaptive front-lighting system (AFS) (paragraph 6.22.9.) while the latest updates to the 01 series of UN R149 requires the communication form to indicate whether the total objective luminous flux of one or more light source(s) or light source module(s) for a dipped beam exceeds 2,000 lumens). This proposal replaces the term “LED module” with "Light source module" and modifies wording to adapt to the introduction of "matched pair" requirements for headlamps and AFS.

GRE/2024/4 | UN R48: Proposal for a Supplement to the 06, 07 and 08 series of amendments Proposal to align the requirements for off-road vehicles passing-beam vertical inclination between the 06, 07, 08 series and the 09 series of amendments to UN R48.

GRE/2024/5 | UN R48: Proposal for a Supplement to the 09 series of amendments Proposal to avoid exceeding the aggregate maximum intensity of the main-beam headlamps (430,000 cd) by removing the double requirement for a sum of reference marks and a sum of maximum luminous intensities which risks generating large rounding errors when the maximum luminous intensities are summed up.

14. The expert from the Task Force on Lamps Under Parked Conditions (TF LUPC) reported on their activities (GRE-90-18) and presented a proposal for the TF LUPC Terms of Reference and rules of procedure (GRE-90-03). GRE adopted the proposal upon understanding that this decision should not be regarded as a precedent for requiring all task forces in the future to establish their terms of reference.

GRE-90-03 | Task Force on Lamps Under Parked Conditions (LUPC): Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedure LUPC task force mandate to review the requirements of the current suite of lamps under parked conditions and to develop, where necessary, proposals to address the energy indicator and lamp test mode under UN R48.

GRE-90-18 | LUPC task force status report to GRE

15. The expert from France recalled the discussion on work lamps at the previous session and introduced draft amendments (GRE-90-26). Following a brief exchange of views, GRE invited experts to provide their comments to France and to continue consideration at the next session on the basis of an official document.

GRE-90-26 | UN R48/ Proposal for Supplements to the 08 and 09 series of amendments Proposal to introduce provisions for "work lamps".

16. GRE recalled its earlier discussion on the perceived blueish colour of the white light emitted by front lighting units (GRE-89-24) and noted that the expert from France would submit a proposal for consideration at the next session.

GRE-89-24 | Views on provisions concerning the colour of light

17. The expert from Norway requested a guidance on the interpretation of paragraph 5.22. of UN Regulation No. 48 on lamps that are deemed not to be present (GRE-90-14). The Chair of IWG SLR recalled their status report and list of future activities (GRE-90-08) which included clarification on this and related issues in UN Regulations Nos. 48, 53 and 74, based on the principle “prohibited if not allowed” for the lamp installation. Some experts pointed out that the main purpose of paragraph 5.22. was not to leave holes in the car body in case a specific lamp (e.g. left/right rear fog lamp) was not used, for instance, for the right/left hand traffic.

GRE-90-08 | SLR informal group status report to GRE

GRE-90-14 | UN R48: Interpretation of para. 5.22 of the 06 series of amendments Interpretation question on the provision "With the exception of retro-reflectors, a lamp even bearing an approval mark is deemed not to be present when it cannot be made to operate by the sole installation of a light source and/or a fuse."

18. The expert from China identified possible inconsistencies in the 08 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 48 (GRE-90-30). Following a brief exchange of views, the Chair invited the expert to draft amendment proposals for consideration at the next session. The expert from EC pointed out that they would not react to the future proposals from China, as coming from the country which is not a contracting party to the 1958 Agreement.

GRE-90-30 | Questions regarding the interpretation of UN R48-08

19. The expert from OICA proposed to remove the current restriction in paragraph 6.12.1. that prohibits the fitment of parking lamps to vehicles which exceed 2 m in width (GRE-90-22). Several experts supported the proposal and further pointed out the need to also remove the length restriction of 6 m in the same paragraph. GRE realized that these two restrictions had originated in the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, and invited OICA to update their proposal for consideration at the next session.

GRE-90-22 | Use of single sided parking lamp illumination when parking vehicles over 2 m in width

20. The expert from Germany submitted amendment proposals that enabled the approval of front and rear direction indicators which could be activated simultaneously (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2024/9). The expert from France suggested text improvements. GRE adopted the proposal, as amended by GRE-90-15-Rev.1 and requested the secretariat to submit it for consideration and vote at the November 2024 sessions of WP.29 and AC.1 as draft Supplement 1 to the 03 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 74.

GRE-90-15/Rev.1 | UN R74: Proposal for a Supplement to the 03 series of amendments Proposal to enable the approval of a front and rear indicator which can be activated simultaneously. This informal document supersedes the formal proposal GRE/2024/9.

GRE/2024/9 | Proposal for a Supplement to the 03 series of amendments to UN R74 and to the 01 series of amendments to the UN R148 Proposal to enable the approval under UN R74 of a front and rear indicator that can be activated simultaneously, to allow the installation of optional direction indicators at national level on bicycles (including vehicles with a maximum design speed not exceeding 25 km/h), and to introduce a new symbol “-“ under UN R148 between the symbols indicating the functions of the device in order to differentiate a device which fulfils the requirement of a front indicator of category 11 and a rear indicator of category 12 that cannot be activated simultaneously from one that can.

21. The expert from CEMA introduced amendment proposals to the 02 and 03 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 86 which covered agricultural vehicles of any dimensions, brought technical clarifications and provided editorial corrections (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2023/12/Rev.1, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2024/10, GRE-90-17). A number of experts commented on the documents. GRE adopted the proposals, as amended by GRE-90-32, and requested the secretariat to submit them for consideration and vote at the November 2024 sessions of WP.29 and AC.1 as draft Supplement 2 to the 02 series and draft Supplement 1 to the 03 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 86.

GRE-90-17 | Proposals to amend UN R86

GRE/2023/12/Rev.1 | UN R86: Proposal for a draft amendment to the 02 series of amendments Proposal to address vehicles of categories R or T with a width more than 2.55 m and of category S with a width more than 3 m as well as to allow using reflective materials as an alternative to retro-reflectors.

GRE/2024/10 | UN R86: Proposal for the 03 series of amendments Proposal to address lamp positioning on wider vehicles of categories R, S, and T, to allow using reflective materials as an alternative to retro-reflectors, to clarify provisions (including failure detection), and to make editorial improvements.

22. The expert from GTB proposed corrections in the communication form (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2024/6). The expert from France suggested further clarification. GRE adopted the proposal, as amended by GRE-90-39, and requested the secretariat to submit it for consideration and vote at the November 2024 sessions of WP.29 and AC.1 as draft Supplement 6 to the 00 series and draft Supplement 3 to the 01 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 148.

GRE/2024/6 | UN R148: Proposal for a Supplement to the 00 and 01 series of amendments Proposal to correct and clarify the communication form.

23. The experts from Germany and the United Kingdom reported on a direction indicator of category 5 with sequential activation that had been type approved (GRE-90-31). These experts reminded that, according to UN Regulations Nos. 6 and 148, sequential activation of the light sources was only allowed for direction indicators of categories 1, 2, 11 and 12, but not for categories 5 and 6. Therefore, they held the view that the approval of the category 5 direction indicator with sequential activation did not conform to the requirements of the UN Regulations and should be considered invalid. GRE concurred with this view.

24. The expert of GTB proposed to clarify the markings and measuring of the quality of the “cut-off” (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2024/7 and ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2024/8). GRE adopted the proposal and requested the secretariat to submit it for consideration and vote at the November 2024 sessions of WP.29 and AC.1 as draft Supplement 4 to the 01 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 149 (also see the next paragraph).

25. The expert from China pointed out possible inconsistencies in various tables for the conformity of production (GRE-90-29). GRE requested GTB to study the issue and prepare corrections for consideration at the next session. For Table 22 (GRE-90-29, page 2), GRE agreed to include, without delay, the proposed correction in draft Supplement 4 to the 01 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 149 (see the previous paragraph).

GRE-90-29 | Questions regarding the interpretation of UN R149

GRE/2024/7 | UN R149: Proposal for a Supplement to the 01 series of amendments Proposal to clarify the measurement of the quality of the "cut-off".

GRE/2024/8 | UN R149: Proposal for a Supplement to the 01 series of amendments Proposal to clarify the markings. Some countries and regions refer to the requirements of the 00 series of amendments to UN R149, or to older regulations. In order to avoid the redundant burden to mark the symbols of both the 00 and 01 series on the lamp (e.g., “HCR” or “HR and C”), the proposal would allow for consistency of the symbols between the 00 and the 01 series of amendments. UN R149 also includes passing-beam requirements designed to provide symmetrical “cut-off” line: the proposal introduces examples in Annex 13.

26. The expert from China reported on driver assistance projections (DAP) according to a new national standard (GRE-90-41). GRE took note of this information.

GRE-90-41 | Commission report of DAP according to new GB standard